Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., one of Japan’s leading producers of rare earth magnets, is planning to construct a new rare earth refining facility in Japan as part of its strategy to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on China.
The new refinery, which will be the company’s third facility in Fukui Prefecture in western Japan, is intended to enhance Shin-Etsu’s ability to maintain a stable supply of rare-earth products and permanent magnets. While the company has not disclosed the project’s capacity, schedule, or investment value, reports from the Nikkei indicate that the development will require an investment exceeding ¥35 billion (approximately US$218 million), with nearly half of the funding expected to come from government subsidies.
Rare earths have become increasingly important from both economic and geopolitical perspectives, as major economies seek to diversify supply sources and reduce China’s dominance in rare earth mining and processing. The issue is expected to feature prominently at the upcoming G7 summit in France.
Japan has also faced supply challenges following China’s suspension of exports of certain critical materials since early 2026, amid ongoing diplomatic tensions linked to comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
According to analysts at Citigroup, the Shin-Etsu project is considered strategically important from a national security standpoint. Shin-Etsu is one of Japan’s three major magnet manufacturers, alongside TDK Corp. and Proterial Ltd. In addition to its two existing facilities in Fukui, the company also operates a rare earth business in Vietnam.
Indian industrial groups Reliance, Vedanta and Adani have shown interest in developing facilities to process Andhra Pradesh state’s significant reserves of increasingly important rare-earth minerals, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
With New Delhi seeking to cut India’s dependence on China for rare earths, the three companies are among about 10 who have expressed interest in setting up rare earth facilities in the southern state, one of the sources said.
Andhra Pradesh holds 211 million metric tons of beach sand mineral resources, including rare earths, across 16 identified coastal deposits, according to a draft document. India has 482.6 million tons of rare earth ore resources, according to the Geological Survey of India.
RARE EARTH AMBITIONS
The interest comes as New Delhi steps up efforts to build domestic rare earth mining, processing and magnet manufacturing capacity, while Andhra Pradesh aims to attract 500 billion rupees ($5.2 billion) in rare earth and titanium investments over the next decade.
The plans were set out in a draft government document.
The Andhra Pradesh government, Reliance Industries Ltd, Vedanta Ltd and Adani Enterprises Ltd did not respond to Reuters emails seeking comment.
Andhra Pradesh was among four states identified in February’s federal budget for the development of rare earth “corridors” covering mining, processing and magnet production.
The initiative followed New Delhi’s approval in November of a 73 billion rupee programme to support rare earth magnet manufacturing.
Rare earth elements are essential for permanent magnets used in applications such as electric vehicle motors. While India holds substantial rare earth reserves, it lacks industrial-scale facilities capable of processing the minerals to high purity levels.
CAPITAL INCENTIVES AND OTHER MEASURES
Andhra Pradesh plans to issue tenders for rare earth facilities after securing cabinet approval for its rare earth corridor policy, which is expected within a month, the sources said.
The state also plans to offer capital-linked incentives and additional benefits for projects with investments of 10 billion rupees or more, the sources said.
Andhra Pradesh has been courting large-scale investments, attracting companies including Google and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, and aims to secure $1 trillion in investment commitments by 2029, a state minister told Reuters last November.
BASF Introduces Oppanol® N PLUS for Next-Generation EV Batteries at Battery Show Europe 2026
BASF has unveiled Oppanol® N PLUS, a new high-performance binder designed to address the evolving demands of next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The company is showcasing the innovation at the Battery Show Europe 2026, taking place from June 9–11 in Stuttgart, Germany.
As battery technologies advance toward solid-state batteries (SSBs), manufacturers require materials that can deliver greater reliability, efficiency, and performance. Solid-state batteries are expected to provide longer driving ranges, faster charging capabilities, and enhanced safety, increasing the performance requirements for every component within the battery system.
Advancing Battery Performance and Manufacturing Consistency
Developed using BASF’s established polyisobutylene (PIB) technology, Oppanol® N PLUS is engineered specifically for modern battery applications. As a critical binder material, it helps maintain cohesion among active materials in the cathode, anode, or electrolyte while preserving structural integrity throughout the battery’s operational life.
The material’s high elasticity and flexibility enable it to absorb mechanical stresses caused by repeated charging and discharging cycles, supporting enhanced durability and long-term battery stability. Its chemically inert nature also helps minimize unwanted side reactions that could negatively affect battery performance.
