Marine Mining Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Marine Mining Market is projected to expand significantly, rising from USD 4.06 Billion in 2025 to USD 24.26 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 34.71%. This sector centers on the harvesting of mineral resources like seafloor massive sulfides, polymetallic nodules, and cobalt-rich crusts from the deep ocean floor. The market's momentum is largely sustained by the escalating worldwide need for critical metals essential for renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicle batteries, combined with the deteriorating quality of land-based ore grades, prompting nations and companies to seek alternative supplies for energy security and the green transition.

However, the industry encounters a major hurdle regarding the implementation of a comprehensive regulatory and environmental governance framework, known as the Mining Code. The postponement in finalizing these international exploitation rules generates uncertainty for stakeholders wishing to move from exploration to commercial production. According to the International Seabed Authority, 21 contractors held 30 contracts for deep-sea mineral exploration in 2024, highlighting that the sector remains confined to the assessment stage while it awaits necessary legal clarification.

Market Drivers

The primary force driving the global marine mining market is the skyrocketing demand for metals used in electric vehicle batteries. As car manufacturers accelerate production to meet decarbonization goals, the shortage of land-based nickel and cobalt supplies has fueled the pursuit of high-grade seabed alternatives. This disparity between supply and demand is highlighted by forecasts; according to the Canadian Mining Journal in January 2024, global demand for copper and rare earth metals is expected to increase by 40% by 2030. Industry participants are reacting by allocating substantial capital to develop extraction technologies despite market fluctuations, evidenced by The Metals Company reporting $11.8 million in exploration and evaluation expenses in their November 2024 update.

Concurrently, strategic efforts to achieve mineral supply chain sovereignty are transforming the regulatory environment of the sector. Governments are prioritizing the localization of critical mineral sourcing to lower reliance on foreign suppliers and mitigate geopolitical risks, leading nations to formally permit exploration within their exclusive economic zones rather than solely international waters. A significant milestone in this trend occurred when the Norwegian parliament, as reported by Reuters in January 2024, voted to open 280,000 square kilometers of national waters for mineral exploration, establishing a precedent for resource security strategies led by the state.

Market Challenges

The primary obstacle impeding the commercial advancement of the Global Marine Mining Market is the lack of a finalized environmental governance and regulatory framework, specifically the Mining Code. This regulatory gap creates a governance vacuum that hinders contractors from progressing from exploration to exploitation, effectively pausing the industry's potential for revenue generation. Without established international rules regarding environmental limits, operational standards, and royalty payments, mining firms are unable to secure the long-term insurance or capital investment needed for commercial extraction, leaving them in a state of uncertainty where cash is consumed by research and maintenance without a clear timeline for financial returns.

This issue is exacerbated by rising environmental and geopolitical opposition within the regulatory body, which extends the stalemate. According to the International Seabed Authority in 2024, 32 member nations officially called for a precautionary pause or moratorium on deep-sea mining, making the consensus required to adopt exploitation regulations significantly harder to achieve. This growing diplomatic resistance delays the Mining Code's finalization and indicates a volatile legal landscape that discourages technology partners and institutional investors from entering the market, thereby freezing its commercial growth prospects.

Market Trends

The sector is maturing through the acceleration of commercial-scale pilot mining tests in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, as contractors shift toward rigorous economic validation. Leading industry players are issuing detailed pre-feasibility studies to quantify the financial viability of polymetallic nodule projects, creating a benchmark for commercial operations. For instance, The Northern Miner reported in August 2025 that The Metals Company released a prefeasibility study for its NORI-D block, showing an after-tax net present value of $5.5 billion, which provides stakeholders with the economic confidence needed to move toward final investment decisions despite ongoing regulatory uncertainties.

Simultaneously, there is a shift toward state-sponsored deep-sea mineral exploration programs, where governments intervene directly to ensure independence in critical minerals. Distinct from private companies targeting international waters, these state-led initiatives focus on extracting resources from their own Exclusive Economic Zones to reduce geopolitical supply risks, moving from policy phases to operational testing. As noted by Oceanographic Magazine in July 2025, the Japanese government has confirmed plans to begin deep-sea mud extraction trials near Minamitori Island by January 2026, establishing a market tier driven by sovereign security interests rather than purely commercial motives.

Key Players Profiled in the Marine Mining Market

• Keppel Ltd.
• China Minmetals Corporation
• DFR Gold Inc.
• IHC group
• UK Seabed Resources Ltd.
• Nautilus Minerals Inc.
• Ocean Minerals, LLC
• Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd.
• The Metals Company
• BHP Group PLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Marine Mining Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Marine Mining Market, by Technology:

• Remotely Operated Vehicles
• SONAR
• Marine Seismic Methods

Marine Mining Market, by Metal:

• Silver
• Gold
• Copper
• Zinc.
• Others

Marine Mining Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Marine Mining Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.