The EU is unveiling a new strategy to secure critical raw material reserves. In Australia, Arafura is seeking German support for its rare earth project, while India is pushing into NdFeB magnet production. Meanwhile, in the U.S., MP Materials has entered a strategic partnership with the Department of Defense to strengthen domestic rare earth and magnet supply chains.
Pentagon to Become Largest Shareholder in MP Materials
The U.S. Department of Defense is set to become the largest shareholder in MP Materials, the operator of the only rare earth mine currently active in the United States. As part of the partnership, the Pentagon plans to invest billions to support MP in building a new magnet production facility. New capacities for separating heavy rare earth elements are also planned.
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Raw Material Reserves: EU Presents New Strategy
The EU is ramping up efforts to strengthen crisis resilience. Brussels is planning emergency reserves not only for food, medicine, and fuel, but also for critical raw materials like rare earths. The move responds to rising geopolitical tensions and cyber threats. The strategy was officially unveiled this Wednesday.
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$290 Million: India to Subsidize Rare Earth Magnet Production
India plans to boost domestic rare earth magnet production with $290 million in subsidies, media report. The move responds to China’s recent export restrictions, which hit India’s EV sector. Though India holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, extraction remains limited and processing capacity is lacking.
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Arafura: German Funding for Rare Earths from Australia?
Arafura Rare Earths is building Australia’s first integrated rare earth extraction and processing facility. The company applied for funding from Germany’s new Raw Materials Fund last October. Independent experts are to assess the project’s viability — but as of mid-June, no consulting firm had been appointed to conduct the review.
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Rare Earth Magnet Recycling: Mkango Reports Progress
Recycling is key to reducing global reliance on China for rare earths, yet the global rate remains under 1%. Canadian miner Mkango Resources reports progress: commercial production of recycled rare earth alloys has begun at its UK site in Birmingham. The tech is also being rolled out in Germany and the U.S., with more sites eyed in Japan, Canada, and South Korea.
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Market Report Q2/2025: China’s Raw Materials Policy Increases Pressure on Western Industry
Rising geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China had a significant impact on global commodity markets and various industries in the second quarter of 2025. In collaboration with raw materials trader TRADIUM GmbH, we analyzed key developments in the U.S., China, and Europe and assessed their effects on international commodity markets.
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