South African PGM Supply Risk: The Geological Reality in 2026

The Geology That Cannot Be Legislated Away Most critical mineral supply risks have a policy remedy. Build more processing capacity, diversify trade relationships, renegotiate supply agreements. Platinum group metals are different. South African PGM supply risk is not an artefact of trade policy or corporate consolidation. It is a geological reality, and geological realities do not respond to executive orders …

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Central banks’ gold rush hits record in Q2 as geopolitical risks persist

Central banks bought a record 289 tonnes of gold in the second quarter, a 74 per cent annual increase, as geopolitical uncertainty strengthened the case for bullion as a reserve asset, the World Gold Council said. That was also a more than five-fold increase from the first quarter’s revised total of 57 tonnes, the London-based council added. The National Bank of Poland …

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Demand for lithium is surging: here’s how to make mining more sustainable

Researchers are looking for ways to extract the metal from underground reservoirs that use less water. As more people seek out electric vehicles and batteries to store renewable energy, demand for lithium, the metal at the core of most rechargeable batteries, is intensifying. But mining lithium has substantial impacts on the environment. A wave of innovative technologies could make its extraction …

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With Inflation at 3.5%, Is Now a Good Time to Buy the SPDR Gold ETF? Here’s What History Says.

The U.S. Federal Reserve aims to keep the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation increasing at a rate of 2% per year. Unfortunately, the CPI was tracking at a much higher annualized rate of 3.5% in June, which is why Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is talking about hiking interest rates. Inflation refers to a general rise in the price …

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China’s gold imports jump 89% in first half as prices retreat

June imports climb to 173.34 tons, highest since March 2024, according to customs data International gold price falls 8% in first half, while yuan-denominated price drops 10%   China’s gold imports surged 89.1% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 as falling bullion prices, a stronger yuan and sustained demand from investors and commercial banks encouraged overseas purchases. The country …

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Africa urged to process bauxite and other critical minerals locally to drive industrial growth

African nations have been urged to accelerate domestic processing of bauxite and “other” critical minerals instead of continuing to export raw materials, as leaders push to transform the continent into a global hub for value-added mineral production. Speaking at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Ministerial Forum in Abidjan, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals and Chair of the Africa Mineral Strategy …

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Trump’s Critical Minerals Policy Is A $6.5 Trillion Trap

President Donald Trump’s campaign to purge Chinese-linked critical minerals from federal supply chains is facing the U.S. industrial reality check. Federal contractors must stop purchasing specified rare earths, magnets, tungsten, molybdenum and tantalum from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea by January 1, 2027. Trump has sought to end the waiver system that long softened those restrictions, declaring in a May 11 …

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China’s rare earth reserves could be much larger than reported: leading geologist

But potential resources at massive Bayan Obo mine in Inner Mongolia do not automatically translate into economically recoverable reserves. The world’s largest known rare earth deposit in northern China could contain far more resources underground than currently reported, according to a leading Chinese geologist. Containing 100 million tonnes of rare earth reserves, the Bayan Obo mine in the Inner Mongolia autonomous …

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Citi maintains bullish copper price targets on supply pressure

Citi maintained on Monday its bullish copper price targets through the end of the year, citing tighter physical markets and supply pressure in China. The bank held its $14 500 per metric ton zero- to three-month target and its $15 000 per ton year-end target. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange traded near $13 770 a ton in official rings MET/L. “While demand growth remains tepid, supply is …

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