Updates in Mining
EU Announces 13 New Projects to Reduce Import Reliance
As part of their effort to reduce reliance on critical mineral imports, particularly from China, the European Union has announced the addition of 13 new projects to their list of strategic initiatives, bringing the total number to 60, according to Reuters. The newly added projects, all located outside the bloc, work toward the Critical Raw Material Act, under which the EU intends to mine 10%, process 40%, and recycle 25% of its needs by 2030.
The Pilbara Gets a New Iron Ore Mine
A joint venture between Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel has opened an iron ore mine – Western Range – in Australia’s Pilbara region. The project will add up to 25 million tonnes per year of new capacity and will help to bolster Rio Tinto’s ongoing operations in the Paraburdoo region. Read more from Mining Weekly >>.
Platts Proposes Iron Ore Benchmark Change
Platts—a commodity pricing service under S&P Global—will revise its global benchmark for iron ore in response to declining ore quality from Australia, the world’s largest exporter. Starting January 2, 2026, the standard iron content used in its benchmark index will be lowered from 62% to 61% Fe. Read more from Mining Weekly >>.
G7 Leaders Draft Critical Minerals Strategy
Group of Seven leaders have drafted a strategy aimed at safeguarding critical minerals supply, according to Reuters. The move comes after China’s April export restrictions disrupted global supply chains, prompting the G7 to counter “non‑market policies and practices” that threaten economic and national security. The draft plan outlines steps to forecast shortages, coordinate responses to market disruptions, and diversify mining, processing, manufacturing, and recycling. It also emphasizes ensuring that mineral prices reflect the true costs of responsible extraction and trade.
U.S. and China Agree on Rare Earth Exports – For Now
After months of export restrictions from China on rare earths wreaked havoc on the United States and other nations, China has committed to resuming exports to the U.S., according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS argues that while the new agreement will bring relief to industries that rely on these critical materials, diversifying the supply chain to reduce reliance on China is essential to securing a reliable supply long-term.
Updates in Fertilizer
China Halts Specialty Fertilizer Exports to India
The Economic Times reports that after years of export restrictions, China has put a full stop on specialty fertilizer shipments to India, which relies on China for roughly 80% of these inputs. Without the ability to manufacture these increasingly critical inputs domestically, the move puts substantial pressure on India to find an alternative in time to avoid disruptions.
Updates in Chemical
Google and Dow Partner on Plastics
Google and Dow are partnering up to develop AI-driven tools that would help to advance plastics recycling, according to SECFilings. The companies aim to develop AI tech that would significantly improve identification and sorting procedures by examining plastics on a molecular level at scale.
Lower-Cost Graphene Production Demonstrated
The Southwest Research Institute has demonstrated the production of graphene from CO2 gas. A range of new technologies increasingly depend on graphene, but existing production relies on graphite or silicon carbide/hydrocarbon mixtures. This process, which researchers continue to optimize, would instead rely on a low-cost waste stream. Read more from Chemical Engineering >>.
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