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Traceability systems are becoming more widely used across critical-mineral supply chains, although adoption remains uneven and fragmented, according to a new report from the OECD.
The report, Enhancing Resilience Through Traceability: Insights from Lithium and Nickel Supply Chains in Latin America and Southeast Asia, examines lithium supply chains in Argentina and Chile and nickel supply chains in Indonesia and the Philippines. It draws on an OECD-IEA survey of 90 companies across critical-mineral value chains, supplemented by stakeholder interviews and site visits.
The OECD says reliable supply-chain data is becoming increasingly important as governments and industry seek to strengthen the resilience of critical-mineral supply chains. Traceability can provide information on the origin and production conditions of minerals, as well as provenance, grade, ownership and chain of custody.
In practice, companies are using a combination of supply-chain mapping, mass balance and auditing to improve visibility, often as part of broader due-diligence programmes. However, the report says existing traceability systems remain fragmented.
