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#Sweden Approves 25-Year Mining Lease for #Europe’s Strategic Heavy #RareEarthMinerals Project

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A futuristic electric car charging at a station in a green landscape with wind turbines and solar panels in the background. Below the surface, glowing minerals representing Neodymium, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, Terbium, and Yttrium are displayed, indicating strategic resources for a sustainable future.

Sweden has taken a major step toward strengthening Europe’s critical minerals supply chain by granting Leading Edge Materials a 25-year mining lease for the Norra Kärr rare earth project. The decision marks the revival of one of Europe’s most strategically important heavy rare earth deposits after years of environmental review and project redesign.

A Second Chance for Norra Kärr

The Norra Kärr project, located in southern Sweden, was originally granted a mining concession in 2013. However, the permit was revoked in 2016 following environmental concerns raised during the permitting process.

Since then, Leading Edge Materials has substantially redesigned the project, reducing its footprint by approximately 65% while addressing environmental and community concerns. These efforts have now resulted in the Swedish government’s approval of a new 25-year mining lease.

Why Norra Kärr Matters

Unlike many rare earth projects that primarily produce light rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium, Norra Kärr contains an unusually high proportion of heavy rare earth elements, particularly dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb).

These elements are essential for manufacturing high-performance permanent magnets used in:

  • Electric vehicles
  • Wind turbines
  • Robotics
  • Defense systems
  • Aerospace applications
  • Advanced electronics

Europe currently produces virtually no heavy rare earth elements, making the region highly dependent on imported materials. Developing Norra Kärr would significantly improve Europe’s supply security for these critical minerals.

An Exceptional Heavy Rare Earth Deposit

According to the project’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), Norra Kärr contains an inferred resource of approximately 110 million tonnes grading 0.5% total rare earth oxides (TREO).

The study outlines:

  • A 26-year mine life
  • Average annual production of approximately 5,340 tonnes of mixed rare earth oxides
  • Post-tax NPV of US$762 million
  • Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 26%

Importantly, these economics were based on significantly lower rare earth prices than those seen in today’s market.

One of the project’s strongest competitive advantages is its heavy rare earth content. For every kilogram of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) produced, Norra Kärr is expected to generate approximately 0.4 kg of dysprosium and terbium (DyTb)—a ratio far superior to most comparable rare earth deposits worldwide.

A Strategic Asset for Europe

The project joins a growing list of strategic rare earth developments in the Nordic region and Greenland, including Tanbreez and Kvanefjeld. Together, these projects have the potential to establish a secure European supply of critical rare earth materials outside China.

However, mining is only one part of the supply chain.

Rare earth concentrates must still undergo complex hydrometallurgical processing and solvent extraction to produce separated rare earth oxides suitable for magnet manufacturing. This creates opportunities for engineering companies, technology providers, and downstream processors as Europe builds a fully integrated rare earth value chain.

What’s Next?

With the mining lease secured, Leading Edge Materials plans to:

  • Update the project’s prefeasibility study (PFS)
  • Continue environmental permitting
  • Secure financing
  • Negotiate offtake agreements
  • Advance the project toward commercial production

Final Thoughts

The approval of the Norra Kärr mining lease represents more than the revival of a mining project—it signals Europe’s commitment to developing a secure, domestic supply of critical minerals.

As demand for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced technologies continues to grow, projects like Norra Kärr will become increasingly important in reducing supply chain dependence and supporting the continent’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

For the rare earth industry, this is another significant milestone in the emergence of a Western heavy rare earth supply chain.

Source: The Northern Miner

#US Army Launches First-Ever #CriticalMinerals Processing Initiative on Military Bases

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The United States is taking a major step toward strengthening its domestic supply chain for critical minerals, with the U.S. Army announcing landmark agreements with four mining and materials companies to build mineral processing facilities on military bases across the country.

The initiative, announced by the Pentagon, represents the first program of its kind under the Trump administration aimed at reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources for strategically important minerals that are essential for defense, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Four Companies Selected

The U.S. Army has signed agreements with:

  • REalloys Inc. – Rare earth minerals processing
  • Titan Mining Corp. – Graphite processing
  • ioneer Ltd. – Lithium processing
  • EnergyX – Boron processing

These facilities will process minerals that are considered vital to national security, supporting everything from military weapons systems and electronics to electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.

