Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what volume of each mineral listed on the UK Critical Minerals List was imported in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025, broken down by country of origin.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Please see table below, derived from HMRC’s Import data by preference bulk dataset, using trade codes as published in the technical annex of the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy. Countries of origin have been grouped into EU and non-EU for legibility.
Volumes of each critical and growth mineral imported into the UK, tonnes, 2023-25, broken down by those sourced from EU and non-EU countries.
Mineral | Origin | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
Aluminium | EU | 492,570 | 468,461 | 468,440 |
non-EU | 387,774 | 420,020 | 426,726 | |
Antimony | EU | 878 | 851 | 576 |
non-EU | 367 | 309 | 162 | |
Beryllium | EU | 0 | 1 | 0 |
non-EU | 28 | 1 | 1 | |
Bismuth | EU | 19 | 44 | 28 |
non-EU | 257 | 143 | 110 | |
Borates | EU | 46 | 151 | 97 |
non-EU | 8,424 | 9,156 | 10,618 | |
Chromium | EU | 11,836 | 9,464 | 11,403 |
non-EU | 59,035 | 67,607 | 52,355 | |
Cobalt | EU | 1,725 | 1,681 | 1,420 |
non-EU | 3,937 | 8,400 | 9,653 | |
Copper | EU | 166,698 | 186,974 | 152,677 |
non-EU | 61,131 | 67,136 | 70,161 | |
Gallium | EU | 0 | 0 | 0 |
non-EU | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Germanium | EU | 0 | 1 | 2 |
non-EU | 2 | 5 | 1 | |
Graphite | EU | 5,130 | 4,378 | 4,696 |
non-EU | 27,894 | 28,901 | 30,261 | |
Hafnium | EU | 7 | 5 | 16 |
non-EU | 11 | 16 | 39 | |
Helium | EU | 1,218 | 1,121 | 740 |
non-EU | 2,537 | 1,927 | 2,619 | |
Indium | EU | 2 | 1 | 0 |
non-EU | 6 | 2 | 7 | |
Iridium & Ruthenium | EU | 1 | 1 | 1 |
non-EU | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Iron | EU | 2,308,785 | 2,461,616 | 1,977,632 |
non-EU | 6,673,773 | 3,083,542 | 2,799,234 | |
Lithium | EU | 86 | 94 | 94 |
non-EU | 3,326 | 3,175 | 2,629 | |
Magnesite | EU | 20,296 | 18,790 | 24,737 |
non-EU | 20,995 | 24,602 | 21,282 | |
Magnesium | EU | 37,614 | 37,639 | 33,385 |
non-EU | 29,196 | 27,195 | 36,932 | |
Manganese | EU | 2,536 | 4,709 | 4,333 |
non-EU | 45,494 | 39,504 | 38,948 | |
Nickel | EU | 29,236 | 34,844 | 22,551 |
non-EU | 81,725 | 106,772 | 89,104 | |
Niobium | EU | 158 | 88 | 17 |
non-EU | 796 | 634 | 443 | |
Phosphates | EU | 94,984 | 92,078 | 86,741 |
non-EU | 158,713 | 144,112 | 170,832 | |
Platinum | EU | 1,888 | 2,095 | 2,703 |
non-EU | 290 | 362 | 865 | |
Rare Earth Elements | EU | 344 | 421 | 1,115 |
non-EU | 1,396 | 1,504 | 1,289 | |
Rhenium | EU | 1 | 1 | 4 |
non-EU | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Rhodium | EU | 2 | 2 | 2 |
non-EU | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Silicon | EU | 49,192 | 68,729 | 45,208 |
non-EU | 71,052 | 98,374 | 102,744 | |
Sodium | EU | 4,875 | 5,903 | 4,303 |
non-EU | 8,695 | 6,798 | 7,141 | |
Tantalum | EU | 57 | 26 | 27 |
non-EU | 152 | 126 | 197 | |
Tellurium | EU | 3 | 5 | 2 |
non-EU | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Tin | EU | 625 | 693 | 757 |
non-EU | 4,281 | 4,935 | 5,235 | |
Titanium | EU | 8,207 | 6,502 | 4,314 |
non-EU | 193,758 | 247,719 | 151,547 | |
Tungsten | EU | 416 | 471 | 334 |
non-EU | 682 | 638 | 920 | |
Uranium | EU | 11 | 13 | 1,846 |
non-EU | 100 | 7 | 32 | |
Vanadium | EU | 296 | 257 | 253 |
non-EU | 173 | 140 | 244 | |
Zinc | EU | 4,846 | 7,069 | 7,115 |
non-EU | 15,140 | 16,372 | 15,894 |
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what process is available to businesses that require steel grades not available from suppliers on the approved UK domestic supplier list under the UK Steel and Trade Measures.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The measure is designed to only cover steel requirements that can be made in the UK. In some instances, this is not feasible for technical reasons, for example where single product codes contain different sizes of steel products.
