January 12, 2026 Australia fast-tracks critical minerals stockpile Canberra will build a strategic minerals reserve using domestic supply to shore up defence, tech manufacturing and allied supply chains.
January 11, 2026 Japan sets sail on rare earth hunt as China tightens supplies The month-long mission of the test vessel Chikyu near Minamitori Island will mark the world's first attempt to continuously lift rare-earth seabed sludge.
January 11, 2026 Australia’s VHM scraps offtake deal with Shenghe Resources The Goschen project is VHM's flagship development, focused on extracting critical minerals such as rare earth elements and titanium.
January 11, 2026 US to push for quicker action in reducing reliance on China for rare earths Aside from Japan, G7 members remain heavily dependent on critical minerals from China, which has threatened to impose strict export controls.
January 9, 2026 Bessent says Australia, India invited to G7 meeting on critical minerals Bessent said he had been pressing for a separate meeting on the issue since last summer's summit of G7 leaders.
January 9, 2026 Japan seeks support as fears rise over China’s rare earth grip The impact of China’s latest move is still unclear, but existing export controls have already lengthened the time required to procure rare earth magnets.
January 8, 2026 Navarro sees US ending Chinese dominance of critical minerals American innovation would “quickly wipe away” China’s “weaponization,” Trump’s White House trade adviser predicted.
January 8, 2026 Greenland miner Amaroq soars on report of US gov’t investment Chief executive Eldur Olafsson told CNBC that discussions have been held with US government bodies about potential investment opportunities.
January 8, 2026 China-Japan rare earth spat curbs exports Analysts said the economic fallout for Japan could be severe.
January 8, 2026 Energy Fuels estimates $1.8B value for Madagascar mineral sands project A new FS report estimated that the Vara Mada project could produce 959,000 tonnes of ilmenite, 66,000 tonnes of zircon and 24,000 tonnes of monazite.
Codelco to produce 1.344mt of copper in 2026, chairman says The company's lithium joint venture with SQM is expected to produce 250,000 tons in 2026, chairman Maximo Pacheco also said. January 12, 2026 | 07:13 am
Gecamines to buy 100,000t of copper from Tenke Fungurume mine The purchase represents 20% of TFM’s output, in line with Gecamines’ 20% shareholding. January 12, 2026 | 07:07 am
Japan launches world’s first deep-sea rare earth mining test Tokyo has begun a seabed mining trial near Minamitori Island as it seeks to cut reliance on Chinese rare earth supplies. January 12, 2026 | 05:13 am