Metals & Mining
The metal industries process non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, and zinc; and ferrous materials such as steel. Both sectors are very important to the EU’s economy, competitiveness, and industrial development. The EU metallic minerals sector produces a wide range of ores yielding metals or metallic substances. The EU is an important producer of chromium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc. However, most metallic ores that supply the European metallic industry are imported. Only a few EU countries have active mines. They include Austria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.