Quotas aim to allow sufficient imports to ensure continued availability of these goods to UK downstream users.
We will monitor implementation of the measure and review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective, and the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the notice period provided to businesses in the advanced manufacturing supply chain ahead of the introduction of tariffs on imported steel grades under the UK Steel and Trade Measures.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government held extensive engagement with both primary steel producers and downstream users to inform development of the trade measure, including a Call for Evidence in July 2025.
To ease short-term impacts, we are introducing a transitional arrangement under which the new measure would not apply to goods agreed under contract before 14 March 2026 and imported between 1 July and 30 September 2026.
We will continue engaging regularly with companies across the supply chain, including those in the advanced manufacturing sector, and will monitor implementation of the measure ahead of a full review of the measure after 12 months.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of UK critical mineral imports in each of the last three years originated from a single country of origin for each listed mineral; and what assessment he has made of the risk of critical mineral supply being concentrated in a single country.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Please see table below, derived from HMRC’s Import data by preference bulk dataset, using trade codes as published in the technical annex of the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
The Strategy recognises that supply chains are increasingly concentrated and sets out a clear ambition to diversify supply, including ensuring that no more than 60% of any critical mineral is sourced from a single country. This will be achieved by strengthening domestic production and recycling, building international partnerships to diversify supply, and leveraging finance and innovation to support more resilient global supply chains.
Single largest country of origin for UK imports of critical and growth minerals, by proportion of the total mass imported, 2023-2025.
Mineral | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||
Aluminium | Germany | 18% | Germany | 16% | Germany | 16% |
Antimony | France | 46% | France | 48% | France | 48% |
Beryllium | Russia | 89% | China | 39% | United States | 100% |
Bismuth | China | 88% | China | 64% | China | 43% |
Borates | Turkey | 72% | Turkey | 67% | Turkey | 64% |
Chromium | South Africa | 39% | South Africa | 56% | South Africa | 39% |
Cobalt | Canada | 18% | China | 39% | China | 48% |
Copper | Belgium | 20% | Belgium | 15% | Germany | 17% |
Gallium | China | 70% | United States | 36% | United States | 35% |
Germanium | China | 46% | China | 85% | Belgium | 34% |
Graphite | China | 60% | China | 59% | China | 69% |
Hafnium | China | 35% | China | 42% | United States | 44% |
Helium | Canada | 30% | China | 38% | China | 38% |
Indium | Canada | 32% | Taiwan | 45% | Taiwan | 40% |
Iridium & Ruthenium | South Africa | 35% | South Africa | 35% | South Africa | 34% |
Iron | Brazil | 14% | Sweden | 12% | Sweden | 19% |
Lithium | Chile | 75% | Chile | 87% | Chile | 68% |
Magnesite | China | 31% | China | 33% | China | 31% |
Magnesium | Germany | 33% | Germany | 41% | China | 40% |
Manganese | Norway | 44% | Norway | 35% | Norway | 42% |
Nickel | Indonesia | 41% | Indonesia | 49% | Indonesia | 54% |
Niobium | Brazil | 54% | Brazil | 66% | Brazil | 55% |
Phosphates | Israel | 35% | Israel | 29% | Israel | 28% |
Platinum | Germany | 57% | Germany | 39% | Germany | 40% |
Rare Earth Elements | China | 70% | China | 72% | China | 47% |
Rhenium | Ireland | 41% | Germany | 40% | France | 74% |
Rhodium | South Africa | 62% | South Africa | 48% | South Africa | 58% |
Silicon | Brazil | 27% | China | 19% | China | 27% |
Sodium | China | 41% | China | 32% | China | 37% |
Tantalum | China | 37% | China | 61% | China | 63% |
Tellurium | Italy | 21% | Italy | 30% | Belgium | 49% |
Tin | China | 25% | China | 37% | China | 42% |
Titanium | Australia | 35% | Australia | 31% | South Africa | 32% |
Tungsten | China | 32% | China | 30% | China | 49% |
Uranium | United States | 90% | Belgium | 56% | Netherlands | 98% |
Vanadium | Germany | 50% | Germany | 55% | Germany | 44% |
Zinc | Norway | 31% | United States | 28% | Norway | 37% |
