Critical raw material markets are far from quiet despite the upcoming holiday season. This week, industry leader China released its second batch of export data, disclosing shipments of gallium and germanium. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto and Sumitomo, two major internationally operating firms, made announcements regarding critical minerals—the details in our roundup.
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China Exported More Gallium, Less Germanium in November
China, the leading global producer, significantly increased its gallium exports in November compared to October. Customs data reveals that 5,500 kilograms were exported in November, a sharp rise from just 600 kilograms the previous month. In contrast, germanium exports experienced a slight decline of 4.6%, falling to 1,698 kilograms.
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Rio Tinto Plans Pilot Plant for Gallium Extraction in Canada
Bauxite is the primary source of aluminum, but the ore also contains gallium, which is not always targeted for extraction. Rio Tinto aims to change this at its production facility in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Canada. A scaled-up refinery could reach a capacity of 40 tons, which would be roughly five to ten percent of global production, according to the company.
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New Raw Material Routes: Sumitomo Secures Rare Earths from Australia
Australian mining company Victory Metals plans to supply Sumitomo Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate, with rare earths. The materials will come from Victory’s North Stanmore Heavy Rare Earth Project in Western Australia, where particularly sought-after heavy rare earths, such as terbium, are found.
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Raw Materials in the Holiday Season: Gifts, Gadgets, and Global Supply Chains
Indium, gallium, neodymium, and other critical minerals play a larger role in Christmas than you might think. Find out where these materials can be found around the Christmas tree and how global supply chains impact the holidays in our feature article.
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