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Critical minerals news
Short summaries written by MineralLink editors, always linking to the original source. We never republish articles.
17 of 211 items
16 Oct 2026 · Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Science and Technology · official source
China proposes export restrictions on polysilicon, wafer and AI technologies with interim registration
China's commerce and science ministries proposed adding 40 technologies to the catalogue of technologies prohibited or restricted from export, including 12 in photovoltaics covering polysilicon, silicon wafer and cell manufacturing and the related core equipment, along with AI and biomedical items. Exporters must register such technology transfers with MOFCOM from 16 October until the revised catalogue takes effect; comments are due by 15 November 2026.
15 Oct 2026 · Avenira Limited (ASX announcement)
Avenira secures up to A$85 million from Hebang to fund Wonarah phosphate project
Avenira entered facilities of up to AUD 85 million with Hebang Biotechnology (Hong Kong), its major shareholder and offtake partner, made up of a AUD 50 million term loan and a AUD 35 million working-capital line. The eight-year facilities, priced at the Reserve Bank cash rate with repayments deferred for two years, are expected to fund the Northern Territory project through first shipment of direct-shipping phosphate ore.
14 Oct 2026 · MiningFocus Africa
China and Botswana upgrade ties and pledge cooperation on mining and green minerals
Presidents Xi Jinping and Duma Boko agreed in Beijing on 13 October to deepen cooperation in mining, green technology and industrial development and raised relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Cooperation documents signed included one on green minerals, but no specific mining investments were announced.
13 Oct 2026 · Investing News Network
EU caps Chinese hybrid imports as Chinese lithium futures post steepest fall since March
The EU will cap imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles at 350,000 a year from December under WTO safeguard rules, after talks in Beijing led by trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic. Lithium carbonate futures in Guangzhou fell almost 12% on 12 October, and Goldman Sachs expects the lithium market to reach rough balance in the fourth quarter before moving into surplus.
9 Oct 2026 · European Commission · official source
China says it will keep fast-tracking rare earth and magnet export licences for the EU
A joint statement from the second EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations in Beijing (8-9 October) says China is willing to keep facilitating export licences for rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU through a fast-track mechanism, while the EU will help speed priority dual-use licences to China. Both sides agreed to give advance warning and more transparency on entity listings under their export control dialogue.
3 Oct 2026 · Mining.com.au
China's market regulator seeks copper supply assurances before clearing Anglo–Teck merger
Citing Reuters, Mining.com.au reports that China's State Administration for Market Regulation wants assurances of steady copper concentrate supply, including volumes sold via traders, before approving the Anglo American–Teck merger. China is the only remaining approval; the companies expect to close by March 2027.
2 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
China's Xinye starts 180,000-tonne aluminium smelter in Ethiopia
Chinese steelmaker Xinye Special Steel began production at a 180,000-tonne-a-year electrolytic aluminium smelter in the Gada Special Economic Zone, about 65 km south-east of Addis Ababa. The plant will import alumina and serve Ethiopia's domestic market, which currently depends on imports.
1 Oct 2026 · Sheffield Resources (ASX)
Lenders extend debt deferral for Thunderbird mineral sands mine in Western Australia
Kimberley Mineral Sands, owner of the Thunderbird mine, agreed with lenders Sheng Feng and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to defer interest and principal payments due since December 2025 until 31 October 2026. The parties are negotiating a standstill to June 2027 to allow a possible debt restructure; Sheffield Resources and Yansteel's YGH are sponsors.
29 Sept 2026 · Mining.com.au
Volkswagen and Gotion form LFP battery joint ventures in Spain, Slovakia and Morocco
Volkswagen's PowerCo and Gotion High-tech will invest about EUR 3.2 billion in three joint ventures: LFP cell production at PowerCo's Spanish gigafactory and at a Gotion plant in Slovakia, and an LFP cathode materials plant in Morocco. The partners aim to diversify sourcing of lithium, iron and phosphate for Europe's battery chain.
29 Sept 2026 · CGTN
China issues 2026–2030 plan for new-type battery industry
China's industry ministry and other agencies released a 15th Five-Year Plan for the new-type battery sector covering lithium, sodium and flow batteries. It targets initial large-scale use of all-solid-state batteries and 15,000-cycle long-life lithium batteries by 2030, with 19 tasks including materials breakthroughs and lifecycle traceability.
25 Sept 2026 · Rinnovabili
US-China trade truce extended to January 2027, keeping suspension of tighter rare earth curbs
The United States and China extended their trade truce by two months to 10 January 2027, keeping current tariff levels and the suspension of China's expanded rare earth export restrictions. Licensing requirements introduced in April 2025 for several medium and heavy rare earths, such as samarium, gadolinium and terbium, remain in force.
25 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Chinese state firm completes USD 320m entry into Namibia's Etango uranium project
CNNC Overseas Limited completed an investment of about USD 320 million for a 42.75% direct stake in Bannerman Energy's Etango uranium project in Namibia, with rights to buy 60% of output over the mine's life. Bannerman keeps 52.25% and marketing rights to the remaining 40%, with a final investment decision expected in Q4 2026.
22 Sept 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
Tengyuan Cobalt shifts IPO funds from precursor plant to DRC hydropower project
Chinese cobalt producer Tengyuan Cobalt won shareholder approval to redirect about RMB 949 million of IPO proceeds to the Lufupa hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company will cut the planned capacity of its ternary precursor project from 80,000 to 20,000 tonnes a year.
31 Aug 2026 · Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)
China Northern Rare Earth reports first-half 2026 revenue up 37% and profit more than doubled
China Northern Rare Earth reported first-half 2026 revenue of about RMB 25.8 billion and net profit attributable to shareholders of about RMB 2.05 billion, increases of roughly 37% and 120% year on year. At its results briefing the company said it expects magnet demand to recover gradually in the second half and is investing in research and downstream materials.
11 Aug 2026 · Lithium Argentina AG (SEC Form 6-K)
Lithium Argentina reports Q2 Cauchari-Olaroz output and modular DLE plan with Ganfeng
Lithium Argentina reported 9,280 tonnes of lithium carbonate from Cauchari-Olaroz in Jujuy in the second quarter of 2026 and kept full-year guidance of 35,000–40,000 tonnes. With Ganfeng it is engineering an initial 10,000 t/y modular direct lithium extraction plant for the Stage 2 expansion, which gained RIGI approval in May.
10 Aug 2026 · Gasgoo
Authorities say CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine in Yichun remains shut pending environmental approval
Local authorities in Yichun, Jiangxi, said on 7 August 2026 that CATL's Jianxiawo lepidolite mine was still under maintenance with no ore loading or crushing. A restart requires municipal approval of an environmental impact assessment, a draft of which was put out for public comment in late July, after lithium was reclassified as a standalone strategic mineral under China's revised Mineral Resources Law.
1 Jul 2026 · Morgan Lewis
China's reporting mechanism for strategic mineral export-control violations takes effect
A MOFCOM announcement creating a public channel to report suspected violations of export controls on strategic-mineral dual-use items took effect on 1 July 2026, covering issues such as unlicensed exports, disguised goods and third-country routing. A legal analysis published the same day also described recent enforcement cases involving rare-earth and germanium-related items.
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