A CRMA supply-chain risk term for undertakings whose reliable functioning is important for critical raw material supply.
Key market operators identifies the CRMA actors whose reliable functioning matters for critical raw material supply. The term covers relevant supply-chain undertakings and downstream consumers, but it is not every supplier, customer or company that handles raw materials.
This page is anchored in CRMA Article 2, point 27. It focuses on undertakings in the Union’s critical raw materials supply chain and downstream undertakings consuming critical raw materials where their reliable functioning matters for supply; it is not every supplier or customer in a commercial chain.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials
undertakings in the Union’s critical raw materials supply chain and downstream undertakings consuming critical raw materials, the reliable functioning of which is essential for the supply of critical raw materials
CRMA Article 2 source-specific definition layer.
Reference: Article 2, point 27
Use key market operators when mapping which actors may matter for supply-risk monitoring, mitigation strategies or resilience planning. It helps separate ordinary counterparties from undertakings whose disruption could affect critical raw material availability.
Supply-chain maps can become noisy if every actor is treated as equally critical. The key market operators concept gives Minespider-style evidence systems a way to flag actors whose continuity is relevant to supply-risk analysis while keeping that label separate from due-diligence roles, project promoters and offtakers.