Overview & mission
German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA) was established in 2010 by decree of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It operates as an information and consulting centre for mineral raw materials, embedded in the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR).
DERA’s mission is to help ensure a secure, affordable and sustainable supply of mineral raw materials for Germany, especially in the context of energy transition and emerging technologies.
It continuously monitors international commodity markets, assesses price and supply risks, and advises industry, government and stakeholders.
Structure & expertise
DERA draws on multidisciplinary expertise from geology, economics, mining, and processing.
It builds on the established scientific and technical infrastructure of BGR. Located in Berlin-Spandau (relocated from Hannover in 2012), DERA is staffed by around 22 experts. DERA functions as a central competence, advisory and information platform for mineral raw materials and recycling materials. It liaises with international networks, governments, industry, and research institutions to build supply-chain resilience.
Services, tools & outputs
DERA publishes Rohstoffinformationen (raw material information reports) analysing demand, supply, market dynamics, and risk in selected materials. It maintains Preismonitor (price monitor), a monthly update of price developments for around 80 mineral and ~20 recycling raw materials, including historical trends. Under its Produkte section, DERA issues thematic studies (e.g. rare earths, recycling, resource efficiency) and pilot projects identifying new raw material potentials. Through Rohstoffmonitoring, DERA delivers overview and detailed analyses of supply, demand and price trends.
Link to sustainable finance & relevance
In the context of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and sustainable investment, DERA’s market risk assessments, supply-chain information and resource efficiency analyses are valuable inputs. These outputs help investors, companies and policy makers to evaluate exposure to raw material risk, identify opportunities in recycling or alternative sourcing, and align with sustainable finance strategies.
Our mission is to contribute to a secure, affordable and sustainable mineral raw material supply for Germany.
