The Russian Federation (Russia) was one of the world’s leading producers of mineral commodities and produced a diverse range of metals, industrial minerals, and mineral fuels. In 2024, Russia was the world’s leading producer of antimony (34% of world output, tied with China), asbestos (32%), natural gem-quality diamond (30%), natural industrial diamond (42%), and palladium (41%); the 2d-ranked producer of ferrosilicon (9.1%, not including United States production), gallium (0.7%), gold (9.5%), magnesium metal (5.5%), nitrogen (9.6%, tied with India), platinum (12%), potash (21%), and vanadium (18%); the 3d-ranked producer of aluminum (5.3%), cobalt (2.6%), helium (9.3%), magnesium compounds (8.0%, not including United States production), nickel (5.5%), peat (11%), selenium (8.4%, not including United States production), sulfur (8.8%), tellurium (6.5%, not including United States production), and titanium sponge (8.7%, not including United States production); the 4th-ranked producer of kaolin (10.2%), lime (2.8%), niobium (0.3%), phosphate rock (6.0%), and pig iron (4.0%); the 5th-ranked producer of alumina (2.0%), arsenic (0.8%), raw steel (3.8%), iron ore (3.3%), lead (5.7%), silicon metal (1.1%, not including United States production), tungsten (1.8%), vermiculite (7.9%), and zeolites (10%); the 6th-ranked producer of mined copper (4.4%), refined copper (3.2%), graphite (1.3%), rare earths (0.7%), and silver (5.1%); the 7th-ranked producer of cadmium (4.4%), indium (0.5%), and iodine (0.02%, not including United States production); the 8th-ranked producer of cement (1.7%); the 9th-ranked producer of barite (2.5%, not including United States production), bauxite (1.3%, not including United States production), feldspar (2.1%, tied with Saudi Arabia), salt (2.5%), tantalum (1.2%), and zinc (2.6%); and the 10th-ranked producer of diatomite (2.0%, tied with Germany and Spain), and industrial sand and gravel (1.7%). Russia also was a significant global producer of bentonite, boron, germanium, gypsum, molybdenum, and tin.
In 2024, the gross value added in mining and quarrying accounted for 10.7% of the gross domestic product and totaled \$232 billion, which indicated a 5.4% increase compared with the nominal value in 2023. The legislative framework for exploration, mining, and other extractive activities related to the production of solid minerals, hydrocarbons, and groundwater in Russia is described by the “Subsoil Law” that was adopted on February 21, 1992. Major amendments to this law were made in 1995, 1999, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2023, and 2024 in conjunction with related modifications of other relevant laws, such as the Tax Law. The Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment (Minprirody) was responsible for the development of laws and regulations related to geologic exploration and the rational use and protection of subsoil resources. The Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra) was responsible for the management of the Government’s subsoil resources. Specifically, Rosnedra was responsible for implementation and execution of subsoil-related laws and regulations in specific jurisdictions. The majority of mineral industry companies were domestic and privately owned.
In July 2024, the Government approved a new Strategy for the development of minerals and raw materials in the country through 2050. The strategy considered two future scenarios related to the future situation with raw materials in Russia. The basic scenario assumed that the reserves and production of minerals would remain at the same level as in 2024, and the target scenario assumes preemptive growth aimed at meeting the increasing demand for raw materials. The plan included work on exploration targeting the discovery of large mineral deposits in Russia, including in the Arctic Region and in the Far East. The strategy emphasized the need to meet the current and future needs of the economy in strategic types of solid minerals. The reliance on imported raw materials, such as chromium, manganese, and titanium, was to be reduced significantly. The major goals of the strategy were increased degrees of domestic processing and consumption of mineral resources, as well as building infrastructure for the development and implementation of new technologies.
