EU Seeks Closer Vietnam Ties on Critical Minerals in China Hedge, Internal Documents Show
The European Union is seeking to secure more critical minerals from Vietnam to reduce its reliance on China amid concerns that existing supplies may be at risk, according to internal EU documents seen by Reuters.
Vietnam has substantial deposits of critical minerals, including tungsten, rare earths, antimony, bismuth and bauxite, from which gallium can be extracted as a byproduct. Exports to the EU have been largely limited to tungsten and antimony, both used in the defence sector, including in ammunition and explosives. "Considering Europe's need to rearm and de-risk as fast as possible, the EU cannot afford ignoring Vietnam as a potential supplier of critical raw materials considering its abundant reserves in rare earth and tungsten in particular," said a document prepared by the EU delegation in Hanoi.
The report and an annexed document, dated June 2026, recommend financial support for Vietnam's mining and processing industry to "maintain and expand current access notably to tungsten, bismuth, antimony and titanium," warning that competition from partner countries might disrupt EU supplies. The documents say stronger engagement with Vietnam is needed to "add an alternative to China," the world's top producer of critical minerals, especially after Beijing's export restrictions last year "disrupted European supply chains."
One of the documents urged EU institutions to prepare for concrete outcomes during Vietnamese leader To Lam's visit to Brussels, which four European and Vietnamese officials said would take place next week, with meetings with EU leaders slated for October 22; the visit has not been officially announced. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the EU executive is "currently assessing the potential for concrete cooperation with Vietnam in the critical raw materials sector." Two officials said critical minerals are expected to feature prominently in next week's talks. Vietnam is not currently among the EU's 16 strategic partners on raw materials.
The documents also cite supply risks, including a failed plan last year involving entities from Australia, the US and Canada to acquire a majority stake in Vietnam's largest tungsten operation, owned by Masan High-Tech Materials, and a separate project by Australia's Lynas Rare Earths and South Korea's LS Eco Energy to produce rare earth metals in Vietnam, viewed as another initiative "which risks leaving the EU behind." The documents also warn of risks in investing in Vietnam's critical minerals, including a lack of transparency about China's involvement and regulatory and political hurdles.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 稀土矿场与加工设施（示意，美国芒廷帕斯矿）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Tmy350 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0 授权