One of the standout features of Oppanol® N PLUS is its consistently high product quality, achieved through tightly controlled manufacturing specifications. This allows battery producers to reduce process variability, limit reformulation efforts, streamline quality-control procedures, and implement production adjustments more efficiently and reliably.
To further support customers, BASF is improving product accessibility through stock availability and more flexible supply options, including package sizes starting at 20 kilograms. These measures are intended to help battery manufacturers and OEMs accelerate the development and commercialization of high-performance batteries for electric mobility.
According to Madeleine Jordan, Global Business Management Oppanol at BASF, the launch demonstrates the company’s commitment to combining decades of materials expertise with the evolving needs of the electromobility sector, while continuously enhancing proven technologies to support sustainable innovation.
Celebrating 95 Years of Oppanol Innovation
The introduction of Oppanol® N PLUS coincides with a major milestone for BASF: 95 years of polyisobutylene innovation.
The origins of the Oppanol product family date back to 1931, when chemist Michael Otto successfully demonstrated the polymerization of isobutene under suitable conditions. That same year, BASF patented a manufacturing process for polyisobutylene (PIB), which later became known as Oppanol—a name derived from Oppau, the Ludwigshafen district where the technology originated.
After seven years of intensive research and development, BASF began industrial-scale production in 1938 at its dedicated Oppanol facility. The material soon gained international recognition for its transparency, resistance to water and gases, chemical stability, safety profile, and strong adhesive properties.
Today, Oppanol is used across a broad range of industries and applications, including chewing gum, medical adhesive bandages, insulating glass units, cable insulation, roofing membranes, pipeline coatings, and advanced battery systems. Its durability, reliability, and chemical resistance have enabled the material to remain relevant while evolving to meet the requirements of emerging energy technologies.
With the launch of Oppanol® N PLUS, BASF is building on nearly a century of innovation, positioning the technology to support the future of electric mobility and advanced energy storage solutions.
India’s electric vehicle (EV) market is gaining traction as rising fuel prices, regulatory changes, and expanding model offerings encourage more consumers to switch from conventional vehicles.
Electric car sales rose 25% in the year ending March 2026, with EVs surpassing 5% of India’s passenger vehicle market—a key milestone often viewed as the threshold for mainstream adoption. Growth has been strongest in vehicles priced above ₹1 million, where EVs now account for one in every ten sales.
The recent surge in crude oil prices, driven in part by tensions in the Middle East, has strengthened the economic case for EVs. India imports nearly 90% of its oil requirements, making it vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations. Higher fuel costs have prompted increased consumer interest in electric mobility.
Long-term policy support is also expected to drive adoption. Proposed CAFE-3 emission standards, scheduled to take effect from April 2027, would significantly tighten fuel-efficiency and carbon-emission requirements for automakers. Industry analysts believe the new regulations could accelerate EV penetration by making compliance targets more stringent and enforceable.
State governments are also pushing the transition. Delhi has proposed phasing out registrations of new internal combustion engine (ICE) two- and three-wheelers by 2027 as part of efforts to reduce air pollution.
Analysts expect further growth to be supported by a strong pipeline of new EV launches, particularly in the passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments. Nomura forecasts EV penetration in India’s passenger vehicle market could reach 9% by 2030.
Despite the positive outlook, significant challenges remain. Charging infrastructure continues to lag demand, with public charging stations increasing to more than 10,000 nationwide but remaining concentrated in a few states. Consumer concerns over charging availability and driving range continue to slow adoption.
India also remains heavily dependent on imported battery materials and rare earth elements, exposing the sector to supply-chain and geopolitical risks. Industry experts note that developing a fully integrated domestic EV supply chain could take more than a decade.
While rising fuel prices and supportive policies are boosting demand, industry observers say the pace of India’s EV transition will ultimately depend on regulatory certainty, infrastructure expansion, and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.
This version is structured in a concise business-news style, focusing on market trends, drivers, forecasts, and risks rather than narrative storytelling.
NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of Mines is expected to soon introduce an incentive policy aimed at boosting domestic processing of lithium and nickel, with a proposed outlay of approximately ₹3,000 crore (US$313.48 million), according to two sources familiar with the development.
The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The Ministry of Mines did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Reuters had reported in January that the planned incentive scheme would focus on lithium and nickel processing. In April, the Mines Secretary stated that the government had shortlisted two critical minerals for a processing policy designed to strengthen the electric vehicle (EV) value chain, though the specific minerals were not disclosed at the time.
