Vietnam’s Mining and Construction Industries: Pressure to Transform in Response to Global Trends

The green energy transition is creating a strategic shift in the global mining industry, and Vietnam is certainly no exception. As demand for essential minerals such as lithium, copper, rare earth elements and nickel is projected to increase three- to sevenfold to support clean-energy products and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the pressure to innovate—from mining automation to the development of green materials—is becoming a matter of survival for domestic mining companies. This will also be a key topic of discussion at Mining & Construction Vietnam 2027, the international exhibition for the mining and construction industries, taking place from 20–22 April 2027 at the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) in Dong Anh, Hanoi.

1. Pressure from Global Mineral Demand Trends

According to recent reports on key mineral markets, the trade value of minerals supporting the energy transition has doubled in just five years and is projected to increase three- to fourfold between 2030 and 2040 compared with 2020. Lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements—the “materials of the future” for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and smart grids—are experiencing unprecedented growth in demand.

However, these opportunities are accompanied by systemic risks. Global mineral supply chains are currently highly concentrated, with most refining activities for strategic minerals still controlled by only a small number of countries. Meanwhile, global mineral recycling rates remain very low, investment in new mines is becoming increasingly expensive, and the development of a mine can take more than a decade. This is an opportunity that resource-rich countries, including Vietnam, can take advantage of if they move quickly to transform their technologies and production models.

2. Where Does Vietnam’s Mining Industry Stand in This Transition?

Vietnam possesses significant reserves of minerals that support clean energy, including rare earth elements, titanium, copper, nickel, and tungsten. However, most businesses in the industry continue to operate under an extraction and primary-processing model, without fully utilising modern technologies, while added value remains limited. A large proportion of minerals extracted today is still exported as concentrates or semi-processed products. This makes it difficult for Vietnamese companies to participate more deeply in the global value chain for energy minerals and leaves them vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices.

In addition, environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards are increasingly becoming mandatory requirements for accessing demanding markets such as the United States, the European Union and Japan. Early modernisation of technologies and production processes will help Vietnamese mining companies strengthen their position and participate more deeply in the emerging global green supply chain.

Therefore, technological innovation in two parallel directions—operational automation and the development of green materials and processes—is becoming an inevitable strategic direction for Vietnam’s mining industry.

3. Automation – A Driver of Efficiency, Safety and Competitiveness

As the global mining industry faces increasing pressure related to productivity, occupational safety and emissions, digital transformation and automation have become top priorities for mining companies operating both open-pit and underground mines. The application of Industry 4.0 technologies—such as remotely controlled mining equipment, real-time operational monitoring systems, mine environmental sensors and big data analytics—not only helps minimise the risk of workplace accidents but also optimises productivity and reduces energy and resource consumption at every stage of production.

For Vietnam, investment in mining automation and advanced mineral processing—including green metallurgy, hydrometallurgy and electrorefining—will help businesses expand their value chains from raw materials to deeply processed products, improve profit margins and better meet the stringent requirements of international markets. This is also why policies supporting green credit and tax incentives for businesses investing in advanced processing technologies are being recommended to accelerate the transition.