China’s 2026 Mineral Resources Report Released at Tianjin Mining Conference, Highlighting Progress in Exploration and Output

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Ministry of Natural Resources launched the *China Mineral Resources Report (2026)* on 11 September at the 2026 China International Mining Conference held in Tianjin. The publication outlines key outcomes from domestic mineral exploration and production activity across 2025.

The report notes that investment in China’s geological exploration maintained positive growth for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, with tangible discoveries of new mineral deposits. A total of 200 new non-oil-and-gas mineral sites were identified nationwide, comprising 63 large-scale deposits, 57 medium deposits and 80 small deposits.

Gold deposits recorded the highest number of new finds at 16 sites, followed by iron ore with 11, coal with nine, and manganese and lithium ore each registering eight newly discovered deposits.

Fixed-asset investment in the mining sector also rose for the fifth year running during 2025. Output of major mineral commodities remained stable, strengthening the resilience of mineral resource industrial and supply chains. Coal production reached 4.85 billion tonnes, a year-on-year rise of 1.4 per cent. Crude oil output stood at 216 million tonnes, marking the seventh successive year of growth. Natural gas output hit 262.06 billion cubic metres, with annual production rising by more than 10 billion cubic metres for nine years in a row.

Continued investment in exploration and stable mineral output will sustain the supply of raw materials for industrial activity, while further mineral discovery work will expand domestic resource base for the country’s mining sector.