Lula Declares Brazil Will Industrialize Its Critical Minerals Instead of Merely Exporting Them
President Lula asserts Brazil will require industrialization of its critical minerals domestically instead of permitting mere raw export, protecting national sovereignty and economic value.
- • Brazil will not be a mere exporter of critical minerals; industrialization within Brazil is mandatory for access.
- • Critical minerals are vital for advanced technologies and energy transition, with growing global demand.
- • Sovereignty is defined by transforming resources into benefits for the population, not just by possessing deposits.
- • Political, economic, fiscal, social stability, and predictability are crucial to attract investment and build public trust.
Key details
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a decisive message on November 24, 2025, emphasizing Brazil's sovereign policy regarding its critical minerals. Speaking at a forum with entrepreneurs in Maputo, Mozambique, Lula declared that Brazil would not be a mere exporter of these crucial resources. Instead, he insisted that any country interested in accessing Brazilian minerals must commit to industrializing them domestically within Brazil to generate economic value for the nation.
Critical minerals, essential to advanced industries like battery manufacturing, wind turbines, solar panels, and electronics, have seen soaring global demand—especially in the energy sector, which accounted for 85% of growth in 2024. Lula highlighted their strategic importance, noting the high interest from nations such as the United States.
The president framed this stance as a defense of Brazil's sovereignty, underscoring that sovereignty is measured not by possession of natural resources alone, but by the country’s ability to convert them into meaningful benefits for its population. He cautioned against past patterns where foreign companies extracted wealth while leaving Brazil impoverished and stressed the necessity for political, economic, fiscal, and social stability to attract responsible investments.
According to Lula, leaders must ensure predictability and stability to build public trust. This, he stated, is vital for sustainable development and to avoid scenarios where Brazil remains a supplier of raw materials without participating in added value industries.
His remarks reflected Brazil's determination to shape a resource exploitation model that ensures local industry development and economic sovereignty, offering a strong message to the global community that wants access to the country's critical mineral wealth.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.