Strengthening America’s Supply Chain

Critical minerals such as rare earth elements, lithium, graphite, and boron play an increasingly important role in modern industries. However, the United States has long relied on imports—particularly from China—for much of its processing capacity.

By locating processing plants on military installations, the Pentagon aims to accelerate domestic production while enhancing the resilience of U.S. supply chains. The strategy also aligns with broader efforts to ensure reliable access to materials needed for defense readiness during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.

Why It Matters

The global competition for critical minerals has intensified as countries race to secure resources needed for electric vehicles, semiconductors, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced defense technologies.

The Army’s new partnerships could help:

  • Reduce dependence on foreign mineral processing.
  • Strengthen U.S. national security.
  • Support domestic manufacturing and job creation.
  • Build a more resilient supply chain for emerging technologies.
  • Increase America’s competitiveness in the global critical minerals market.

A Strategic Investment

While the agreements focus on processing rather than mining, experts view processing capacity as one of the most significant bottlenecks in the global critical minerals supply chain. Expanding domestic processing capabilities could allow the United States to capture more value from both domestic and allied mineral resources.

As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, this first-of-its-kind initiative signals a long-term commitment to building a secure and independent supply chain that supports both economic growth and national defense.

Looking Ahead

The Pentagon’s partnerships with REalloys, Titan Mining, ioneer, and EnergyX mark an important milestone in America’s strategy to secure access to critical minerals. If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for future public-private partnerships aimed at strengthening the nation’s industrial base and reducing strategic vulnerabilities in global supply chains.

With geopolitical competition intensifying and demand for critical minerals expected to rise sharply over the coming decades, investments like these may become increasingly central to U.S. economic and national security policy.

Source: Bloomberg

#Congo’s #Cobalt Power Play: How #Kinshasa Is Reshaping the Global #CriticalMinerals Landscape

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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is no longer content with being merely the world’s largest cobalt supplier. Through a combination of export controls, strategic partnerships, and geopolitical repositioning, Kinshasa is transforming its role from resource provider to market maker.

The implications extend far beyond commodity markets. Congo’s evolving cobalt strategy is influencing global supply chains, altering China’s dominance in critical minerals, and creating new opportunities for Western investors seeking secure access to strategic resources.

From Price Taker to Price Setter

For years, Congo’s vast cobalt reserves fueled global battery production while the country remained vulnerable to commodity price cycles and foreign influence. That dynamic is changing.

Since imposing cobalt export restrictions in early 2025, Congo has steadily tightened control over the flow of the metal. A complete export ban eventually gave way to a quota system, but the impact on global supply has been profound.

China, historically the dominant buyer of Congolese cobalt, has seen imports collapse. Customs data show that Chinese imports of Congolese cobalt intermediates during the first four months of 2026 were only a fraction of the volumes recorded during the same period a year earlier.

The result has been a dramatic tightening of supply. Cobalt prices have more than doubled from pre-restriction levels, while unusual pricing patterns have emerged throughout the supply chain. Cobalt hydroxide—the primary form exported from Congo—has at times traded at prices equal to or even above refined cobalt metal, highlighting growing concerns about access to raw material.

What initially appeared to be a temporary supply disruption increasingly looks like a structural shift. Market participants are beginning to attach a premium to cobalt sourced from Congo, reflecting both scarcity and strategic importance.

Reducing Dependence on China

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Congo’s strategy is its attempt to diversify away from overwhelming dependence on Chinese operators.

China has spent decades building a dominant position in Congolese mining and refining. Chinese companies control many of the country’s largest cobalt and copper assets, while Chinese refiners process much of the world’s cobalt supply.

Now, however, Kinshasa appears determined to rebalance those relationships.

Recent developments suggest growing momentum behind Western investment initiatives. U.S.-based critical minerals platform Virtus Minerals recently acquired the copper and cobalt assets of Chemaf, positioning itself to revive operations that have faced years of uncertainty.

At the same time, Congo’s state-backed Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) has entered into agreements with commodity trader Trafigura and U.S. startup EVelution to support a proposed cobalt refinery in Arizona. Such projects could create direct links between Congolese mines and American manufacturing, reducing reliance on Chinese processing capacity.

These developments align closely with broader U.S. efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains amid intensifying competition with China.

Infrastructure Creates New Options

Infrastructure is playing a crucial role in Congo’s westward pivot.

