Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break China’s Grip on Rare Earths

The struggle for geopolitical supremacy is rapidly becoming a struggle over one critical resource – rare earth magnets. They will determine whether the United States can build military equipment at scale, whether weapons can be replaced as fast as they are used, and whether industry can keep pace with demand across an economy measured in the tens of trillions of …

Continue Reading

Why has Zimbabwe banned lithium export?

The largest lithium producer in Africa, Zimbabwe has suspended all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports after the government alleged malpractices and leakages, raising concerns about stability of supply. Zimbabwe on Wednesday suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect after the government alleged malpractices and leakages. The country’s mines ministry said the ban on exports …

Continue Reading

Critical minerals need reliable financing frameworks

In critical minerals policy, one of the costliest things we can say is ‘we signed a memorandum of understanding’. Public announcements can signal intent, but they don’t build processing plants, turn ore into usable materials or keep factories running when supply is tight. What must change is how projects in the middle of the supply chain are funded and backed. …

Continue Reading

Trump’s Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

Long before trade wars and tariffs, China secured manufacturing dominance by controlling rare earths – a reality so consequential that the United States and its allies are now pledging more than $8.5 billion just to claw back some control of the supply chain. As global manufacturing expanded over the past two decades, rare earth processing was steadily pushed out of Western supply …

Continue Reading

UK strikes critical minerals deal with Kazakhstan

U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will announce a critical minerals deal with Kazakhstan on Thursday as the West scrambles to diversify its supply chains away from China. Britain’s top diplomat will host foreign ministers from the five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan — at Lancaster House in London. Cooper will unveil the critical minerals deal with …

Continue Reading

Japan to Support Rare Earth Development in Malaysia

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has announced that it will provide Malaysia with technical assistance for the development of critical minerals, including rare earths. This will be the first case of Japan’s technical cooperation with Malaysia in rare earth development. JICA will send experts in resource geology and environmental chemistry to the Southeast Asian country to help develop environmentally friendly …

Continue Reading

Silver rises sharply on safe-haven demand amid trade, geopolitical risks

Silver (XAG/USD) accelerates on Wednesday and trades around $90.70 at the time of writing, up 3.90% on the day. The white metal benefits from an environment marked by rising trade and geopolitical uncertainties, which revives demand for safe-haven assets. The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump of a 10% tariff increase on imports from all trading partners continues to fuel …

Continue Reading

South Korea and Brazil Elevate Ties with Strategic Minerals and Trade Pact

South Korea and Brazil have agreed to significantly deepen cooperation across key minerals, trade, technology and security, as President Lee Jae Myung hosted Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Seoul for the first Brazilian state visit in more than two decades. South Korea and Brazil have agreed to significantly deepen cooperation across key minerals, trade, technology and security, …

Continue Reading