Critical minerals: The next energy battle in West Asia

For decades, oil and natural gas defined power in the Middle East. Control over hydrocarbon resources shaped alliances, triggered conflicts and influenced the global economy. Today, however, a quieter but equally significant competition is emerging beneath the surface. The next strategic battle in West Asia may not be fought over oil fields or gas pipelines, but over the critical minerals …

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Domestic and international aluminium prices under pressure overall

The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2608 contract closed at RMB 23,425 per tonne, down 1.47 per cent. Prices traded below the MA5 (23,816.00), MA10 (23,952.00), MA30 (24,322.33), and MA60 (24,563.33) moving averages. The short- to medium-term moving averages were in a bearish alignment and pressing lower, with the overall structure notably in the doldrums and each of the moving averages above …

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The Clock Is Ticking: America’s Critical Minerals Moment

Twenty-nine years. That is the average time it takes to permit a mine in the United States. China controls roughly 60 percent of the world’s critical mineral processing capacity. And the materials at stake — lithium, cobalt, rare earths — are not optional inputs. They are the physical foundation of electric vehicles, MRI machines, defense systems, and the semiconductors powering …

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Lithium’s next demand wave extends beyond EV batteries

Electric vehicles (EVs) will remain the dominant source of lithium demand for at least the next 15 years, but a growing range of technologies from artificial intelligence to advanced nuclear systems could create a meaningful second wave of consumption by mid-century. A study by GEM Mining Consulting found emerging lithium applications would contribute about 105,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent …

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Tether Has Emerged as a New Gold Buyer

Strengths The best performing precious metal for the past week was palladium, up 3.27%. Palladium-backed ETFs added 4,411 troy ounces in the latest session. That single-day inflow contrasted with gold, which saw its eighth consecutive day of outflows, with silver’s total holdings now at roughly 785.6 million troy ounces worth about $53.37 billion. According to Scotia, Tether has emerged as a …

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China’s Antimony Ban Sent Prices Up 2,600%. Rare Earths Are Next

In 2024, China announced export controls on antimony.      It’s a metal most people have never heard of, but antimony goes into more than 200 types of military munitions. Within weeks, the price went from $1,400 per ton to $38,000 — a 2,600% spike — and shipments to the United States fell 97%. Today, Beijing is setting up for something bigger. And REalloys (NASDAQ: ALOY) — …

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Argentina Cuts the Red Tape Slowing Its Copper and Lithium Boom

Argentina has spent the past year courting miners with tax breaks and access to once-protected land. The latest step is quieter but aimed at a real pain point: the bureaucracy that slows projects after the headline incentives are signed. On Tuesday the government published Decree 482/2026, which overhauls the Mining Investment Regime and replaces an administrative framework that had stood …

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UK to invest $66 million in critical minerals to reduce import reliance

Britain will invest £50-million ($66-million) to boost domestic production of critical minerals, the government said on Monday, as it seeks to reduce reliance on concentrated global supply chains and strengthen economic resilience. The funding will support projects across extraction, processing and recycling, aimed at securing materials used in products ranging from smartphones and fridges to electric vehicle batteries. The move builds …

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