The US Defense Department is seeking information on stockpiling five critical minerals to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and strengthen domestic reserves. The Defense Logistics Agency issued notices for lithium, nickel, tin, chromium, and tellurium, requesting vendor details, product specifications, and market conditions. This initiative reflects growing concerns about reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly China, for materials essential to military and industrial applications.

These requests follow heightened political focus on securing metal supplies, including the White House's recent $12 billion Project Vault initiative for private-sector stockpiling. The DLA is exploring potential acquisitions of substantial quantities: 550 tons of lithium carbonate, 3,500 tons of nickel, and nearly 2,000 tons of tin. The agency is also investigating reprocessing options for tin ingots degraded by tin pest, a cold-temperature phenomenon that turns metal into powder.

Based on current London Metal Exchange prices, the requested tin alone would cost nearly $100 million. The DLA emphasized these notices serve planning purposes only, with responses due by March 19. Companies submitting information should not expect feedback on their submissions.