Faith Nyasuguta
Two little-known metals are suddenly commanding global attention and Africa sits at the center of the storm.
Prices for ruthenium and tantalite, critical materials used in everything from smartphones and cloud computing servers to aerospace components and artificial intelligence systems, have surged to multi-year highs. Analysts say tight supplies and rapidly expanding demand from high-tech industries are pushing the market into unfamiliar territory.
At the heart of the supply chain are two African nations: South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
South Africa dominates global production of ruthenium, a rare metal belonging to the platinum group metals family. The metal has climbed sharply in value, reaching roughly $1,750 per ounce in recent months – more than triple its price just a year ago.
Market specialists say the surge is being driven by a quiet but powerful shift in technology demand. Ruthenium plays an important role in electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, and chemical catalysts. As artificial intelligence expands and cloud computing infrastructure grows, the need for advanced data storage and processing hardware is rising rapidly.
But the supply side remains rigid. Unlike many other minerals, ruthenium is not mined directly. Instead, it is produced as a by-product of platinum-group metal mining, meaning global supply is tied to broader platinum production levels. Because most platinum mining happens in South Africa, the country has an outsized influence on the ruthenium market.
Industry analysts warn the situation could tighten further. Some forecasts suggest a global supply deficit could emerge within the next few years, as demand outpaces the limited volumes available. While South Africa holds sway over ruthenium, the story of tantalite unfolds further north in Central Africa.
Tantalite is the primary source of tantalum, a metal used to manufacture tiny but powerful capacitors found in smartphones, computers, medical devices and aerospace equipment. It is also becoming increasingly important in technologies tied to AI infrastructure and high-performance electronics.
Prices for tantalum materials have surged dramatically this year, with European markets reporting levels between $200 and $210 per pound – the highest prices seen in more than two decades.
The spike follows disruption at the Rubaya columbite-tantalite mine in eastern Congo, one of the region’s most significant sources of supply. A landslide at the site halted operations, sending shockwaves through global markets already nervous about supply constraints.
The mine lies in a region where armed groups have long complicated mineral extraction and trade. Although much of the tantalum eventually flows into international markets – often through processing hubs in Asia – any disruption in the Congolese supply chain quickly reverberates across global electronics manufacturing.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for more than half of global tantalum production in 2025, highlighting its importance in the tech minerals economy.
Meanwhile, pressures are also building in South Africa’s mining sector. Data from Statistics South Africa show that platinum-group metal production declined slightly in early 2025, reflecting years of limited investment in new mining projects.
For analysts, the message is becoming clear: as artificial intelligence accelerates and advanced technologies demand more specialized materials, Africa’s mineral resources are becoming increasingly strategic.
With supply disruptions mounting and demand climbing, metals like ruthenium and tantalum are no longer obscure industrial materials. They are rapidly becoming some of the most critical ingredients in the global technology race – and Africa holds many of the keys.
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