Critical minerals
Brussels fast-tracked 19 copper projects and left the financing to lenders. Washington's answer in Africa is to start buying equity.
On 9 October the European Commission added 46 strategic raw material projects, all inside the bloc, needing about €21.1 billion that it does not automatically provide. The same day the US development bank said it will take equity stakes in African critical minerals in place of loans. Brazil was on Europe's list last year and is not on this one.
Washington's Newest Export Control Targets Its Own Scrap Heap
A July 30 presidential determination lets Commerce restrict exports of black mass and end-of-life magnets. It fences in feedstock for a domestic recycling industry that keeps going bankrupt.
Brazil's Congress races to unlock 23 million hectares of critical minerals in the Amazon
ANM data shows 4,795 processes for copper, tin, nickel and rare earths across the Legal Amazon. Two bills would fast-track licensing. Indigenous consultation and environmental safeguards are the open questions.
China's $300 Billion AI Plan Just Pulled Platinum Onto the Materials Map
Beijing's AI infrastructure spend is pulling platinum into chips, drives, and data center backup power as the metal runs a fourth straight deficit. South Africa holds 83 percent of reserves. Brazil holds an option.
Tantalum ingots up 158 percent year to date. Brazil's biggest tin and tantalum mine is now Chinese.
KEMET raised tantalum capacitor prices for the third time in twelve months. Panasonic hiked 15 to 30 percent in February. The desk that took the metal's name has not written about it yet. Today it does.