The Lobito Atlantic Railway, backed by Western governments and investors, is emerging as a strategic alternative export route. Connecting the Congolese copper belt to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito, the corridor provides access to global markets without relying exclusively on transport networks historically aligned with Chinese interests.

The railway has become a symbol of a larger geopolitical contest over critical minerals. Control over extraction matters, but so does control over logistics, processing, and market access.

For Western investors, the corridor offers a practical pathway for moving minerals to Europe and North America. For Congo, it provides leverage and flexibility.

Solving the Artisanal Mining Challenge

Despite these opportunities, one major obstacle remains: artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

Artisanal miners produce a significant share of Congo’s cobalt, but the sector has long been associated with unsafe working conditions, child labor concerns, and informal trading networks. These issues have discouraged many Western buyers from sourcing Congolese cobalt directly.

The government understands that expanding access to Western markets requires stronger assurances around responsible sourcing.

To address this challenge, EGC has partnered with commodity trader Mercuria to establish what is being described as a “gold standard” framework for ethical artisanal cobalt production at the Kasulo mining site.

Success is far from guaranteed. Previous efforts to formalize the artisanal mining sector have delivered mixed results. However, creating a transparent and verifiable supply chain is essential if Congo hopes to attract Western customers seeking ethically sourced critical minerals.

The stakes are high. Without credible solutions, concerns over “blood cobalt” could continue limiting market access regardless of supply shortages.

Growing Leverage in a Tightening Market

Congo’s position is being strengthened by supply disruptions elsewhere.

Several competing sources of cobalt face challenges. Canadian producer Sherritt International’s refining operations have come under pressure from U.S. sanctions affecting its Cuban partnerships. Madagascar’s Ambatovy nickel-cobalt project suffered cyclone-related disruptions and is undergoing ownership changes. Meanwhile, Indonesian producers are grappling with tighter mining quotas and processing constraints.

These developments further increase Congo’s influence over a market where it already accounts for more than 70% of global mine production.

In other words, there are few realistic alternatives.

A New Strategic Role

The broader story is not simply about higher cobalt prices. It is about a country leveraging its resource dominance to reshape its geopolitical position.

By restricting exports, encouraging Western investment, developing alternative infrastructure, and attempting to formalize artisanal production, Congo is seeking greater control over both its resources and its future.

Whether the strategy succeeds remains uncertain. Balancing relationships with China while attracting Western capital will require careful diplomacy. Reforming the artisanal mining sector will be difficult. And sustaining investor confidence will depend on political stability and regulatory consistency.

Yet one thing is increasingly clear: Congo is no longer just supplying the global cobalt market. It is actively redefining it.

As demand for batteries, electric vehicles, defense technologies, and advanced electronics continues to grow, Congo’s decisions will have an outsized influence on the future of critical minerals. The country is emerging not merely as a producer of cobalt, but as one of the most important strategic players in the global race for resources.

This version is designed for a business, commodities, mining, or geopolitical affairs audience and is fully original rather than a rewrite of the Reuters text.

#Beijing’s Export Restrictions: Impact on #US #CriticalMinerals Strategy

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Beijing’s Latest Move Threatens America’s Critical Minerals Strategy

The global race for critical minerals has entered a new and potentially volatile chapter. China has imposed new restrictions on exports of key rare-earth materials to major U.S. companies, directly targeting efforts by Washington to rebuild domestic supply chains for strategically important magnets and advanced technologies.

The decision signals a significant escalation in the ongoing competition between the world’s two largest economies and highlights how critical minerals have become a powerful geopolitical tool.

Why Rare Earths Matter

Rare-earth elements are essential ingredients in a vast array of modern technologies. They are used in:

  • Electric vehicles
  • Wind turbines
  • Military drones
  • Advanced defense systems
  • Artificial intelligence hardware
  • Consumer electronics
  • Industrial machinery

While many countries possess rare-earth deposits, China dominates the global processing and refining industry. It supplies approximately 90% of the world’s light rare earths and refines more than 98% of heavy rare earths—materials that are particularly important for high-performance magnets and advanced technologies.

This dominance has given Beijing considerable leverage over global supply chains.

China’s New Restrictions

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that ten American companies will face new restrictions on purchasing certain dual-use products from Chinese suppliers. Among the affected organizations are two of the most important players in the U.S. rare-earth sector:

  • MP Materials
  • USA Rare Earth

Both companies are central to the U.S. government’s strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies.

