This special issue focuses on critical raw materials (CRMs) and their role in global resource and energy economics. Critical raw materials are essential to modern industries including renewable energy, electronics, defense, and advanced manufacturing, yet their supply chains face significant vulnerabilities including geographic concentration, geopolitical tensions, and limited recycling infrastructure.

The issue welcomes research examining the economic, political, and environmental dimensions of critical raw material markets. This includes analyses of supply chain resilience, market mechanisms, policy interventions, technological solutions, and corporate strategies for ensuring sustainable access to these essential resources.

Potential topics

• Supply chain security and risk assessment for critical raw materials
• Geopolitical dimensions of critical raw material markets
• Technological innovation and substitution strategies
• Recycling, circular economy, and material recovery
• Environmental and social impacts of critical raw material extraction
• Market dynamics and price volatility
• Policy frameworks and trade regulations
• Corporate strategies for resource security

Timeline

• July 1, 2026: Submission deadline