Brazil projects US$21,3 billion in critical minerals by 2030.
Investments are growing above the mining average, reflecting the country's commitment to the energy transition and strategic global supply chains.
247 - The critical minerals segment in Brazil is expected to receive investments of US$ 21,3 billion between 2026 and 2030, driven by demand linked to the energy transition, high technology and the defense industry. The estimate was released on Tuesday (3) by the Brazilian Mining Institute (Ibram) and indicates a significant advance compared to the previous cycle.
The projected amount represents a 15,2% expansion compared to the US$18,5 billion projected for the period 2025 to 2029, according to information published by Agência iNFRA. The data shows that investments in critical minerals are advancing at a faster pace than the mineral sector as a whole, signaling a structural change in the Brazilian mining investment portfolio.
According to Ibram, the national mining sector is expected to receive a total of US$76,9 billion by 2030, a value 12,5% higher than that observed in the previous cycle. Within this scenario, minerals classified as critical gain strategic importance. The institute includes graphite, vanadium, niobium, copper, nickel, rare earths, bauxite, lithium, titanium, and zinc in this category.
Some of these minerals show projected growth well above the category average over the next five years. This is the case for zinc, with an estimated 982% expansion in investments, as well as copper, with an 18% increase, and nickel, with a 24% increase. According to the vice-president of Ibram, Fernando Azevedo, this movement reinforces the country's role on the international stage. "We are showing the world that Brazil is a player in this," he stated, highlighting that the country possesses "substantial reserves of important minerals" in the current geopolitical context.
Other relevant segments of the mining industry also concentrate significant volumes of resources. Investments in iron ore exploration and production were estimated at US$19,9 billion between 2026 and 2030, a positive variation of 1,1% compared to the previous period. Meanwhile, socio-environmental actions are expected to receive US$14,7 billion by 2030, a growth of 29,7% compared to the previous cycle.
The fertilizer sector also shows a projected significant expansion. Investments are expected to increase by 23,3% over five years, reaching US$6,9 billion, in line with the search for greater security in the supply of agricultural inputs.
In terms of economic performance, the Brazilian mining sector recorded revenues of R$ 298,8 billion in 2025, a 10,3% increase compared to 2024, when revenue totaled R$ 270,8 billion. Iron ore, responsible for 52,6% of total revenue, generated R$ 157,2 billion, a 2,2% decrease during the period.
According to Ibram, the decline in iron ore revenue is associated with the devaluation of the product in the international market. The price reached US$134 per ton in January 2024, but fell to levels below US$100 throughout last year. In contrast, the gold and copper segments benefited from the rise in global prices, with revenue increases of 68,8% and 50,1%, respectively, in 2025.