Lithium and nickel are key components in EV batteries and are considered vital to India’s clean mobility ambitions. The government aims to increase electric vehicle adoption to 30% of passenger car sales and 80% of two-wheeler sales by 2030, up from the current levels of 6% and 9%, respectively.
Under the proposed policy, lithium processing facilities would be required to have a minimum annual capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes, while nickel processing plants would need a minimum capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes to qualify for incentives, Reuters previously reported.
SEOUL: South Korea’s exports grew more than expected in May at the strongest annual rate in more than four decades, as chip sales hit a record on a global boom in AI investment, bolstering optimism about the trade-reliant economy and its world-beating stock market rally.
Exports from Asia’s fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, rose 53.2% from a year earlier to a record high of $87.75 billion, preliminary trade data showed on Monday, exceeding the median 48.4% increase forecast in a Reuters poll.
It was the 12th consecutive month of exports growing on a year-on-year basis and the biggest percentage rise since January 1984, bringing a record monthly trade surplus for the country.
“It is truly an unprecedented pace, raising market expectations again and again and exceeding them again and again,” said Stephen Lee, an economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul.
When the world talks about rare earths, the conversation usually centers on mines, supply chains, and geopolitics. Governments in Washington, Brussels, Canberra, and Tokyo are investing billions to reduce dependence on China for these critical minerals, which are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, advanced electronics, and military systems.
But while Western policymakers focus on extracting more rare earths from the ground, China has spent decades investing in something much harder to replicate: people.
In the northern Chinese city of Baotou, often called the country’s rare earth capital, a sophisticated ecosystem of universities, research institutes, laboratories, and industrial facilities has created a steady pipeline of highly specialized talent. This workforce may be China’s most durable advantage in the global competition for critical minerals.
Building a Rare Earth Talent Factory
Each year, hundreds of students enroll in specialized rare earth programs at institutions such as the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology. Unlike traditional mining degrees found elsewhere in the world, these programs focus specifically on the science, engineering, and processing of rare earth elements.
Graduates can move directly into nearby refining facilities, magnet manufacturing plants, or advanced research institutes. In Baotou, the distance between classroom, laboratory, and factory can be measured in kilometers rather than continents.
This tight integration between education and industry has produced a workforce capable of contributing immediately upon graduation. Industry veterans who have worked in both China and the West often note that Chinese graduates arrive with practical knowledge tailored to rare earth production, while workers elsewhere may require years of additional training.
Why Rare Earths Are So Difficult
The challenge isn’t finding rare earths. These elements are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust.
The real difficulty lies in processing them.
Rare earth refining involves separating 17 chemically similar elements, a complex and costly process requiring advanced expertise in chemistry, metallurgy, and engineering. Producing materials such as neodymium and praseodymium—critical ingredients in high-performance magnets—requires intricate sequences of chemical treatments and separations.
Success depends not only on equipment and capital but also on decades of accumulated technical knowledge.
That expertise has become one of China’s most valuable strategic assets.
A Nationwide Research Network
China’s rare earth dominance is supported by an extensive research infrastructure.
The country hosts more than 40 dedicated rare earth laboratories and research institutes, many located near major mining regions. Universities, state-owned enterprises, and government-funded research centers collaborate closely, accelerating the transfer of new discoveries from laboratory experiments to industrial-scale production.
This model allows innovations to move rapidly through the development pipeline. Researchers develop new processing technologies, which can then be adopted by state-backed producers and scaled up for commercial use.
The result is a level of coordination that few countries have been able to match.
The West’s Lost Expertise
For much of the twentieth century, the United States and Europe led the world in rare earth processing.
That leadership gradually disappeared as environmental concerns, lower costs overseas, and shifting industrial priorities pushed much of the industry to China. As refining capacity moved abroad, educational programs and specialized expertise followed.
Today, relatively few Western universities offer dedicated rare earth programs. While institutions such as Ames National Laboratory in Iowa maintain strong research capabilities, the broader educational ecosystem remains limited compared with China’s.
The challenge is not simply building new mines or processing facilities. It is rebuilding a generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians with highly specialized skills.
That process can take decades.
The Geopolitical Stakes
Rare earths sit at the intersection of economic competitiveness and national security.
