Post by Trafigura

What are the strategic assets that Europe cannot afford to lose? The answer might surprise you: metals processing. In an op-ed for EIT RawMaterials, our CEO Richard Holtum argues that smelting underpins every major industrial sector in Europe, from defence to automotive, construction and electronics. And the stakes are even higher than many realise.   Smelters don’t just produce metals like zinc, copper, lead and aluminium. They also generate the critical by-products essential for defence and high-tech manufacturing.   Europe still has a significant smelting base — a major strategic advantage at a time when industrial resilience is climbing the political agenda.   But that advantage is steadily being weakened: nearly a third of Europe’s base metal smelting capacity has already been closed or curtailed over the past decade.   Richard writes: “Europe still has the assets, skills and opportunity to lead — not only in securing domestic supply, but in providing processing capacity for allied economies. But time is limited. Smelters do not simply restart once closed.”   Read the full op-ed to explore the three priorities Europe must address to secure the future of its smelting industry: https://lnkd.in/dHqfK_Ah   Richard will deliver the keynote opening address alongside EIT CEO Bernd Schäfer at the EIT RawMaterials Summit 2026 on 20 May in Brussels: https://lnkd.in/dQhJjss