Raw Materials : Germany

Germany’s supply of raw materials is at present secure. Imports consist of ores, concentrates and ferro-alloys from commodity-producing countries and of supplies from Western European industrial countries who, though they have no raw materials of their own, have the necessary processing industries (foundries, refineries). But apart from exploring new sources of energy at home and abroad, Germany is also trying to reduce raw material consumption. Growing importance attaches to the recycling of used materials (see chapter “Environmental protection”). The commodity-using industries maintain adequate reserves in case supply is disrupted. In order to safeguard supplies of commodities, the Federal Republic above all needs well-functioning markets. Its relations with the commodity-producing countries, many of whom are underdeveloped in industrial terms, are based on the following principles:

maintaining world economic growth and efficiency;
stabilizing commodity export earnings, especially in the least developed countries, and ensuring continuous supplies;

accelerating the industrialization process in the developing countries and facilitating the technology transfer from industrial countries;