Critical minerals

Every critical mineral article

28 articles, each built on 5 cited sources.

Latest

Critical mineralsLithium prices are going up again in 2026, and SQM turned a loss into a 588.1 million dollar profitLithium prices are going up in 2026 as demand for battery grade lithium carbonate, a processed form of the metal used in lithium ion battery cells, catches up with a growing supply. The price has risen 82.06% over the past year to about 134,450 yuan a ton, and SQM turned a 404.4 million dollar loss in 2024 into a 588.1 million dollar profit in 2025.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article Critical mineralsRecycling could meet 56% of the critical minerals Europe imports by 2050, European Union research findsA European Union funded project called FutuRaM says recycling could replace 56% of the critical minerals Europe imports by 2050, more than double the 25% domestic recycling floor the law already requires for 2030.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article Critical mineralsThe Department of Energy put 162 million dollars behind recovering critical minerals from industrial waste, and doubled a similar round in 48 daysOn August 18, 2026, the agency selected 9 companies in 6 states to recover minerals such as scandium, copper, antimony and rare earth elements from mine tailings and industrial waste instead of new mines. The selection follows a 75 million dollar round from 48 days earlier, and neither round is a signed contract yet.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article Critical mineralsCore Lithium Finniss mine restart funding totals 307 million Australian dollarsThe board of Core Lithium approved a final investment decision on March 18, 2026, the formal, board level decision that clears a company to actually spend money and start construction, restarting the Finniss lithium mine in the Northern Territory of Australia. The funding behind it totals 307 million Australian dollars in what the company calls its total use of proceeds, made up of 120 million United States dollars in strategic debt from Glencore, InfraVia and Nebari and a separate 120 million Australian dollar equity raise.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article Critical mineralsThe decision on whether there will be a new copper tariff in 2026 is 91 days overdue, and the rate could still reach 30% by 2028Commerce delivered its market update on time, on June 30, 2026, but the government has announced no decision on whether to add a 15% tariff on refined copper in 2027 and 30% in 2028, a gap now about 91 days long.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article Critical mineralsZimbabwe lithium export ban halts 1.13 million tons of concentrate, while a full ban on unprocessed lithium stands for January 2027Zimbabwe halted exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrate on February 25, 2026, calling it action in the national interest, and government data lists the country as the world 4th largest lithium producer with reserves equal to only about 1.4% of the world total.3 minute read. 5 sources.Read the article

The other 22

The White House built a 12 billion dollar critical minerals reserve, more than 13 times bigger than the stockpile it sits beside3 minute read. 5 sources.
Virtus Minerals and Lloyds Metals and Energy now own the Chemaf cobalt mine in Congo, the country that mined 75% of world cobalt in 20243 minute read. 5 sources.
The terbium price jumped 21.6% in July 2026 to a new high of 1,179.54 dollars a kilogram, and it has barely moved since3 minute read. 5 sources.
Rio Tinto ships its first lithium from Argentina and lines up 1.175 billion dollars to finish the Rincon plant3 minute read. 5 sources.
Indonesia cobalt production in 2026 is set to climb to 59,800 metric tons as the Democratic Republic of Congo caps its own exports3 minute read. 5 sources.
A federal watchdog says battery recycling could cut imported minerals within 2 to 3 years3 minute read. 5 sources.
The Pentagon took a 400 million dollar stake in the only major American rare earth miner, and its own price guarantee already costs less than half what it did 2 quarters earlier3 minute read. 5 sources.
Copper shortage 2026 flips a forecast surplus into a 150,000 tonne deficit, and Morgan Stanley calls its own reading the worst in 22 years2 minute read. 5 sources.
Cobalt price discounts are squeezing nickel mining profits in Indonesia, cutting the payable to 67% from 90%3 minute read. 5 sources.
Chile copper production is falling in 2026, down 9% in March as its 3 biggest mines shrank together3 minute read. 5 sources.
Five forecasters size the copper supply gap for 2035, and the numbers run from 6 million metric tons a year to 25% of demand2 minute read. 5 sources.
The Congo copper discovery size grows 30% in 16 months3 minute read. 5 sources.
Albemarle names Ragnar Udd its new chief executive as global lithium demand grows 45%3 minute read. 5 sources.
A federal financing offer for the Aclara rare earth plant in Louisiana3 minute read. 5 sources.
The United States is funding rare earth mines in Africa because private investors are not3 minute read. 5 sources.
Scrap copper prices are rising in 2026 even though the tariff never touched scrap3 minute read. 5 sources.
Inside a rare earth magnet in a wind turbine or an electric car motor sits mostly iron, and China refines 91% of the rest3 minute read. 5 sources.
A fusion startup shows how lithium is enriched for nuclear fusion fuel without the mercury process confined to Russia and China3 minute read. 5 sources.
Energy Fuels rare earth production started in Utah, and a conditional 725 million dollar government loan aims to grow it3 minute read. 5 sources.
Cuba nickel mining investments depended on one company for three decades, until 2026 sanctions forced it out3 minute read. 5 sources.
A pound of copper is worth 6.57 dollars right now, and clean energy demand is part of why3 minute read. 5 sources.
The country that produces the most cobalt in the world does not refine most of it3 minute read. 5 sources.

Back to the home page