The National Mining Association (NMA) has released the findings of a survey of senior executives from manufacturing industries highlighting the important role of domestic minerals and metals to manufacturing supply chains. Conducted by Edelman Berland, the survey found that a large majority of respondents are concerned they would not be able to obtain the minerals they need when they need them. The growing global population and development of new technologies and products that rely on greater combinations of minerals have increased the manufacturing industry’s demand for raw materials.

Of the large percentage of respondents who noted minerals and metals supply as a top concern for their organisations, 91% expressed worries about minerals and supply chain disruptions outside of their control, citing geopolitics and increasing global demand as the most pressing factors. In other findings, 80% of respondents said it is important to their company to source minerals and metals domestically, with the most important reasons for doing so being job creation, national security and international competitiveness.

“These results confirm the need to realise the United States’ potential to provide more of the materials to sustain our manufacturing renaissance,” NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn said. “However, an inefficient permitting process for starting or expanding mines denies our manufacturing sector a stable supply chain of the minerals they need.” Currently, the process to establish a new mine within the US takes seven to 10 years. Some 76% of manufacturing executives believe the existing permitting process is unacceptable, and 95% believe it to be a serious threat to US competitiveness. Approximately 90% support streamlining the process to less than three years.

In light of these survey results, the NMA says it “will continue to seek public policies that provide a more predictable and efficient permitting process to feed the manufacturing supply chain.” The House recently passed “The Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act” for the third time, and NMA is urging the Senate to take up similar legislation to bolster domestic manufacturing industries. The survey included more than 400 senior executives in the manufacturing industry or industries impacted heavily by manufacturing. Respondents were screened to ensure they had a role in minerals and metals procurement for their company. The study has a margin of error of +/-4.9%. For more information, visit www.MineralsMakeLife.org.