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department keeps a formal record or minutes of the monthly financial monitoring meetings held between his Department, UK Government Investments and Post Office Limited to review funding requests relating to the franchising of formerly Directly Managed Branches.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department funds Post Office Limited’s (POL) Strategic Transformation Plan (STP), including activities to franchise former Directly Managed Branches.
Funding approvals are based on monthly requests from POL, detailing actual and forecast spend across all STP activity. These are analysed internally and informed by discussions at monthly financial monitoring meetings with POL. Outcomes from these discussions are reflected in advice to release funding.
Formal records or separate minutes are not kept for discussions specifically relating to the franchising of formerly Directly Managed Branches.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Canada-UK Economic Working Group last met, and whether he plans to publish a timeline for its future meetings.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers at June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group has met a few times since its establishment in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth around £34bn in 2025. The Working Group last met in April 2026 and will continue to meet when needed to discuss new ideas and tackle barriers to trade. I have also met with my Canadian counterpart several times this year.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese state export subsidies, including the export VAT rebate applied to zero-emission vehicles, on the competitiveness of UK bus manufacturers.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DBT keeps the impact of overseas state support for zero emissions vehicles under close review and engages regularly with UK manufacturers to understand effects on competitiveness. While reports include mechanisms such as export VAT rebates, only the independent Trade Remedies Authority can formally investigate whether such measures constitute countervailable subsidies and have caused injury to UK industry, based on evidence from producers. DBT will continue to monitor the position closely.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that publicly funded electric bus procurement schemes support domestic manufacturing supply chains.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DBT works closely with DfT, the Cabinet Office and Crown Commercial Service to ensure publicly funded electric bus procurement supports UK manufacturing where possible, within procurement and trade rules. This includes through setting up the DfT UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, the recent publication of a zero emission bus order pipeline and promoting stronger, more consistent use of social value to reflect UK jobs, skills and supply chain resilience.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to ensure coordination between the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator to provide a coherent regulatory framework for the food supply chain.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government's Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022-2025 published on 14 April 2026. The Statutory Review invites the operationally independent GCA to consider recommendations about its existing confidentiality protections, transparency of enforcement activity and the potential publication of practical Code examples.
On 7 April 2026 the Government announced that responsibility for the GCA would move from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra to strengthen fairness across the UK's grocery supply chain, streamline oversight of the supply chain and to strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator's existing confidentiality protections in encouraging smaller and harder-to-reach suppliers to report concerns about potential code breaches.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government's Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022-2025 published on 14 April 2026. The Statutory Review invites the operationally independent GCA to consider recommendations about its existing confidentiality protections, transparency of enforcement activity and the potential publication of practical Code examples.
On 7 April 2026 the Government announced that responsibility for the GCA would move from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra to strengthen fairness across the UK's grocery supply chain, streamline oversight of the supply chain and to strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).