What it is
Magnesium is the lightest structural metal — used in automotive and aerospace alloys, electronics casings, and as an alloying element in aluminium.
Why it matters
China produces around 90% via the energy-intensive Pidgeon process. Europe has almost no primary capacity left.
Circular challenges
Whether magnesium re-enters the economy at end-of-life is mostly settled at the design stage. These are the recurring blockers.
Alloy contamination
Magnesium scrap is easily contaminated with iron, nickel, and copper, which destroy corrosion performance — most is downcycled into aluminium alloys.
Energy of primary production
The Pidgeon process is coal-fired; cleaner electrolytic routes exist but are not yet competitive.
Casings shredded
Magnesium laptop and phone casings go through shredders with steel and aluminium; without sorting the magnesium is lost.