The restrictions cover several critical rare-earth metals, including heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium. These materials are essential for producing heat-resistant magnets used in electric motors, automotive systems, military applications, and industrial equipment.

A Blow to U.S. Supply Chain Ambitions

The timing is particularly significant.

Over the past several years, the U.S. government has invested heavily in rebuilding domestic rare-earth production capabilities. The Department of Defense and other federal agencies have directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward developing mining, refining, and magnet manufacturing infrastructure.

MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass mine in California, the largest rare-earth mining operation in the United States. The company is also constructing magnet manufacturing facilities in Texas designed to serve both commercial and defense customers.

Meanwhile, USA Rare Earth has been rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity in Oklahoma and pursuing international partnerships to secure alternative supplies of critical minerals.

The new Chinese restrictions create additional obstacles for these efforts by limiting access to the materials needed during the industry’s transition period.

The Dysprosium Challenge

One of the most pressing concerns involves dysprosium, a heavy rare-earth element used to improve magnet performance under high temperatures.

Industry data indicates that Chinese shipments of dysprosium to the United States have effectively stopped since April 2025. The material is crucial for components found in:

  • Power steering systems
  • Braking systems
  • Electric motors
  • Aerospace applications
  • Defense technologies

Manufacturers can partially substitute dysprosium with terbium, but supplies of terbium have also become extremely limited.

Without reliable access to these materials, scaling domestic magnet production becomes significantly more difficult.

Global Concerns Growing

The latest move comes as governments worldwide seek to diversify critical mineral supply chains.

At the recent G7 summit, leaders pledged to reduce dependence on any single supplier and outlined a goal that no more than 60% of rare-earth imports should come from one country by 2030.

However, achieving that objective will be challenging. Building new mines, processing facilities, and refining operations requires years of investment, environmental approvals, technical expertise, and substantial capital.

Even promising projects in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States remain far from matching China’s current production capacity.

Trade Tensions Could Reignite

The restrictions also threaten to reignite trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Although previous diplomatic discussions included conversations about maintaining access to critical minerals, progress has been limited. China’s latest action demonstrates that rare-earth exports remain a powerful strategic lever that can be deployed during periods of economic or political disagreement.

For U.S. policymakers, the message is clear: securing resilient supply chains for critical materials has become a national security priority rather than simply an economic objective.

Looking Ahead

China’s decision underscores a broader reality shaping the global economy. Control over critical minerals is increasingly becoming as important as control over energy resources was in previous decades.

As nations compete to secure supplies for electric vehicles, renewable energy, advanced computing, and defense systems, rare earths are likely to remain at the center of geopolitical negotiations and trade disputes.

For American manufacturers, the challenge now is accelerating efforts to develop alternative sources while navigating a market where China continues to hold overwhelming influence.

The outcome of this struggle may help determine not only the future of global trade but also which nations lead the next generation of technological innovation.

This version is optimized for a business, technology, or geopolitics audience and is written to avoid copyright concerns by presenting original analysis and structure rather than reproducing the source article.

Source: The New York Times

Can #Canada and #UnitedStates Mine Enough #RareEarthElements to Meet Future Demand?

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Map showing the distribution of rare earth element deposits and occurrences in North America, highlighting locations in Canada and the United States.

As the world accelerates toward electrification and clean energy, rare earth elements (REEs) have become some of the most strategically important minerals on the planet. They are essential components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, computers, advanced defense systems, and countless other technologies that power modern life.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan suggests that North America may have the resources needed to build a more self-reliant rare earth supply chain—provided the right economic and policy conditions are in place.

Growing Demand for Critical Minerals

Global demand for rare earth elements is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades. Researchers estimate that worldwide demand will increase from approximately 91 kilotons in 2024 to 123 kilotons by 2030 and 150 kilotons by 2040.

Today, however, the global rare earth industry remains heavily concentrated. China accounts for roughly 70% of global rare earth mining, while the United States contributes only about 11%. This imbalance has raised concerns about supply chain security, economic competitiveness, and national defense readiness.

Assessing North America’s Resource Potential

The University of Michigan team evaluated 28 rare earth deposits across North America, analyzing factors such as ore tonnage, mineral grade, and total rare earth oxide content. Their findings indicate that North America possesses enough rare earth resources to satisfy U.S. demand for decades.

The challenge is not the availability of resources, but whether those resources can be extracted economically.

