Manufacturing Day Shows Importance of Minerals Mining

Friday we celebrated Manufacturing Day, and in doing so, we would like to take a moment to highlight one of the critical components the manufacturing industry relies on— minerals mining. Minerals are the building blocks of manufacturing in the U.S. Any manufacturing process—from building automobiles to developing advanced energy technologies to supporting our national defense—depends on minerals. For example, platinum, which is used in more than 20 percent of all manufactured goods, is just one of a list of minerals critical to manufacturing.

As we look to manufacturers to support demand for newer, more innovative appliances and devices, it becomes ever-important that manufacturers have access to a steady and reliable minerals supply chain. In fact, a study commissioned by the National Mining Association (NMA) reveals that a large majority of U.S. manufacturing executives are concerned about the issue of minerals and metals supply, and 80 percent of them stressed the important of sourcing minerals and metals domestically.

Industry leaders, like Reshoring Initiative’s Harry Moser, identify mining’s key contribution to manufacturing. However, the current mine permitting process in the U.S., which can take a decade or longer, makes it difficult for manufacturers to obtain the materials domestic manufacturers need, even though the U.S. is home to more than $6 trillion in minerals resources. It’s essential that Congress supports mine permitting reform and works to streamline the U.S. mine permitting process, both for the growth of manufacturing and our economy as a whole.

Learn more about the connection between manufacturing and minerals mining here, and take action here to support mine permitting reform.