Mineral statistics—useful tool or needless exercise?

Abstract

Most of the international mineral statistics are limited to production, import and export figures only. However, such statistics are not sufficient to identify possible market trends or supply risks. The political restructuring in Europe and China’s rapidly increasing demand for mineral raw materials since the turn of the millennium has led to imbalances in the demand and supply of raw materials in many countries. In the present work, the importance of a more in-depth exploratory data analysis is explained. The paper also deals with the need to record raw material exploration projects. While most statistics are limited to the production figures and thus only allow a retrospect into the past only, information about the resources verified in exploration projects would also allow a glimpse into the future. Despite this need, many institutions that have compiled such statistics in the past have discontinued them meanwhile. Reduced budget and staff shortages are some of the reasons for this. For this reason, close cooperation between the few remaining organizations is urgently required.

Appendix Data sources and data providers

Statistics, edited by companies (examples only):

BP (ed.): 2021: Statistical Review of World Energy 2021 | 70th edition.- https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html

Metallgesellschaft AG (ed.): Metallstatistik; annual statistic, published until 1992 only.

Statistics, edited by service providers (examples only)

Fastmarkets MB (ed.): https://www.fastmarkets.com/

Metal Bulletin: https://www.metalbulletin.com/

Industrial Minerals” https://www.indmin.com/

World Bureau of Metal Statistics (ed.): https://world-bureau.co.uk/publications-services/

World Metal Statistics: https://world-bureau.co.uk/publications-services/publications/world-metal-statistics/

Metall Statistik: https://world-bureau.co.uk/publications-services/publications/metallstatistik/

World Metal Statistics Yearbook: https://world-bureau.co.uk/publications-services/publications/world-metal-statistics-yearbook/

Statistics, edited by interest groups (examples only):

Steel alloys:

Chromium:

ICDA - International Chromium Development Association: https://cets-eu.be/2019/10/09/icda-the-international-chromium-development-association-becomes-member-of-cets/

Manganese:

International Manganese Institute: https://www.manganese.org/

Molybdenum:

IMOA International Molybdenum Association: https://www.imoa.info/index.php

Nickel:

International Nickel Study Group (INSG): https://insg.org/

Nickel Institute: https://nickelinstitute.org/

Tantalum-Niobium:

Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center: https://www.tanb.org/index#

Tungsten:

International Tungsten Industry Association: https://www.itia.info/

Vanadium:

Vanitec: http://vanitec.org/

Non-Ferrous Metals:

Copper:

International Copper Study Group (ICSG), (ed.): https://www.icsg.org/

International Wrought Copper Council: http://www.coppercouncil.org/

Lead–Zinc:

International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), (ed.): https://www.ilzsg.org/static/home.aspx

Aluminium:

International Aluminium Institute: https://international-aluminium.org/

Beryllium:

BEST Beryllium Science & Technology Association: https://www.beryllium.eu/

Precious Metals:

Gold:

World Gold Council: https://www.gold.org/

Platinum Group Metals:

Johnson Matthey: http://www.platinum.matthey.com/services/market-research/pgm-market-report

Silver:

The Silverinstitut: https://www.silverinstitute.org/all-world-silver-surveys/

Industrial Minerals:

Barytes:

Barytes Association: https://www.barytes.org/

Phosphates, Potash, Sulphur:

IFA International Fertilizer Association: https://www.fertilizer.org/

Sulphur:

Sulphur Institute: https://www.sulphurinstitute.org/

Diamonds:

Kimberley Process: https://kimberleyprocessstatistics.org/

Energy fuels:

Coal:

International Energy Agency (IEA), (ed.): https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-product/coal-information-2#world-coal-supply

Uranium:

International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) (ed.):

https://www.iaea.org/publications/14687/world-uranium-geology-exploration-resources-and-production

World Nuclear Association, (ed.):

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production.aspx

Statistics, edited by governments (examples only)

Austria:

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (Ed.): World Mining Data.- (since 1986);

https://www.world-mining-data.info/

France:

BRGM (ed): Annuaire Statistique Mondial des Minerais et Metaux (until 2008 only).

Great Britain:

British Geological Survey, (ed):

World Mineral Production: https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/worldStatistics.html

European Mineral Statistics: https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/europeanStatistics.html

United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook: https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/ukStatistics.html

United States of America:

United States Geological Survey, ed.: Minerals Yearbook.

Volume I, Metals and Minerals; https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/minerals-yearbook-metals-and-minerals

Volume II, Area Reports, Domestic (US production only);

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70048195

Volume III, Area Reports, International; https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70048196

Mineral Commodity Summaries: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/mineral-commodity-summaries