Rare Earths & Critical Minerals

Shin-Etsu Chemical plans a third rare earth refinery in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, its first new domestic facility since 2008. The project targets stable supply of elements like dysprosium and terbium for neodymium magnets used in EVs and defense, with potential government subsidies covering half the over 35 billion yen cost. It advances non-Chinese supply chain diversification for permanent magnets. Read →

Reliance, Vedanta and Adani are among about 10 groups interested in building rare earth processing facilities in Andhra Pradesh, which holds significant beach sand mineral reserves. New Delhi is identifying states for rare earth corridors to reduce reliance on China. The interest signals accelerating private-sector push into critical minerals processing outside Chinese dominance. Read →

China's exports of seven restricted rare earths, including dysprosium and terbium, to Japan fell more than 80% year-on-year in March and April. Limits imposed by Beijing's Ministry of Commerce in April 2025 triggered the drop. Japanese companies now pursue sourcing from Australia and India plus recycling to secure supply for magnets and defense uses. Read →

The U.S.-China Business Council reported that export controls and licensing delays keep certain rare earth elements nearly unobtainable for U.S. companies. Three-quarters of affected firms are actively seeking new suppliers. The controls, enacted April 2025 in response to U.S. tariffs, persist despite prior summit commitments. Read →

Governments have signed more than 70 critical minerals agreements since 2021 to cut China dependence. Over 60% remain non-binding MOUs or frameworks without project finance or offtake commitments. China still controls 60-90% of rare-earth refining capacity across key supply chains. Read →

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that its months-long export ban on rare earth products to Japan remains in place, classifying them as dual-use materials for military purposes. The US had requested resumption at a May meeting to protect global high-tech supply chains. The restrictions, which have already cut exports by up to 80%, underscore Beijing's leverage in permanent-magnet feedstocks amid Taiwan tensions. Read →

Shin-Etsu Chemical will build a rare-earth smelter in Fukui Prefecture, its first new facility there in 18 years, to process materials domestically. The move targets reduced reliance on Chinese refining for EV, chip, and magnet supply chains. It follows reports of a potential $220 million investment and aligns with Japan's broader diversification push. Read →

Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin said the island plans a pilot-scale rare earth production line within three years to meet about half of domestic demand via recycling and refining imported concentrates. Taipei is pursuing purchases from the US and talks with Australia and Canada to build non-Chinese chains. ITRI technology development supports the effort amid China's export controls. Read →

The Trump administration requested Beijing resume rare earth shipments to Japan during May talks and plans to raise the issue at the upcoming G7 summit. Exports to Japan have been banned, threatening Japanese high-tech manufacturing including MRI equipment that supplies the US market. Prolonged shortages risk broader supply chain damage for advanced diagnostics and other Japan-made products. Read →

Western companies are investing heavily in Brazil's rare earth deposits, the world's second-largest after China, to build separation, metal production and magnet manufacturing capacity. Brazil aims to process minerals domestically but avoids aligning exclusively with Washington or Beijing. The move targets loosening China's grip on EV, wind and defense supply chains. Read →

The U.S. Department of Energy selected two projects for $134 million to extract and refine rare earth elements from industrial waste streams. One project, led by Colorado School of Mines and ElementUSA, will build a facility in Louisiana targeting 150-1,000 metric tons annually from bauxite tailings. The second, by Phoenix Tailings with MIT, will demonstrate high-purity rare earth metal production in Oklahoma from industrial waste. Read →

Focus Graphite completed the air quality assessment for its Lac Knife graphite project in Quebec as it progresses toward environmental and social impact assessment completion. The move supports development of a high-purity flake graphite deposit critical for battery and defense applications. It follows recent Canadian federal funding of up to C$1.38 million for infrastructure planning at the site. Read →

Beijing tightened export controls, causing China’s rare earth exports to Japan to fall more than 80% in recent data. The drop creates immediate supply pressure for Japanese auto and high-tech sectors reliant on the materials. It underscores ongoing geopolitical leverage in critical minerals flows beyond prior U.S.-focused restrictions. Read →

USA Rare Earth executed definitive agreements with the US Department of Commerce for up to $277 million in federal grants and $1.3 billion in senior secured loans under the CHIPS Act. The package, first signaled in January, funds the company's Texas Round Top mine development, Oklahoma magnet lines, and planned South Carolina and international facilities targeting 10,000 tonnes annual magnet capacity. It bolsters the only scaled US heavy rare earth platform outside China, directly addressing dysprosium and magnet supply risks for defense and EVs. Read →

The Department of Energy selected projects in Louisiana and Oklahoma for $134 million to extract rare earth elements from waste streams and build a demonstration plant converting materials to high-purity metals. The funding targets domestic processing gaps for elements including neodymium and dysprosium. It advances friend-shoring by creating new non-Chinese supply routes from industrial byproducts. Read →

The DOE's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation issued a $150 million funding notice for pilot-scale projects recovering and processing critical minerals like rare earths from US ore, waste, and recycled sources. It follows May selections of 19 projects and supports technologies for magnesium and REE separation. The move accelerates domestic capacity to counter China export controls on neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. Read →