Europe’s push to secure critical raw materials is transforming the role of Euronext-listed companies in the global mining and materials landscape. While Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam have never been viewed as traditional mining centers like London, Toronto, or Sydney, they are increasingly home to some of Europe’s most strategically important businesses in lithium, rare earth processing, battery materials, recycling, and critical minerals financing.
As governments and industries race to reduce supply-chain dependence on external sources, particularly China, investors are paying closer attention to companies that can process, refine, recycle, and secure access to the materials required for Europe’s energy transition and industrial future.
The result is a new investment theme emerging across Euronext markets: strategic minerals are no longer just about extraction. They are about building the industrial infrastructure that transforms raw materials into usable products for batteries, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.
The Critical Raw Materials Act Is Driving Investment
The foundation of Europe’s strategy is the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which sets ambitious targets for strengthening domestic supply chains.
By 2030, the European Union aims to:
- Source at least 10% of strategic raw materials through domestic extraction
- Process 40% of critical materials within Europe
- Obtain 25% through recycling
- Limit dependence on any single third country to no more than 65% at key stages of the supply chain
These objectives create a favorable environment for companies operating in processing, refining, recycling, and downstream materials production rather than traditional mining alone. As a result, Euronext-listed businesses are increasingly becoming central players in Europe’s resource security strategy.
Imerys and France’s Push for Lithium Sovereignty
Among the most important examples is Imerys’ EMILI lithium project, which has evolved beyond a conventional mining development into a strategic national initiative. The French government has committed €50 million to acquire a minority stake in the project, highlighting the growing role of state-backed investment in Europe’s critical minerals sector.
EMILI is expected to produce approximately 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, enough to support batteries for around 700,000 electric vehicles each year.
This level of government participation sends a strong signal to investors. The project is no longer viewed solely through the lens of lithium production; it has become part of France’s broader industrial strategy aimed at strengthening domestic battery manufacturing and reducing dependence on imported materials. For financial markets, EMILI represents the convergence of mining, industrial policy, and strategic supply-chain development.
Eramet Reflects Growing International Interest in Critical Minerals
Another key player in the Euronext ecosystem is Eramet, a company with significant exposure to nickel, lithium, and manganese, all of which are essential for modern battery technologies and industrial applications. Recent reports suggest that the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, a mining investment platform backed by U.S. and Abu Dhabi interests, has explored the possibility of acquiring a stake in the French mining group.
The French state already owns approximately 27% of Eramet, reinforcing its strategic importance within the national industrial framework. This interest highlights a broader trend in global critical minerals markets. Investors are increasingly seeking exposure not only to commodity prices but also to supply chains aligned with Europe, the United States, and allied nations seeking alternatives to China-dominated mineral processing networks. For Eramet, the investment story extends beyond mining. It is becoming increasingly linked to geopolitical positioning, supply-chain security, and international industrial cooperation.
Solvay Strengthens Europe’s Rare Earth Processing Capacity
One of Europe’s most important challenges in critical minerals is not mining rare earth elements—it is processing them. This is where Solvay occupies a strategically valuable position.
The Belgian chemicals group has expanded its rare-earth processing operations at La Rochelle, France, with an initial focus on neodymium and praseodymium, two essential elements used in the permanent magnets found in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and numerous advanced technologies.
Europe’s dependence on external rare-earth processing remains one of its most significant industrial vulnerabilities. While deposits can be developed over time, refining and separation capabilities require specialized expertise, infrastructure, and long-term investment. Solvay’s expansion is designed to address that gap. The company aims to become a major supplier of processed rare-earth materials for Europe’s growing clean-energy and technology sectors. Its success, however, will depend not only on production capacity but also on the willingness of manufacturers to support and purchase from non-Chinese supply chains.
Umicore’s Recycling Strategy Aligns With Europe’s Circular Economy Goals
As demand for battery materials continues to rise, recycling is becoming a critical pillar of Europe’s resource strategy.
Belgium-based Umicore has positioned itself at the center of this trend through its Battery Recycling Solutions business.
The company specializes in recovering valuable metals from end-of-life batteries, including:
Its current recycling infrastructure can process approximately 7,000 tonnes of batteries annually, helping return strategic materials to the supply chain.
Although the battery materials sector has faced challenges in recent years due to slower electric vehicle growth and weaker commodity prices, recycling remains essential to achieving Europe’s long-term resource security goals. Without companies capable of efficiently recovering critical metals from complex waste streams, the EU’s recycling targets under the Critical Raw Materials Act will be difficult to achieve.
AMG Critical Materials Builds a Fully Integrated Lithium Platform
Amsterdam-listed AMG Critical Materials is pursuing a strategy that combines upstream resource ownership with downstream refining capacity.
The company’s planned acquisition of a controlling position in Zinnwald Lithium would provide direct exposure to a European lithium resource while complementing its existing lithium hydroxide refinery operations in Germany.
This integrated model offers several advantages:
- Improved feedstock security
- Greater control over supply chains
- Reduced reliance on imported raw materials
- Enhanced exposure to Europe’s battery materials market
As Europe seeks to build domestic lithium processing capacity, companies capable of controlling multiple stages of the value chain are increasingly viewed as strategically important assets.
Euronext’s Critical Minerals Strength Lies Downstream
A common theme unites many of Euronext’s most significant critical minerals companies: they are not traditional mining businesses focused solely on extraction.
Instead, they operate in areas where Europe holds competitive advantages:
- Advanced materials processing
- Rare-earth separation
- Battery recycling
- Lithium refining
- Supply-chain integration
- Industrial technology and chemical expertise
This downstream focus aligns closely with Europe’s broader industrial strategy, which prioritizes value-added processing and resource independence over large-scale mineral extraction.
