The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that global copper demand, driven by the transition to low-carbon energy systems, will outpace supply by as much as 30% by 2035 if new investments and projects do not materialize. The agency’s latest Global Critical Minerals Outlook highlights that copper—a metal essential for electrical grids, renewable energy, and...
READ MOREIndia’s government is preparing to defend its recent restrictions on copper cathode imports, arguing that there is adequate domestic supply and a sufficient number of certified suppliers, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The dispute stems from a petition filed with the Bombay High Court by the Bombay Metal Exchange and the Bombay...
READ MOREThe government of Guinea has initiated the process of withdrawing Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) mining licence, escalating a dispute over customs duties that began in October 2024. The move follows the suspension of EGA’s bauxite exports and mining operations in the country. According to sources cited by Reuters, Guinea has officially notified EGA of the...
READ MOREThe Trump administration has moved to expedite federal permitting for U.S. mining projects, adding Resolution Copper in Arizona and several others to the Federal Permitting Dashboard as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains. The dashboard, managed under the FAST-41 initiative, is designed to increase transparency and accountability in the permitting...
READ MOREAustralia’s government has announced plans to establish a $1.2 billion (USD 760 million) strategic reserve of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on China and strengthen the country’s position in global supply chains. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese detailed the initiative on April 24, stating that the reserve will focus on 31 minerals vital for modern...
READ MOREStandard Lithium and ExxonMobil subsidiary Saltwerx LLC are seeking approval from the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) to establish lithium brine production units covering over 77,000 acres in Lafayette, Miller, and Columbia counties. The applications, set for review on April 22, mark a critical step toward commercial lithium extraction in the Smackover Formation, which...
READ MOREAustralia’s ability to produce basic metals such as copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and steel is under threat as aging smelters and refineries struggle to compete against subsidized Chinese operations. Multinational commodity firms Trafigura and Glencore are urging federal and state governments to intervene, framing metal processing as a national security imperative. Trafigura, which operates the...
READ MOREUS businessman James Cameron has made a $5 billion offer to acquire Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a major Luxembourg-based mining conglomerate with significant operations in Kazakhstan and Africa. The bid, confirmed in a letter sent to ERG’s board, comes as the company prepares to participate in a major expansion of Kazakhstan’s rare earths output, aiming...
READ MOREThe Trump administration has moved to accelerate domestic mineral production by granting priority permitting status to ten major mining projects under the FAST-41 program, a federal initiative designed to streamline approvals for critical infrastructure. This action, announced by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, is a direct response to President Trump’s March 20 executive order,...
READ MOREMP Materials, operator of the only rare earths mine in the United States, has stopped shipping rare earth elements to China after Beijing imposed new export controls and a 125% tariff on U.S. rare earth imports. The move is part of a broader effort to “reindustrialize” the U.S. minerals supply chain and reduce dependence on...
READ MOREThe Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) posted an 8% month-over-month gain, reflecting a period of intense volatility for the U.S. precious metals market. Over the past five weeks, prices have been pulled in different directions by persistent inflation, shifting interest rate expectations, new tariffs, and escalating geopolitical risks. These forces have driven dramatic...
READ MOREIndonesia has enacted a new royalty framework for metal producers, linking levies to commodity prices in a bid to boost state revenue for key government initiatives. The updated rules were outlined in a regulation document issued on April 11 and take effect 15 days after registration. Under the changes, the previous fixed 10% royalty on...
READ MORECanada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced a series of relief measures aimed at easing the burden of countermeasure tariffs on Canadian businesses and institutions impacted by the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. One key initiative is a performance-based tariff remission framework for automakers. Companies that continue to manufacture vehicles in Canada will...
READ MOREThe U.S.-China trade war has intensified, with the Trump administration imposing a sweeping 104% tariff on Chinese goods. This escalation comes after Beijing refused to remove retaliatory levies on U.S. exports, prompting fears of further disruptions in global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. China dominates the global production...
READ MOREThe South Korean government has formally requested that the United States exempt its copper products from potential import tariffs under the ongoing Section 232 investigation into copper imports. The investigation, initiated on February 25, 2025, by an executive order from President Donald Trump, aims to evaluate whether copper imports pose a threat to U.S. national...
READ MORECanadian miner Platinum Group Metals (PTM) is considering building a converter matte furnace in South Africa to process concentrate from its proposed Waterberg platinum mine, following pressure from the South African government to prioritize local beneficiation. This shift comes after PTM’s initial plan to export concentrate to a Saudi Arabian smelter faced resistance over national...
READ MOREThe European Union has approved a series of countermeasures in response to tariffs imposed by the United States on aluminium imports. On April 9, EU member states voted overwhelmingly in favor of the European Commission’s proposal to levy additional duties ranging from 10% to 25% on various American goods. These tariffs will begin to take...
READ MOREAccording to the latest update from the U.S. Geological Survey, primary aluminum production in the United States reached 57,000 metric tons in December 2024. The average daily production for the month was 1,850 metric tons, slightly up from 1,840 metric tons in November 2024 but down by 10% compared to both December 2023 and December...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (Amplats) CEO Craig Miller has expressed interest in expanding the company’s Unki mine in Zimbabwe but emphasized that fiscal and policy instability in the country remains a significant obstacle. Speaking at a platinum group metals (PGM) conference, Miller described Unki as a “fantastic asset” but noted that Zimbabwe’s challenging fiscal environment does...
READ MOREAnglo-Swiss mining giant Glencore has entered negotiations with the Australian federal government and Queensland state authorities regarding the future of its Mount Isa copper complex, including two mines, the Mount Isa smelter, and the Townsville refinery. The company plans to close its Mount Isa mines by late 2025 due to declining ore grades and rising...
READ MOREChina, Japan, and South Korea held their first economic dialogue in five years on March 30, 2025, focusing on regional trade and supply chain resilience as they brace for new tariffs from the United States. While Chinese state media claimed the three nations agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, officials from Japan and South...
READ MOREThe European Union has announced a list of 47 strategic projects aimed at enhancing the domestic extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials essential for its energy transition and industrial security. These projects align with the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which sets ambitious targets for 2030: extracting 10%, processing 40%, and recycling 25%...
READ MOREThe European Commission has introduced countervailing duties on Moroccan aluminum wheel exports, citing subsidies that allegedly harm the European industry. Under Implementation Regulation No. 2025/500, issued on March 14, tariffs of 31.45% will apply to Dika Morocco Africa and 5.60% to Hands 8. This decision follows an investigation initiated in February 2024 after a complaint...
READ MOREAluminium Deutschland has raised alarm over the potential consequences of the United States’ recent 25% tariff on aluminum imports, which notably excludes aluminum scrap. On 12th March, the Trump-Vance administration enforced 25% tariffs on imports of steel, aluminium, and products containing these metals. The primary concern is that US-based companies will continue to purchase aluminum...
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