Many North American deposits are lower in quality than leading operations in China and Australia. In addition, some deposits contain elements such as thorium, a naturally occurring radioactive material that can increase mining and disposal costs.

Despite these challenges, researchers believe several deposits could support a competitive domestic supply chain, particularly if governments provide targeted support during the industry’s development phase.

Light vs. Heavy Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements are typically divided into two categories: light rare earths and heavy rare earths.

Light rare earth elements are more abundant and are widely used in magnets, batteries, electronics, and renewable energy technologies. Heavy rare earth elements are less common but highly valuable because they improve the performance and heat resistance of high-strength magnets.

The study found a geographic advantage across North America:

  • The United States holds substantial deposits of light rare earth elements.
  • Canada possesses many of the region’s most significant heavy rare earth deposits.

This distribution suggests that a coordinated North American strategy could strengthen supply security while leveraging the strengths of both countries.

Why Domestic Mining Matters

Rare earth elements are classified as critical minerals because they support industries vital to economic growth, clean energy, and national security. Supply disruptions can have far-reaching consequences, affecting everything from electric vehicle manufacturing to advanced military technologies.

Historically, the United States mined rare earths at California’s Mountain Pass mine, but much of the industry’s processing capacity eventually shifted overseas. Today, experts argue that rebuilding domestic mining alone is not enough. North America must also develop processing, refining, and manufacturing capabilities to create a fully integrated supply chain.

The Path Forward

The study concludes that North America has the geological resources needed to establish a more resilient rare earth industry. However, success will depend on balancing economic viability, environmental responsibility, and strategic investment.

As demand for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced technologies continues to grow, developing a secure domestic supply of rare earth elements could become one of the most important industrial challenges—and opportunities—of the coming decades.

Podcast Episode: #China’s Zero-Tariff Policy Boosts #African Trade

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Visit the YouTube Channel INOV8RS CLUB WHERE INNOVATIVE MINDS MEET https://www.youtube.com/@NanthakumarVictorEmmanuel18

Pip: Welcome to the blog where the earth gives up its metals, its minerals, and apparently its trade policy opinions — this is A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info.

Mara: Today’s episode comes from Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng, and it covers a significant shift in how China and Africa are structuring their trade relationship — and what that might mean for African industry.

Pip: Let’s start with the zero-tariff expansion and what it actually unlocks for African exporters.

China Opens Its Market to All of Africa

Pip: The core question here is whether a tariff policy can do more than just move goods — whether it can actually reshape what African economies produce and how they fit into global supply chains.

Mara: The post frames the stakes clearly from the outset: “China has expanded its zero-tariff policy to include all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations, opening new opportunities for African exports and industrial development at a time when global trade is increasingly affected by protectionist policies.”

Pip: So the timing is the thing. While other major economies are pulling up the drawbridge, this policy is explicitly moving the other direction — and that contrast is the whole story.

Mara: The numbers back that up. Bilateral trade between China and Africa hit a record 348 billion US dollars in 2025. Chinese imports from Africa reached 123 billion, with year-on-year growth of 5.4 percent. The policy took effect immediately — a shipment of 24 tonnes of South African apples was the first to clear customs under the new arrangement, in Shenzhen.

Pip: Twenty-four tonnes of apples as the symbolic opening act of a continental trade realignment. History is rarely glamorous.

Mara: Previously, tariff-free access applied to 33 of Africa’s least-developed countries. The expansion adds 20 more economies — Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria among them — covering products like Kenyan coffee and avocados, cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and South African citrus and wine, which had faced tariffs of 8 to 30 percent.

Mara: Scholars from Tsinghua University and the University of International Business and Economics argue the real prize is what follows: tariff-free access could pull manufacturing and processing investment into Africa, helping the continent move beyond raw material exports toward finished goods.

Pip: That shift — from digging it up to actually processing it — is exactly the kind of industrial development this blog exists to track.

Mara: The arrangement runs for an initial two-year period while longer-term agreements are developed under the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development framework. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called the move timely and described it as a gesture of solidarity.

Pip: Trade policy as solidarity — a framing worth sitting with, whatever you make of it.

Pip: Raw materials leaving a continent, finished goods coming back — that gap is where industrialization either happens or doesn’t.

Mara: Whether the investment follows the tariff relief is the question the next few years will answer. We’ll be watching.

#China’s Zero-Tariff Policy Boosts #African Trade

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Map illustrating trade routes between China and Africa, highlighting key cities and connectivity. Points of interest include trading hubs and growth statistics. Emphasizes partnership and infrastructure development.