Advanced fighter aircraft, missile guidance systems, submarines, radar equipment, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies all depend on materials refined using rare earth processing expertise.
As tensions between China and the United States continue, Beijing’s control over more than 90% of global rare earth processing and magnet production gives it significant leverage in global supply chains.
Recent export restrictions and tighter controls on technology transfer suggest that China increasingly views rare earth expertise as a strategic resource that must be protected, much like advanced semiconductor technologies.
For policymakers in the West, this raises a difficult question: Can billions of dollars in investment recreate a talent ecosystem that China has spent decades building?
The Road Ahead
The race for rare earth independence is often portrayed as a battle over mines and factories. In reality, it is equally a competition for knowledge.
China’s dominance did not emerge overnight. It was built through long-term investment in education, research, industrial policy, and workforce development. Mines can be developed relatively quickly, and factories can be constructed within a few years. Building generations of specialists, however, requires patience and sustained commitment.
As countries seek to diversify supply chains and secure access to critical minerals, they may discover that the most valuable rare earth resource is not buried underground at all.
It is the expertise required to turn those minerals into the technologies that power the modern world.
The University of Edinburgh has licensed a gold and copper recovery process to mineral processing company Lithium Universe, enabling cleaner extraction of high‑value metals from electronic waste.
Developed by Professors Jason Love and Carole Morrison in the School of Chemistry, and commercialized with support from Edinburgh Innovations, the Gold Copper Diamide Extraction (GCDE) process uses organic compounds to selectively extract metals from discarded electronics.
Under an exclusive agreement, Lithium Universe will deploy and sub‑license the technology globally as part of its expanding precious metals recycling strategy.
E‑waste is one of the world’s fastest-growing hazardous waste streams, projected to reach around 93.5 million tonnes by 2030, but only about 20% is recycled using environmentally sound methods, the University said.
This waste is valuable, as devices and printed circuit boards are rich in gold and copper. At current prices, the gold content of one tonne of typical e‑waste is worth more than $46,000, with copper adding roughly another $2,000, it estimates.
But traditional e‑waste processing relies on furnace smelting above 1,200°C or aggressive leaching, both energy‑intensive and polluting, the University noted. Its GCDE process instead uses low‑temperature hydrometallurgy and small, reusable organic ligands to target metals in sequence, under mild conditions and avoiding cyanide, mercury and organic solvent extraction.
“Electronic waste is effectively a high‑grade ‘urban ore’. Our goal was to design chemistry that can recover those metals selectively and safely, without the energy and environmental cost of smelting,” Love said in a news release.
“The diamide behaves like a molecular magnet for gold. By following with a selective copper step, we can recover two of the most valuable metals in e‑waste with high purity and lower environmental impact.”
Lithium Universe plans to integrate GCDE into its precious metals recycling division, alongside its silver recovery technologies for end‑of‑life solar panels.
“This breakthrough from the University of Edinburgh reinforces the strategic expansion of our precious metals recycling division into high-value recovery technologies,” executive chair Iggy Tan said. By integrating selective metal recovery with sustainable processing, the company would “strengthen its competitive position in circular-economy solutions for gold, silver and copper recovery,” he added.
Bridge Green Launches Critical Mineral Recovery Plant in Chennai to Advance Battery Circularity
In a significant step toward building a circular battery economy, US-based startup Bridge Green Upcycle has inaugurated a state-of-the-art critical mineral recovery facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Strengthening India’s Battery Recycling Ecosystem
Located in Gummidipoondi near Chennai, the newly commissioned plant is designed to process end-of-life lithium-ion batteries as well as battery manufacturing scrap. With an annual processing capacity of 7,200 tonnes, the facility represents one of the most advanced battery recycling operations in the region.
The plant will recover a range of critical minerals, including:
Lithium
Cobalt
Nickel
Manganese
Copper
Graphite
These materials play a vital role in battery manufacturing and are essential for supporting the growing electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage industries.
Recognition Under Government Incentive Scheme
The facility has been selected under the Government of India’s Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme, highlighting its strategic importance in strengthening domestic supply chains for critical raw materials. Notably, it is the only facility in Tamil Nadu included in the first cohort of projects approved under the initiative.
Major Investment Plans Ahead
Bridge Green’s Founder and CEO announced that the company plans to invest between ₹500 crore and ₹1,000 crore over the next five years. The current plant is expected to ramp up operations and reach full processing capacity by the end of this year.
