Ukraine holds leading positions in Europe for reserves of critical minerals that are vital for the European Union. As of March 2026, the country has identified deposits of 25 out of 34 minerals that the EU recognizes as critical for the stability of its industrial supply chains.
This is reported by Business • Media
Ukraine’s Leadership in Strategic Minerals
According to estimates, Ukraine has the largest reserves of graphite, titanium, and manganese in Europe. The volume of natural graphite reserves is approximately 17.9 million tons, allowing the country to maintain the top position in this regard among European states. However, due to military actions, graphite production in Ukraine decreased by 88% from 2021 to 2024. Despite this, Ukraine retained its fourth position in Europe for the production of this raw material.
As for titanium, the country has confirmed reserves of about 8.4 million tons — the highest figure in Europe. The potential of Ukrainian resources can meet the needs of the USA and the EU for this metal for the next 25 years. However, the extraction of titanium ores and concentrates has decreased by 68% over the past three years, yet Ukraine remains the second-largest producer of titanium in Europe. The country’s share in the EU import market reached 13% in 2024 and has remained stable over the past five years.
The Situation with Manganese and Lithium Reserves
Manganese ores are another strategically important resource, with reserves in Ukraine estimated at 140 million tons, which is an absolute record in Europe. Although manganese production decreased by 47% in 2023 compared to 2021, Ukraine remained a leader in this indicator. Production completely halted in 2024 due to the consequences of the war, but by 2025, extraction was partially restored.
It is also worth noting that Ukraine has estimated lithium reserves of about 500 thousand tons, which is the third-highest figure in Europe. However, extraction of this resource has not yet begun. Despite significant potential, Ukraine’s share of the total import of critical minerals in the EU has remained low over the past decade, fluctuating between 0.14% and 0.27%.
“Ukraine has deposits of 25 out of 34 critical raw materials (CRM) defined by the EU, and Ukrainian reserves of graphite, titanium, and manganese are the largest in Europe.”