As Chinese and African citizens increasingly reap the mutual benefits of trade, America is losing out by heading in the opposite direction.

Source: Opinion; The Washington Post

The State Council; The People Republic of China.

China has expanded its zero-tariff policy to include all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations, opening new opportunities for African exports and industrial development at a time when global trade is increasingly affected by protectionist policies.

The policy took effect immediately, with a shipment of 24 tonnes of South African apples becoming the first African products to enter China under the expanded tariff-free arrangement after clearing customs in Shenzhen.

Previously, China had already eliminated tariffs on all product categories from 33 of Africa’s least-developed countries starting December 2024. The latest expansion extends similar benefits to 20 additional African economies, including Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria. Under the arrangement, these countries will enjoy preferential zero-tariff access for an initial two-year period while China works toward establishing long-term trade agreements through the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development framework.

According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the measure will improve the competitiveness of African exports such as cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, Kenyan coffee and avocados, and South African citrus fruits and wine, which previously faced tariffs ranging from 8% to 30%. The ministry also believes the initiative will encourage greater investment in Africa by attracting capital, technology, equipment, and management expertise to support local processing industries. This, in turn, is expected to create a more balanced and sustainable trade relationship between China and Africa.

The decision has been widely welcomed as a strong signal of China’s commitment to economic openness during a period when many countries are adopting more restrictive trade policies. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the move as both timely and beneficial for Africa, noting that the continent continues to face numerous global challenges, including rising protectionism. He expressed appreciation for what he called a gesture of solidarity from China.

China remains Africa’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached a record US$348 billion in 2025, with Chinese imports from Africa totaling US$123 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 5.4%.

Experts believe the impact of the policy will extend beyond trade. Scholars from institutions including Tsinghua University and University of International Business and Economics argue that tariff-free access could encourage multinational companies to establish manufacturing and processing facilities in Africa, supporting industrialization and helping the continent move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials.

The initiative also aligns with China’s broader economic strategy of expanding international openness and improving trade and investment cooperation through 2030. Analysts suggest that Chinese consumers will benefit as well, gaining access to a wider range of competitively priced African products. Businesses have already begun preparing to increase imports, including Kenyan tea processors that expect significantly lower costs under the new tariff regime.

Overall, the expanded zero-tariff policy is expected to strengthen China-Africa economic ties, boost African exports, attract investment, and support long-term industrial growth across the continent.

Source: The State Council; The People Republic of China.

Podcast Episode: Why #Greenland? not #Mountainpass, #California for #RareEarth elements?

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Pip: Welcome to the podcast where we dig into mining, mineral processing, and metals — sometimes literally. Today we're following the rare earth supply chain from California to the Arctic, courtesy of Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng.

Mara: That's right — we're looking at why Greenland keeps coming up in rare earth conversations, and what the real obstacles are to building a Western supply chain that actually works.

Pip: Let's start with the Mountain Pass story, and why it matters more than the map suggests.

Why Greenland? The Mountain Pass lesson and what comes next

Mara: The central question here is why Western policymakers keep looking at Greenland when the United States already has a rare earth mine in California — and what that question reveals about the gap between mining and refining.

Pip: The post quotes a researcher named Chrisey to put the technical problem in plain terms: "Two different rare earth elements may be fractions of an angstrom different in diameter — that means it's very difficult to separate using physical means. The processes that are used right now can be 100 steps," with the procedure described as very expensive and environmentally hazardous due to the chemicals used.

Mara: So the upshot is that even if you have the ore in the ground, separating and purifying individual rare earth elements is a genuinely hard chemical problem — not just a permitting or investment problem.

Pip: Mountain Pass is the case study. Molycorp tried to be a one-stop American rare earths solution, and by 2013 revenues were in free fall. The post notes that Molycorp's most profitable assets ended up transferred to Chinese-linked Neo Materials, the mine was purchased out of bankruptcy by a consortium that included a Chinese-owned firm, and Mountain Pass was sending U.S.-mined concentrate to China for processing.

Mara: The dream of domestic end-to-end production collapsed not because the ore ran out, but because the refining technology and economics didn't hold. The post cites Reuters reporting that China controls 87 percent of global rare earths refining capacity, and that Beijing deliberately keeps prices for finished products low to inhibit foreign competition from building their own processing plants.

