According to a report by Reuters on October 14th, documents within the EU indicate that the EU is seeking additional supply of key minerals from Vietnam in order to reduce its dependence on China, due to concerns about potential risks to existing supplies.
Vietnam has a wealth of key mineral resources, including tungsten, rare earths, antimony, bismuth, and bauxite. Gallium can be extracted from bauxite as a by-product. Currently, Vietnam's exports to the EU mainly consist of tungsten and antimony, both of which are used in the defense sector, including the production of ammunition and explosives.
A document prepared by the EU delegation in Hanoi states: “Considering that Europe needs to be rearmed as soon as possible and reduce risks, especially given Vietnam’s rich reserves of rare earths and tungsten, the EU cannot ignore Vietnam’s role as a potential supplier of key raw materials.”
This report and its attachments indicate that the date is June 2026. The document suggests providing financial support to the mining and processing industry in Vietnam, with the aim of “maintaining and expanding current sources of relevant minerals, especially tungsten, bismuth, antimony, and titanium”. It also warns that competition from partner countries could disrupt the EU’s supply chain. This report and its attachments have not been disclosed previously.
Reports indicate that competition from partner countries is increasing, which is seen as a potential threat to the EU's mineral supply.
One of the documents states that last year, companies from Australia, the United States, and Canada planned to acquire control of Vietnam’s largest tungsten mining business, but the attempt failed.
The document indicates that it is necessary for the EU to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in order to “add an alternative supply source other than China”.
Reports say that China is the world’s largest producer of key minerals. This becomes even more important when considering alternative sources, especially after Beijing implemented export restrictions last year, which disrupted the European supply chain.
The Ministry of Commerce of China has stated that the Chinese government is willing to work with other countries to maintain the stability and smooth operation of global supply chains. The measures taken are not targeted at any specific country or region. For legal and compliant export applications, the Chinese side will grant permission after review.
One of the documents urges EU institutions to prepare for concrete results during the visit of Vietnamese leader Surin to Brussels. Four European and Vietnamese officials said that Surin will visit Brussels next week and plans to meet with EU leaders on October 22. This visit has not yet been officially announced.
This visit will take place after this week’s European Council meeting. It is expected that EU leaders will discuss plans to reduce dependence on Chinese goods and raw materials during the meeting, while also ensuring alternative sources for key resources.
When asked about the aforementioned documents and Su Lin’s visit, a spokesperson from the European Commission said: “The European Commission is currently evaluating the possibility of conducting specific cooperation with Vietnam in key raw materials areas.”
Vietnam is not currently among the 16 strategic partners in the raw materials sector of the European Union. Two officials stated that critical minerals are expected to be an important topic of discussion at the talks next week. Last week, the European Union removed Vietnam from its list of tax havens. The Vietnamese government also urged EU member states to approve the Investment Protection Agreement signed by both parties in 2019, but this agreement is still facing obstacles from a few countries, including France. Additionally, Vietnam urged the European Union to lift the warnings directed at its fisheries sector.
