Europe's Precious Metals Supply: Future Prospects for Gold, Silver, and Copper Production
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 17 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Europe's Precious Metals Supply Challenge: Europe is under pressure to secure its supply of precious metals as geopolitical tensions rise and global supply chains fracture, with the EU currently importing about 50% of its copper concentrate.
Strategic Projects and Domestic Production: The EU has identified 47 strategic projects to reduce reliance on imports, while domestic production remains limited, with significant reserves concentrated in countries like Chile and Australia.
Emerging Mining Opportunities: European countries, including Finland and Poland, are enhancing their mining operations, with notable projects like Agnico Eagle's Kittila mine and KGHM's copper production, while exploration activities in Ireland and Greece show promise for future mineral development.
Regulatory Challenges in Europe: European mining projects face longer development timelines due to stringent regulatory frameworks focused on environmental protection, which can deter investment compared to more efficient processes in traditional mining jurisdictions like Canada and Australia.
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Analyst Views on RIO
Wall Street analysts forecast RIO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for RIO is 83.70 USD with a low forecast of 68.00 USD and a high forecast of 129.50 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 99.520
Low
68.00
Averages
83.70
High
129.50
Current: 99.520
Low
68.00
Averages
83.70
High
129.50
About RIO
Rio Tinto plc is a United Kingdom-based mining and materials company. It operates in over 35 countries, and its portfolio includes iron ore, copper, aluminum and a range of other minerals and materials. Its segments include Iron Ore, Aluminum, Copper, and Minerals. The Iron Ore segment includes iron ore mining and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. Its iron ore operations in Pilbara comprise an integrated network of over 18 iron ore mines and four independent port terminals. The Aluminum segment includes bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting and recycling. The Copper segment includes mining and refining of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, other by-products and licensing of extraction technologies. The Minerals segment includes mining and processing of borates, diamonds, iron concentrate and pellets from the Iron Ore Company of Canada, lithium and titanium dioxide feedstock.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Price Fluctuation Range: FENI's 52-week low is $26.2144 per share, with a high of $40.47, and the last trade at $40.31 indicates the stock is fluctuating near its high, potentially influencing investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping to assess market trends and identify potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting the liquidity and market performance of the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding for ETFs helps identify those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), allowing assessment of their impact on underlying assets and market trends.
See More
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- Executive Departure: Isabelle Deschamps, Chief Legal, Governance & Corporate Affairs Officer at Rio Tinto, plans to leave in 2026 after five years, seeking new opportunities outside the company, indicating a trend of increasing executive turnover.
- Succession Planning: Deschamps will remain in her role until at least mid-2026 to ensure continuity while Rio Tinto undertakes a rigorous succession process, which helps mitigate potential impacts on operations during the leadership transition.
- Strategic Contributions: Since joining in 2021, Deschamps has laid the groundwork for a stronger Rio Tinto, supporting future growth and reinforcing the company's commitment to responsible mining, highlighting ongoing efforts in governance and business development.
- Personal Reflection: Deschamps expressed that serving Rio Tinto has been a privilege and she is proud of the progress made in governance and key partnerships, reflecting her positive impact on the company's strategic execution.
See More
Affluent Families Concerned About Geopolitical Issues, Yet Hesitant to Invest in AI, Crypto, or Gold
Geopolitical Concerns Among Wealthy Families: A report from J.P. Morgan Private Bank reveals that 20% of wealthy single-family offices identify geopolitics as their primary concern.
International vs. U.S. Perspectives: The report highlights that 74% of non-U.S. families and 57% of U.S. families consider geopolitics to be among their top five concerns.
See More
GoldHaven Resources Discovers New Tungsten Zone Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Tungsten Discovery: GoldHaven Resources confirmed tungsten mineralization at its Magno Property in British Columbia, with assays showing up to 6,550 ppm tungsten, validating historical data and expanding the known footprint, indicating the potential for a large mineral system with significant economic implications.
- Strategic Timing: China's export restrictions on tungsten have elevated its status as a critical mineral in North America and Europe, and GoldHaven's discovery in this context will enhance resource security for Western economies and promote domestic production capabilities.
- Multimetal Potential: The discovery of silver, lead, and zinc mineralization at Vines Lake, with silver grades reaching up to 2,370 g/t, further confirms the area's multimetal deposit potential, which could provide crucial support for future resource development.
- Drilling Program Progress: GoldHaven completed its inaugural drilling program at the Copeçal Gold Project in Brazil, discovering copper mineralization, suggesting the project could develop into a significant gold-copper system, thereby strengthening the company's resource base.
See More
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- Strategic Investment: The U.S. has launched $30 billion in strategic financing in collaboration with 54 nations to counter China's export restrictions on tungsten, a move that will promote domestic production and position GoldHaven and its peers as essential pillars of the new industrial architecture.
- Multi-Metal Potential: The tungsten discovery at Vines Lake is accompanied by silver grades up to 2,370 grams per tonne and lead values exceeding 20%, indicating significant multi-metal potential in the area, which could lead to large-scale mineral discoveries and further enhance company value.
- Drilling Program Progress: GoldHaven completed its inaugural drilling program at the Copeçal Gold Project in Brazil, discovering copper mineralization that suggests the potential for a substantial gold-copper system, further solidifying the company's strategic positioning across multiple projects.
See More
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- Global Mineral Cooperation Agreement: The US and EU committed to a deal within 30 days to identify cooperation areas, stimulate demand, and diversify critical mineral supply, aiming to prevent supply chain disruptions and promote research and innovation, reflecting the strategic collaboration of three major economies in global mineral supply chains.
- Current Control of Critical Minerals: China controls 60% to 90% of the global critical mineral processing market, particularly in missile defense and energy infrastructure, which creates vulnerabilities for the US and its allies, compelling them to take action to ensure supply security.
- US Policy Shift: President Trump launched the $12 billion Project Vault to stockpile critical minerals, while Congress passed the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, marking a significant step in breaking China's control over mineral supply chains and expected to boost domestic mining and refining sectors.
- Surge in Copper Demand: Copper demand is projected to rise by 50% to 42 million metric tons by 2040, while supply is expected to decline by 7%, leading to a 10 million ton shortfall, particularly driven by emerging technologies like AI and electric vehicles, intensifying the demand for copper.
See More