This investment underscores the company’s long-term commitment to developing a sustainable and localized critical minerals ecosystem in India.
Expanding into Refined Battery Materials
Beyond mineral recovery, Bridge Green has outlined ambitious expansion plans. The next phase of development will focus on producing refined battery-grade materials, including:
Lithium carbonate
Nickel sulfate
Manganese sulfate
Cobalt sulfate
The company is targeting commissioning of these facilities by the end of 2028. Additionally, plans are underway to establish a second-life battery plant, further extending the lifecycle of battery assets and reducing waste.
Supporting the Circular Economy
As demand for batteries continues to grow worldwide, recycling and material recovery will play an increasingly important role in reducing dependence on virgin mining and improving resource security. Facilities such as Bridge Green’s Chennai plant demonstrate how innovative recycling technologies can help create a more sustainable, resilient, and circular battery value chain.
The launch marks an important milestone not only for Bridge Green but also for India’s emerging critical minerals and battery recycling sector, positioning the country as a key player in the global energy transition.
A key differentiator for Bridge Green is its proprietary technology platform focused on both battery life extension and critical mineral extraction. By combining advanced recycling processes with second-life battery solutions, the company aims to maximize resource utilization while reducing environmental impact.
The company’s strategy extends beyond recycling alone. Bridge Green plans to serve both domestic and international markets, supplying recovered minerals and battery materials to industries including battery manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, defence, and aerospace.
In addition to mineral recovery, the company intends to provide second-life battery systems for data centres and industrial users. These systems can repurpose batteries that are no longer suitable for electric vehicles but still retain sufficient capacity for stationary energy storage applications, further supporting circular economy objectives.
Capitalizing on Growing Demand
According to Founder and CEO demand for battery-grade materials already exists in India and is expected to grow significantly as the country’s cell manufacturing ecosystem matures. As domestic battery production expands under various government initiatives, the need for locally sourced critical minerals and refined battery salts will become increasingly important.
Bridge Green is also positioning itself to tap into international opportunities. Potential export markets include the United States, Southeast Asia, and Europe—regions that are rapidly strengthening their battery supply chains and seeking reliable sources of critical minerals.
The recently established US–India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Framework presents an additional opportunity for the company. As a US–India enterprise, Bridge Green is uniquely positioned to support cross-border collaboration in securing sustainable supplies of critical materials required for the global energy transition.
Pip: Welcome to a show about the rocks that run the world — or at least the ones that run the drones, the defense contracts, and the supply chains holding everything together.
Mara: Today we're looking at work from Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng, and it lands squarely in rare earth territory — specifically who controls the magnets inside American military drones, and what one company is doing about it.
Pip: Let's start with the Pentagon's drone ambitions and the supply chain problem underneath them.
The Pentagon's Drone Ambitions vs. China's Magnet Grip
Mara: The setup here is stark: the United States military wants a lot of drones, fast, and almost every one of them depends on a component it doesn't control.
Pip: The post puts the numbers plainly: "The Pentagon recently placed the largest drone order in American history — 30,000 one-way attack drones, with plans to scale past 300,000 by early 2028."
Mara: And the constraint hiding inside that ambition is the rare earth magnet. According to Goldman Sachs figures cited in the post, roughly 98 percent of the world's magnets are manufactured in China. So the upshot is: you can order all the drones you want, but if the magnets aren't there, the drones aren't either.
Pip: Three hundred thousand drones is a serious procurement target. The magnet math is the part that doesn't scale with good intentions.
Mara: That's where REalloys enters the picture. The post describes the company as holding the only fully non-Chinese mine-to-magnet heavy rare earth supply chain in North America — covering processed metals, finished alloys, and the magnet-ready inputs that defense contractors actually need.
Pip: So the chain runs from the ground to the finished input, entirely outside China. That's the gap REalloys is positioned to fill, and it's a gap the Pentagon's own order just made very visible.
Mara: The original reporting is sourced to The Globe and Mail, and the post frames REalloys not as a speculative play but as a company that has spent years building toward exactly this moment in defense procurement.
Pip: The timing is either very good planning or very good luck — probably some of both.
Mara: Rare earth supply chains don't move fast, but defense procurement deadlines do. That tension is what makes this story worth watching.
Pip: The magnets are small. The stakes are not. More next time.
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