Euronext-listed materials and mining-related companies are increasing their presence across Europe’s strategic minerals sector through lithium development, rare earth processing, battery recycling, and critical minerals investment. While Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam are not traditional mining exchanges, they host companies involved in key stages of the continent’s raw materials value chain.
The sector’s development is closely aligned with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which targets 10% of annual strategic raw material consumption from extraction, 40% from processing, and 25% from recycling by 2030, while limiting dependence on a single third country to 65% at relevant stages of processing and supply.
State-backed lithium investment in France
Imerys is advancing the EMILI lithium project in France with direct support from the French government.
France has committed €50 million for a minority stake in the project, which is designed to produce 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide. The planned output is intended to supply enough lithium material for approximately 700,000 electric vehicles annually. The project combines lithium production with broader industrial policy objectives aimed at strengthening domestic battery materials supply chains.
Eramet attracts interest from strategic investors
Eramet remains a significant Euronext-listed critical minerals producer with exposure to nickel, lithium, and manganese operations. A mining investment vehicle backed by United States and Abu Dhabi interests, the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, has been exploring a potential investment in the French mining company. The French state already holds approximately 27% ownership in Eramet.
The proposed interest reflects growing investment activity focused on critical minerals supply chains and strategic resource diversification.
Solvay expands rare earth processing capacity
Solvay has launched an expansion of its rare earth processing operations at La Rochelle, France, focusing initially on neodymium and praseodymium separation.
The processed materials are used in permanent magnets required for electric vehicles and wind energy applications. According to Reuters, Solvay aims to supply 30% of Europe’s processed rare earth demand for permanent magnets by 2030, subject to customer demand. The expansion strengthens European rare earth separation capacity, an area widely regarded as a critical stage in the rare earth supply chain.
Battery recycling infrastructure at Umicore
Umicore continues to develop battery recycling capabilities through its Battery Recycling Solutions division. The company recovers critical metals including cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium from end-of-life batteries and currently has capacity to recycle 7,000 tonnes of batteries annually.
Battery recycling forms part of Europe’s efforts to increase recovery of strategic materials and support recycling targets established under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
AMG strengthens lithium integration strategy
AMG Critical Materials is expanding its European lithium platform through the planned acquisition of Zinnwald Lithium.
The transaction would add upstream lithium resources to a company that already operates lithium hydroxide refining capacity in Germany, creating a more integrated lithium supply chain encompassing both feedstock and downstream processing.
Processing and recycling dominate Euronext’s minerals exposure
The principal Euronext-listed participants in Europe’s critical minerals sector are concentrated in downstream and midstream activities rather than conventional mining alone.
Imerys is developing lithium chemical production capacity through the EMILI project. Eramet provides exposure to nickel, lithium, and manganese. Solvay is expanding rare earth separation operations, while Umicore focuses on battery recycling and recovery of critical metals. AMG Critical Materials combines lithium refining capacity with plans to secure additional upstream resources.
These companies are positioned across processing, refining, recycling, and materials conversion segments that support Europe’s efforts to develop domestic critical minerals supply chains.
