The Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex) described the Trump administration’s inclusion of silver on the U.S. list of critical minerals as significant.
For several minerals, the United States relies on imports to meet 20% or more of its domestic demand, and Mexico is a major supplier of some of them.
The U.S. Final Critical Minerals List 2025, compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), identifies raw materials essential to the economy and national defense that are vulnerable to supply disruptions. It includes 60 minerals (such as silver, copper, uranium, lithium, and cobalt) to guide investment priorities and industrial incentives.
U.S. List of Critical Minerals
On November 7, 2025, the U.S. government published the Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Among the changes from the 2022 list was the addition of silver as a critical mineral, along with copper, lead, potash, rhenium, and silicon, based on the USGS’s updated methodology.
Furthermore, following the public and interagency consultation process, boron, metallurgical coal, phosphate rock, and uranium were also added.
“The inclusion of silver on this list reflects its growing strategic importance for industrial and technological sectors, particularly in applications related to the energy transition, electrification, and advanced technologies,” said Camimex.
Silver: A Precious and Industrial Metal
Silver stands out as both a precious and industrial metal. Its role as a store of value sustains its price during times of economic uncertainty. Likewise, its physical properties make it indispensable for a growing number of industrial applications.
Industry currently accounts for 59% of total silver consumption. Furthermore, the manufacture of photovoltaic solar panels represents nearly one-fifth of global demand, up from 5% a decade ago, according to the Silver Institute.
Key Uses in the Global Market
Other notable industrial uses include electronics, components for electric vehicles, and brazing alloys. Finally, the metal retains its traditional applications in the jewelry and silverware sectors.
In 2025, silver mining production in Mexico reached 168.2 million ounces. This figure represented a 7.1% decline compared to 2024, according to official data from INEGI.
Silver mining in the country shows a marked geographic concentration. Zacatecas remained the leading producing state, accounting for 41.8% of the national total and consolidating its historic leadership in the sector.