For years, Europe has been talking about raw material security, resilient supply chains, dual sourcing and reducing dependencies. Few would argue with any of that today.
The more interesting question is what happens when this reaches the procurement desk.
The INVERTO Raw Materials Study 2026 looks at exactly this: geopolitical risk, security of supply, cost pressure and changing sourcing models. Dual sourcing, closer supplier cooperation and nearshoring all feature in the discussion.
On paper, the direction is clear.
The Risk & Resilience Study 2026 shows a less comfortable reality: 83% of the companies surveyed still report supply bottlenecks, while only 26% have full transparency across their deeper supply chains. At the same time, companies are partly consolidating their supplier bases again, while building selective regional back-up structures.
A GTAI survey of German mid-sized companies, conducted together with BME and ZVEI, adds another angle. Almost three quarters are looking for new suppliers of critical raw materials. Yet 70% still name established direct suppliers as their main source of supply; trading companies account for just 22%. Personal contact, long-standing relationships and trust remain important. Interestingly, respondents also say they are willing to accept higher costs for greater security of supply.
Seen from the supplier side, there is a contradiction here.
Companies want alternatives. But before a new supplier becomes an alternative, there are samples, laboratory tests — which can feel endless — production trials, documentation, vendor onboarding and compliance procedures.
All of that is understandable.
But it also gives the already approved supplier a huge advantage. As long as that supplier keeps delivering reasonably well, the second source often remains exactly that: an idea.
This is especially relevant for low-value industrial minerals and ores.
With bulk raw materials, logistics and commercial effort can already represent a substantial part of the product value. If a supplier spends months getting through qualification only to end up discussing small volumes at rock-bottom prices, sooner or later one question comes up: Is the market worth the effort?
My experience outside Europe — and yes, I often mean China — is different.
For large-volume raw materials, discussions tend to get to the essentials much faster: Chemistry. Volume. Price. Port. Logistics. Payment terms.
If those points work, serious volumes can follow. One large buyer may easily replace several smaller European customers.
The EU itself is now trying to widen the sourcing base. The Raw Materials Mechanism, launched in April 2026, is designed to aggregate demand and connect European buyers with alternative suppliers. Its first diversification round covers the 17 strategic raw materials under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Useful initiative. But no platform can qualify a supplier on behalf of a purchasing department.
If an alternative source only becomes interesting once the existing supply has failed, it is no longer diversification. It is emergency purchasing.
A genuine second source has to be tested before it is needed. That means realistic trial quantities, technical qualification and, at some point, actual business — even while the incumbent supplier is still doing its job.
Otherwise the second source exists mainly in presentations.
And when a disruption comes, two weeks are suddenly supposed to be enough to build what was postponed for two years.
After decades in the international raw materials business, I increasingly ask myself: Does Europe really want to diversify — or does it mainly want to preserve the option of diversification, provided it costs little and causes no extra work?
I know how this looks from the supplier side of the table. The view from the other chair may be quite different.
Yinovia Minerals is a Hamburg-based independent trading and supply company specialising in industrial minerals and ores. We work directly with selected producers, primarily in Türkiye, and connect them with industrial customers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia through workable, commercially realistic supply routes.
Our portfolio covers bauxite, barite, bentonite, feldspar and feldspathic raw materials, amorphous silica, volcanic pozzolan, pumice and lava stone, serving the ceramics, glass, construction, cement and concrete industries. Every sourcing process is supported by representative sampling, technical documentation and multilingual communication.
Classified natural bauxite grades (AG-46, AG-52, AG-54) from Muğla, Türkiye, crushed, screened and sorted into three commercial size ranges with distinct Al₂O₃, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃ and loss-on-ignition profiles. Used as feedstock for aluminium-related processing, refractory and high-alumina formulations, and cement and mineral blends, subject to grade and process evaluation. Supplied in bulk or Big Bags, typically FOB Güllük or İzmir.
Natural barite offering strong density (4.2–4.4 g/cm³) and chemical inertness, relevant for oil & gas drilling fluid weighting, paints, plastics and radiation-shielding concrete. Available at 90–98% BaSO₄ purity in Drilling, Micronised and High-Purity White grades, shipped from Mersin and İskenderun.
A natural white Turkish bentonite with high montmorillonite content, offering strong binding, plasticity and rheological properties for ceramic formulations where processing behaviour, green strength, suspension stability and fired colour matter together. Available in bulk or milled form, in big bags or containers.
Two distinct natural product lines: the Na-K Series (sodium-dominant Na-K feldspar grades Na-K1 and Na-K2) used as feldspathic fluxes in ceramic formulations, and the YF-M Series (three natural, non-flotated feldspathic mix raw materials YF-M1 to YF-M3) for ceramic body development. These lines differ in chemistry, mineralogy and firing behaviour and are evaluated separately, not as one uniform product.
A natural volcanic pozzolan used as a supplementary cementitious material in low-carbon cement and concrete blends, contributing to durability and reduced clinker content where confirmed suitable for the intended mix design.
Lightweight pumice with a dry bulk density of 380–600 kg/m³ and low thermal conductivity (0.12–0.18 W/mK), used as lightweight concrete aggregate, in road construction and thermal insulation, as a growing substrate in horticulture, and as a filter medium. Bulk shipments from İskenderun and Yumurtalık.
Natural volcanic lava stone supplied for construction, landscaping and filtration applications, with size and grading confirmed per order and shipment.
Bauxite, barite, bentonite and other specialty minerals and ores sourced and qualified for industrial applications through representative sampling and technical evaluation before larger volumes are discussed.
Feldspar and feldspathic mix raw materials, amorphous silica and bentonite for tile, porcelain, glassware and technical ceramics, with mineralogy, firing behaviour and colour confirmed in the customer’s own body before commercial approval.
Pumice, volcanic pozzolan, lava stone and amorphous silica for lightweight concrete, low-carbon cement blends and specialty concrete admixtures, evaluated against the intended mix design and applicable construction standards.
Selected producer relationships and first-hand knowledge of the material and source.
Representative samples, independent laboratory analysis and product-specific documentation where required.
Quality is evaluated together with available volume, processing requirements and logistics.
Direct and multilingual communication without unnecessary organisational layers.
Yinovia Minerals is located at Saseler Damm 46 a, D-22395 Hamburg. For supply enquiries, sample requests and technical consultations, please call +49-(040) 64208398 or contact us via the website. Primary shipping ports in Türkiye include Mersin, İskenderun, İzmir and Güllük.
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