Magnesium

Magnesium is the lightest structural metal.

33% lighter than aluminum and 75% lighter than steel, and with a favorable strength-to-weight ratio.

Magnesium alloys offer high heat transfer, vibration damping, and electromagnetic interference reduction – making them ideal for high-performance and precision high-technology applications.

Primarily used in the automotive and aerospace industries for frames, engine components, and more.

Used in Thixomolding and Giga-casting technology to efficiently produce larger, lightweight magnesium and alloy components in a single process.

Used in chemical applications, including marine flares for light, and as salts in foods and fertilizers.

Magnesium is fully recyclable and uses only 5% of the energy to produce primary magnesium alloy, offering a favorable sustainability profile.

Magnesite, dolomite, and brines / ocean water are common sources of minerals for magnesium metal production.

GEOPOLITICS OF MAGNESIUM 

Magnesium is critical for industrial and military applications and is on the critical minerals lists for the US Geological Survey* as well as the same for the European Commission.

The geographic concentration of magnesium metal production is amongst the highest of any commodity – with China alone responsible for nearly 88% of world magnesium metal production.  Russia, North Korea, and China hold the largest global reserves.

In November 2024, the last US magnesium producer closed, as US Magnesium idled operations at their Great Salt Lake project, leaving one of the most polluted industrial sites in North America.

According to the USGS, the US imports over 75% of magnesium, and rising due to growing demand in aerospace, automotive, and defense markets.
Chinese market control of primary magnesium presents a significant risk for reduced exports and rising prices – following similar moves in other dual-use critical minerals.