Tomorrow - ein McKinsey Podcast Kritische Rohstoffe – wie abhängig darf Wirtschaft sein?
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Oct 30, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Christian Hoffmann, an industry expert, and Marlene Heimer, a researcher, delve into the critical role of essential raw materials like lithium and copper in driving the economy. They highlight the supply risks arising from geopolitical tensions and the concentration of sources in regions like China. The duo emphasizes the importance of strategies such as joint procurement, recycling, and building strategic reserves to mitigate these vulnerabilities. With over a million jobs at stake, their proposed solutions are not just timely but vital for future economic stability.
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Economic Risk Of Critical Materials
- Critical raw materials underpin large parts of Germany's industry and value creation.
- Losing access could threaten ~4 million jobs and €370 billion in value added, about 9% of GDP.
Which Materials Matter Most
- Critical materials include rare earths and base metals like lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt used across modern products.
- They appear in batteries, electric motors, transformers and aerospace components essential to daily life and energy systems.
Geographic Concentration Creates Vulnerability
- Supply of many critical materials is highly concentrated geographically, creating strategic vulnerability.
- Examples: China dominates processing (60–99%), lithium largely from Chile, cobalt mainly from the DR Congo.