Calendar week 34, which is now drawing to a close, was also relatively quiet, providing an opportunity to take a closer look at the latest export figures for critical raw materials. Find all the details in our roundup.
Saudi Arabia: Joint Venture for Mineral Exploration
Saudi energy company Aramco and mining company Ma’aden have signed a joint venture agreement for mineral exploration. The initial focus will be on copper, while zinc, lead and rare earths will also be explored. The area under investigation covers around 182,000 square kilometres, equivalent to almost ten percent of Saudi Arabia’s total land area.
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Deep-Sea Mining in the Pacific: U.S. Prepares Potential Lease Areas
In April 2025, the United States announced plans to advance deep-sea resource extraction. On Monday, another formal step was taken toward implementing those plans. The Marine Minerals Administration, established only in July and operating under the U.S. Department of the Interior, has published a “Proposed Leasing Notice”. The notice outlines which areas in U.S. federal waters could potentially be leased to companies at a later stage and under what conditions.
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China: July Export Data for Critical Raw Materials
Chinese customs authorities published a range of foreign trade data on critical raw materials and components made from them on Thursday. Export trends varied significantly across product groups, with gallium and germanium, for example, recording increases compared with the previous month.
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