In 2024, Sweden was the world’s fifth-ranked producer of peat, accounting for an estimated 10.5% of the world’s production. Among the European Union (EU) countries, Sweden was the leading producer of iron ore, accounting for 89% of the production (approximately 1% of the global production); lead, 46% (approximately 2% of the global production); and zinc, 45% (approximately 2% of the global production). Other mineral commodities produced in the country included metals such as copper, gold, silver, and tellurium; industrial minerals such as diabase, gabbro, gneiss, granite, and limestone; and mineral fuels such as crude and refined petroleum. Coke and refined petroleum, together with chemicals and basic pharmaceutical products, accounted for 2.0% of the total Swedish GDP; basic metals and fabricated metal products (except machinery and equipment), 1.5%; and mineral extraction, 0.5%. Exports of mineral commodities accounted for 10.3% of the total export value. The leading exported mineral commodities, in terms of value, were iron and steel products, which accounted for 3.8% of the total export value; nonferrous metals, 3.0%; and iron ore and concentrates, 1.3%. Imports of mineral commodities accounted for 8.0% of the total import value. The leading imported mineral commodities, in terms of value, were iron and steel products, which accounted for 2.8% of the total import value; nonferrous metals, 2.2%; and metalliferous ores and metal scrap, 1.6%.
The Swedish Minerals Act of 1991 (No. 45) and the Minerals Ordinance of 1992 (No. 285) are the main laws in Sweden that regulate the mineral industry and establish procedures for acquiring exploration and mining permits. The Mining Inspectorate of Sweden, which is a unit of the Geological Survey of Sweden, is responsible for issuing permits for exploration and mining. The Mining Inspectorate is headed by the Chief Mining Inspector, who makes decisions on matters related to the Swedish Minerals Act. The Act on the Continental Shelf of 1966 (No. 314) and the Continental Shelf Ordinance of 1966 (No. 315) apply to the extraction of national resources from the seabed and the Swedish economic zone. The extraction of minerals must also comply with the environmental requirements of the Act concerning Ancient Monuments and Finds of 1988 (No. 950), the Environmental Code of 1998 (No. 808), and the Planning and Building Act of 2010 (No. 900). On May 23, 2024, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act came into force, intending to secure the supply of critical raw materials for the EU market and reduce the EU’s dependency on imports.
