Critical Minerals
Appalachia’s 328-Year Lithium Reserve Becomes Geopolitical Chess Piece in U.S.-China Battery War
A 2.3 million metric ton discovery promises mineral independence, but extraction timelines and China's refining dominance turn resource abundance into long-term option value.
Western Powers Accelerate Rare Earth Decoupling as China’s Processing Dominance Hits 90%
Coordinated strategy combining equity stakes, price floors, and strategic partnerships aims to break China's stranglehold on critical minerals—but experts warn meaningful diversification requires a decade.
US-EU Critical Minerals Partnership Targets China’s Processing Chokehold
Agreement formalizes trade mechanisms and supply chain coordination across battery, semiconductor, and rare earth sectors, but binding commitments remain months away.
Congo Rebel Withdrawal Secures Battery Metals Supply After US Diplomatic Intervention
M23's retreat from strategic South Kivu positions demonstrates Washington's shift toward mineral-security diplomacy in African supply chains.
China’s Renminbi Hits 3-Year High as Xi Prepares to Meet Trump From Position of Strength
Currency appreciation to 6.81 per dollar signals Beijing's deflation exit and macro stabilization ahead of critical summit.
China Pays Premium for Ghana Lithium as Battery Supply Race Intensifies
Huayou Cobalt's $210M acquisition of Atlantic Lithium extends Beijing's control over African critical minerals, countering US diversification efforts as lithium prices surge 50% year-to-date.
US Discovers 328 Years of Lithium in Appalachia—But China Still Controls the Refining
USGS identifies 2.3 million metric tons in domestic reserves as prices hit $26,000/tonne, yet decade-long extraction timelines leave supply chain leverage unchanged.
How China Spent 30 Years Building a Rare Earth Trap the West Can’t Escape
Beijing's dominance stems from deliberate predatory pricing that eliminated Western competitors before alternatives could scale, creating structural dependency across semiconductors, defense systems, and clean energy infrastructure.
China’s $43.6 Billion M&A Surge Masks Strategic Asset Control Play
Overseas acquisitions targeting semiconductors, rare earths, and critical minerals now account for 88% of China's cross-border portfolio as tech decoupling accelerates.
US Signs First Commercial Cobalt Refinery Deal, Targeting China’s 75% Processing Monopoly
EVelution Energy's $850 million Mitsui offtake agreement marks the first attempt to build domestic cobalt refining capacity as IRA compliance deadlines loom and battery demand accelerates.
China’s Rare Earth Chokepoint: A 3-5 Year Window of Strategic Vulnerability
Beijing controls 90% of rare earth processing, weaponizing access through export controls while Western alternatives face decade-long buildout timelines.
GM’s $625M Nevada Lithium Bet Targets 2027 Supply as US-China Battery War Intensifies
Thacker Pass joint venture positions Detroit automaker ahead of rivals in domestic EV feedstock race, but production won't arrive until late 2027—leaving a three-year gap as China controls 85% of global battery capacity.