BRICS Leans on Resource Strength to Build Sanctions-Resilient Trade

BRICS leaders, among them Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have pressed for closer economic cooperation, sturdier supply chains and trade corridors less exposed to sanctions and geopolitical shocks. The push comes as tariffs, sanctions and trade restrictions continue to redraw global commerce.

Rare earths

Rare earths have become among the most contested strategic resources as clean energy and advanced manufacturing expand. They underpin electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, semiconductors and defence systems.

BRICS countries together hold roughly 85 per cent of global rare earth reserves. China alone accounts for nearly half the world total, at 48.9 per cent, followed by Brazil at 23.3 per cent, India at 7.7 per cent, Russia at 4.2 per cent and South Africa at 1 per cent, according to 2025 US Geological Survey data.

Oil reserves

Oil remains central to energy security and industrial activity. BRICS members hold about 40.7 per cent of proven global oil reserves. Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE and Russia together account for 37.8 per cent of the world total — a concentration that gives the grouping considerable sway over energy markets.

Food output

Food self-sufficiency has become a first line of defence when conflicts disrupt trade and prices climb. BRICS accounts for 57.4 per cent of global food production, with China and India together generating nearly half of the world's output. That dominance supports domestic food security and offers some cushion against inflation and supply-chain disruption.

Alternative routes

The Iran conflict has shown how distant economies can be hurt by shipping disruptions. Interruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint, have raised oil, gas and freight costs and added to global inflationary pressure.

To limit such exposure, BRICS countries are exploring alternative corridors, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Russia's proposed eastern and Arctic shipping routes. These are intended to cut distances, avoid strategic chokepoints and lower transport costs.

Taken together, the bloc's strengths in food, energy, critical minerals and alternative routes point to greater economic self-reliance. It still depends on the West for advanced semiconductors and high-end technology, but its grip on strategic resources is steadily widening its room to absorb sanctions, supply disruptions and geopolitical shocks.