Critical Minerals Intelligence A project of Special Operations Association of America
20 Minerals
29 Countries
8 Critical risk
3 Very high
// Intelligence brief

Niobium (Nb)

CRITICAL RISK
Overview

A ductile transition metal that dramatically strengthens steel at extremely low concentrations while also enabling high-field superconducting applications. Niobium is essential to advanced aerospace alloys, armored vehicle steel, naval systems, pipelines, and superconducting magnet technologies.

Risk score

95/100 — supply chain threat level: Critical

Primary use cases

High-Strength Steel, Aerospace Alloys, Superconductors, Naval Vessels