A sharp rise in global export restrictions on critical industrial raw materials is reshaping the geopolitical trade landscape, according to a new OECD report, intensifying pressure on Europe to secure strategic supplies and highlighting the growing role of companies like Greece's Metlen in the continent's industrial autonomy drive. A new OECD report has revealed a sharp escalation in export restrictions on industrial raw materials, underscoring a global shift toward protectionism and strategic control of critical mineral resources. The 2025 OECD Inventory of Export Restrictions on Industrial Raw Materials outlines a significant tightening of the international trade environment, with the number of verified restrictions increasing more than fivefold between 2009 and 2023. This trend is closely tied to rising geopolitical tensions and the increasing strategic importance of raw materials such as cobalt, rare earths, and graphite. The year...