China released April export data this week, including rare earth numbers. In addition, MP Materials, the only major U.S. rare earth miner, reported quarterly earnings, while its Australian counterpart Lynas announced plans to expand abroad—the details in our roundup.
China’s Rare Earth Export Volumes See Mixed Trends
China exported 4,784.8 tons of rare earths in April, marking a 4.8% increase compared to the same month last year, customs data shows. However, exports were down by approximately 15.6% from March 2025. The decline follows Beijing’s introduction of export controls on April 4 targeting seven of the 17 rare earth elements and their various compounds.
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MP Materials Reports Revenue Growth and Production Record – But Still in the Red
MP Materials has released its first-quarter results. The U.S. rare earth company reported higher revenue and production volumes but still posted a net loss of $22.6 million, citing increased production costs as the main reason.
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Lynas Eyes Rare Earths Projects in Brazil and Malaysia
Lynas aims to position itself as the leading alternative to China in the rare earth sector. In addition to processing facilities in Malaysia and Australia, the company is now exploring new strategies, including working with juniors in Brazil and Malaysia. Geological similarities to Myanmar, one of the most important global sources of heavy rare earths, make both countries particularly attractive. These have drawn increased attention since China introduced export restrictions on them in early April.
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CIA Backs Critical Mineral Startup Alta Resource Technologies
Critical minerals startup Alta Resource Technologies uses protein engineering to extract rare earths from unconventional sources such as mining waste and end-of-life electronics. The CIA’s investment arm joined its latest funding round, underscoring the U.S. government’s growing focus on securing domestic critical mineral supply chains.
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Resource Wealth Meets Technical Expertise: Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Plan Mining Deal
The United States and Saudi Arabia seek to strengthen their cooperation in the mining and mineral resources sector. A corresponding agreement was announced ahead of an upcoming state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. Saudi Arabia is seeking to reduce its economic dependence on oil production and is turning to its mineral wealth as part of that effort.
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