Indonesia tightens control on nickel as the US and China scramble for critical minerals

Indonesia is tightening state control over the world´s largest nickel supply after years of betting the metal would anchor a homegrown electric-vehicle industry, and just as global demand begins shifting away from heavy reliance on nickel. The move could still ripple through global EV supply chains as the United States and China compete for critical minerals. Indonesia sits at the center of …

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Romania aims to become global player in rare metals sector – energy minister

Romania’s energy minister Bogdan Ivan said the country could become a global player in the rare metals industry and plans to build its own refining capacity. “Today, Romania has among the largest automotive and industrial wiring companies, which import huge quantities of copper from India, China or Turkey, most of it from ore mined in Romania,” Ivan said for local …

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Critical minerals: can Mexico compete without new concessions?

Mexico outlined an international strategy on critical minerals amid a geopolitical landscape marked by supply concentration in China and the industrial repositioning of advanced economies, while keeping the granting of new mining concessions suspended, which raises questions about its ability to compete in this global race. The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum set as its central axis the defense of sovereignty …

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New Zealand catches flak for ‘secret’ US critical minerals talks

Opposition parties accuse the ruling coalition of keeping voters in the dark, fearing a fast track to environmental damage. New Zealand’s government has come under fire for keeping its talks with the United States over critical minerals under wraps, as opposition parties level accusations of secrecy amid mounting concern about environmental damage and foreign influence. Analysts say Wellington is reluctant to promote …

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Kazakhstan, U.S. sign major $1.1bn deal on critical minerals

Tau-Ken Samruk, a portfolio company of the Samruk-Kazyna Fund, and Cove Kaz Capital Group LLC (Cove Capital) have signed a package of transaction documents, Qazinform News Agency reports. The documents include a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and a Shareholders’ Agreement (FA) for a strategic investment project in the critical minerals sector, according to the press service of Samruk-Kazyna. The signing …

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Brazil Has the World’s Second-Largest Rare Earth Reserves but No Strategy for What to Do With Them

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives in New Delhi on February 18 for a state visit that will include bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the signing of roughly 14 agreements. Among them is a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals and rare earths — materials essential for batteries, chips, and the broader energy transition. The MOU is meant …

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Copper price eases as global smelting activity hits decade low 

After rallying through 2025 (not without some deep troughs) and into this year driven by supply disruptions in Indonesia and South America alongside tariff disruptions, copper prices are pulling back again.  Copper for March delivery fell over 3% in New York to $5.78 a lb. or $12,740 a tonne on Thursday and is now trading 12% below highs hit just …

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Global mining at inflection point as demand for critical minerals surges

Global mining is at an inflection point: demand for critical minerals, underpinned by the low-carbon transition, defence spend, transport electrification and data centres is accelerating in an environment where supply is rising, metals prices are volatile and government intervention is scaling up, said BDO Audit Partner and UK Head of Natural Resources and Energy, Matt Crane. He was writing in …

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Nickel price rally meets scepticism over Indonesia output cut

Nickel prices surged late last year after Indonesia announced plans to slash ore production by a third in 2026 – but analysts at Panmure Liberum are urging caution. The move would see output fall by 34% from 2025’s level of 379 million tonnes. Given that Indonesia accounts for over 60% of global mined supply, the initial announcement triggered a sharp …

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