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Lockheed Martin has announced it is exploring partnerships with several mining companies to activate its long-held seabed mining licenses in the Pacific Ocean. The aerospace and defense firm holds two licenses in the mineral-rich Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), granted in the 1980s but dormant for decades.

Though Lockheed sold its UK-based subsidiary, UK Seabed Resources, in 2023, the buyer’s bankruptcy earlier this year returned the licenses to Lockheed’s control. Lockheed COO Frank St John confirmed there is significant interest from the mining sector, as the company evaluates new pathways to secure critical minerals, working closely with the Pentagon on sourcing strategies. Among those showing interest is Canada’s The Metals Company, which have recently applied for seabed mining licenses.

https://mexicobusiness.news/mining/news/lockheed-martin-reclaims-seabed-licenses-eyes-critical-minerals

The Defense Department on Thursday became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, which owns the only rare earth mine in the U.S., amid a surge in demand for rare earths mined in the U.S. as China has curbed its rare earth exports amid a trade war with the U.S.

Shares of MP Materials’ stock was up 52% as markets opened Thursday following the news that the Pentagon would make investments worth about 15% stake in the company.

The Department of Defense will buy $400 million in MP Materials’ preferred stock, along with a warrant to purchase common stock—investments the mining company will use to build a new rare earth magnet plant, in addition to its Mountain Pass facility in California’s Mojave Desert.

A location for the new “10X Facility” geared toward defense and commercial customers and slated to begin production in 2028 has yet to be decided.

The investment comes as MP Materials has seen a sharp increase in domestic demand after China restricted exports of rare earth minerals crucial to operations in industries from defense to auto.

Why #Greenland? not #Mountainpass, #California for #RareEarth elements?

Why #Greenland? not #Mountainpass, #California for #RareEarth elements?

Read more at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/07/10/us-becomes-largest-shareholder-in-mp-materials-rare-earth-miner-to-counter-china/

A new iPhone factory in an out-of-the-way corner of India looks like a spaceship from another planet. Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that assembles most of the world’s iPhones for Apple, has landed amid the boulders and millet fields of Devanahalli.

In India, Apple is doubling down on a bet it placed after the Covid-19 pandemic began and before Mr. Trump’s re-election. Many countries, starting with the United States, were eager to reduce their reliance on factories in China. Apple, profoundly dependent on Chinese production, was quick to act.

Analysts at Counterpoint Research calculated that India had succeeded in satisfying 18 percent of the global demand for iPhones by early this year, two years after Foxconn started making iPhones in India. By the end of 2025, with the Devanahalli plant fully online, Foxconn is expected to be assembling between 25 and 30 percent of iPhones in India.

Indo-MIM, an Indian company with an American-born boss, is the kind that contributes to the neighborhood forming around Apple’s production and also benefits from it. At a plant near Devanahalli, in southern Karnataka State, Indo-MIM’s engineers perform metal-injection molding for hundreds of companies around the world. It makes parts for airplanes, luxury goods, medical devices and more.

Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/business/apple-foxconn-india.html#

With the rare earth material supply crisis looming large, the government is set to launch an incentive programme to encourage domestic production of these minerals. The government will roll out a scheme to subsidise domestic production of rare earth magnets in 15-20 days, Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.

The minister said that consultation with stakeholders is underway to decide the amount of the incentive programme.  According to ministry officials, if the total incentive crosses Rs 1,000 crore, the scheme will be sent to the Union cabinet for approval.

The latest crisis emanates from stricter controls imposed by China on the export of seven rare earth elements and finished magnets. This revised framework demands detailed end-use disclosures and client declarations, including confirmation that products will not be used in defense or re-exported to the US. This added scrutiny has prolonged the clearance process to at least 45 days, leading to significant delays and a growing backlog that is tightening global supply chains. China is the world’s dominant exporter of rare earth magnets, controlling over 70% of global Rare Earth Element (REE) production and over 90% of refining capacity.

Read more at: https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2025/Jun/24/india-to-roll-out-incentive-scheme-for-rare-earth-production-15-20-days

Prime Minister Mark Carney says G7 countries and their allies will form a “critical mineral production alliance” to stockpile and develop materials that are essential for defense systems and advanced technologies.

He also said Canada has immense potential to become a supplier of critical minerals and rare earths to allies that have grown increasingly concerned about China‘s dominance in the sector.

Earlier, G7 leaders announced plans to shore up their supply chains with the help of Australia, India and South Korea in a bid to counter “non-market” policies and practices that have threatened the ability of Western countries and their allies to access essential critical minerals and rare earth elements.

Bring the investment to Canada.

#Canada needs CAD 65 billion mining investment to meet demand: study

Read more at: https://financialpost.com/commodities/mining/g7-counter-china-dominance-critical-minerals

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill would make it harder for American critical minerals companies to compete with China because it eliminates a tax credit for boosting domestic production of nickel, rare earths and other materials used in advanced electronics and weaponry.

With Trump and Republican lawmakers aiming to cut government support for green energy projects, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a version of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last month that eliminates the so-called 45X credit.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-tax-cut-bill-could-hold-back-us-critical-minerals-projects-2025-06-12/