Pip: It's a neat trap — dig all you want, just send us the concentrate.

Mara: The post lays out a three-step prescription in response: invest in research and development on refining technologies first, build refineries at existing mines with infrastructure before opening new ones, and use tariffs or other tools to take price control away from China while local operations optimize. The reserve numbers matter here too — Greenland has 1.5 million metric tons of rare earth reserves, while the U.S. sits at 1.9 million. Neither country is close to China's 44 million metric tons.

Pip: Which reframes the Greenland question entirely — it's not about the ore, it's about whether Western refining can exist at all before anyone starts a new mine.

Mara: Exactly the argument the post makes. The infrastructure and processing capability have to come before the next frontier dig, or the concentrate just travels east again.

Pip: The economics of refining are where the real supply chain battle is being fought — and that's a thread worth pulling on next.

Mara: The Mountain Pass story keeps repeating because the refining problem keeps being skipped.

Pip: Build the refinery first, then talk about Greenland. That order matters.

Mara: More on the processing side next time.

Podcast Episode: Rare Earths And Trade Tensions

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Pip: Welcome to the podcast where we track what the earth gives up and what the markets make of it — rare earths, trade deficits, and the occasional geopolitical scramble.

Mara: Today’s episode, shaped by posts from Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng, covers three connected territories: Europe pushing back on its trade imbalance with China, a long-term rare earth supply deal out of Greenland, and the magnet problem sitting inside the Pentagon’s drone ambitions.

Pip: Let’s start with the EU-China trade picture.

EU and China: Rebalancing an Unequal Trade

Mara: The European Union is signaling it wants a different kind of relationship with China — one where the trade flows more evenly and the strategic vulnerabilities get addressed.

Pip: The numbers make the case bluntly. The EU’s trade deficit with China reached approximately 360 billion euros last year, and the post notes that “particular concern has centered on rare earth minerals after China imposed export restrictions last year, exposing Europe’s heavy reliance on Chinese supplies.”

Mara: So the upshot is Europe is not just haggling over tariffs — it’s reckoning with structural dependency. A summit in Brussels on June 18 and 19 is expected to advance those discussions, with a possible visit from China’s commerce minister also on the table.

Pip: Which makes Greenland’s rare earth story land with considerably more weight.

The Tanbreez Deal: Greenland’s 15-Year Commitment

Mara: The Tanbreez project in Greenland is one of the world’s largest known heavy rare earth deposits, and it just got a significant commercial anchor.

Pip: Critical Metals has signed a 15-year binding offtake agreement with REalloys, and the post quotes directly: “REalloys will receive priority rights to concentrate containing higher levels of the critical heavy rare earth elements, dysprosium and terbium, along with a right of first refusal over additional volumes.”

Mara: Those two elements — dysprosium and terbium — are exactly the heavy rare earths that go into the high-performance magnets defense and clean energy applications depend on. The deal formalizes and expands a non-binding agreement from last October, and follows Greenland’s April approval for Critical Metals to raise its ownership stake in the project to 92.5%.

Pip: Fifteen years is a long runway. That’s not a spot purchase — that’s a supply chain being built from the ground up.

Mara: Pricing is linked to international rare earth oxide benchmarks, and deliveries ship from the Tanbreez port in southern Greenland. The post frames this in the context of the U.S. and its allies stepping up efforts to secure critical mineral supplies outside China.

Pip: And REalloys turns up in the drone story too — which is where the magnet dependency gets very concrete.

300,000 Drones and the Magnet Bottleneck

Mara: The Pentagon has placed the largest drone order in American history — 30,000 one-way attack drones, with a target of scaling past 300,000 by early 2028. Every one runs on a rare earth magnet.

Pip: And the post puts the constraint in one number: “roughly 98% of the world’s magnets are manufactured in China.” That is a supply chain risk dressed up as an ambition.

Mara: REalloys is positioned as a direct response to that gap — holding what the post describes as the only fully non-Chinese mine-to-magnet heavy rare earth supply chain in North America, from processed metals through to magnet-ready inputs.

Pip: The Greenland offtake deal and this Pentagon supply problem are clearly two ends of the same chain.

Mara: Whether it’s Brussels negotiating with Beijing, Greenland locking in a 15-year deal, or the Pentagon counting magnets — the throughline is the same scramble to diversify critical mineral supply.

Pip: Next time, we’ll see where that scramble leads. The deposits are finite; the demand is not.