The Metalnomist
Independent metals/mining analyst covering offtakes (tungsten), new bauxite projects, DRC copper/cobalt supply and geopolitics; links to detailed writeups.
GE Forecasts Boosted 2026 LEAP Deliveries Amid Recovery
GE expects higher LEAP engine deliveries in 2026 as supply chain recovery and strong MRO demand support growth. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/ge-leap-engine-deliveries-set-to-rise.html
Trump Postpones Iran Strike; Hormuz Tension Rattles Oil Markets
Trump delays Iran attacks to 6 April, but Strait of Hormuz risk keeps oil and supply chains on edge. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trump-delays-iran-attacks-as-strait-of.html
Fatal Accident Halts Hengjaya Mine, Threatens Indonesia Nickel Supply
Nickel Industries suspended Hengjaya mine operations after a fatal incident, raising new risks for Indonesia nickel supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/nickel-industries-hengjaya-mine.html
ERG Commits $1 Bn to Boost Kazakhstan Strategic Metals
ERG will invest $1bn in Kazakhstan to expand strategic metals, gallium, HBI, and core metallurgy assets. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/erg-kazakh-mining-investment-signals.html
Tight Copper, Aluminium Supply Set to Boost Prices Through 2026
ING expects tight copper and aluminium supply to support prices into 2026 amid tariffs, weak mine output, and power constraints. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/tight-copper-and-aluminium-supply-keeps.html
SLN Secures Funding, Yet New Caledonia Nickel Remains Risky
SLN stabilised with fresh funding, but New Caledonia nickel supply still faces deep structural risks. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/new-caledonia-nickel-supply-gains-time.html
Weak Refining Economics Heighten Strategic Pressure on US Smelters
US copper smelters face rising strategic pressure as weak refining economics reshape the copper supply chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-copper-smelters-face-strategic.html
Trump‑Iran Talks Spark Hormuz Oil Fears, Lift Prices
Trump Iran talks revived Strait of Hormuz oil flow fears and pushed global energy prices higher. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trump-iran-talks-put-strait-of-hormuz.html
Jogmec Invests C$6M for 10% Stake in Manitoba Copper Venture
Jogmec joins Manitoba copper exploration with Hudbay and Marubeni, funding C$6mn for a 10% option. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/jogmec-manitoba-copper-exploration.html
Teck Reaches Upper 2025 Copper Guidance Despite Tailings Limits
Teck hits the top end of 2025 copper guidance as Quebrada Blanca tailings constraints remain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/teck-hits-top-end-2025-copper-guidance.html
Greenland Resources Secures Long-Term Mo Supply for GMH
Greenland Resources to supply Mo to GMH Group under a long-term MOU linked to the Malmbjerg project. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/greenland-resources-to-supply-mo-to-gmh.html
USA Rare Earth Launches French REE Plant with Caremag Partnership
USA Rare Earth to build REE plant in France, co-located with Caremag oxide output and backed by C31V credits. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/usa-rare-earth-to-build-ree-plant-in.html
Germany Launches Four-Year, Income‑targeted BEV Subsidy Plan
Germany sets four-year BEV support for 2026–29 with income-based subsidies, plug-in limits, and a €3bn cap. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/germany-sets-four-year-bev-support-for.html
JDC Boosts Jinsha Stake, Secures 2029 Molybdenum Plant
China’s JDC raises its Jinsha stake, backing Shapinggou’s 2029 start and future molybdenum processing. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/chinas-jdc-raises-stake-in-major.html
Explosion at Baogang Sparks Rare Earth Supply Concerns
Explosion hits Chinese rare earth producer Baogang, raising uncertainty over safety checks and rare earth supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/explosion-hits-chinese-rare-earth.html
Geopolitics Stall Greenland
Greenland resources face extraction hurdles as geopolitics rises, while rare earth and molybdenum projects seek financing. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/greenland-resources-face-extraction.html
Copper Prices Slip as Inventories Surge, Contango Widens
Copper eases as LME and SHFE inventories surge, widening contango and cooling near-term demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/copper-prices-soften-as-inventories.html
North Sea Dated Surges Past $112 Amid Supply Shock
North Sea Dated jumps above $112/bl as Europe absorbs delayed supply shocks from the Mideast war. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/north-sea-dated-benchmark-hits-highest.html
Critical Metals Secures Saudi Rare Earth Plant with Defense Backing
Critical Metals plans a Saudi rare earth facility backed by Tanbreez offtake and US defense demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/critical-metals-saudi-rare-earth.html
Worthington Steel's $1.3B Deal Makes No.2 US Metal Center
Worthington Steel to buy Kloeckner for $1.3bn, creating the No. 2 North American metal service center. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/worthington-steel-to-buy-kloeckner-for.html
Vale Gains 2026 Indonesian Nickel Permit, Restarts Sulawesi Operations
Vale secures 2026 RKAB approval in Indonesia and moves to restart nickel mining and construction in Sulawesi. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/vale-secures-2026-nickel-mining-quotas.html
Tesla Launches Texas Lithium Refinery for Battery‑grade Hydroxide
Tesla begins operations at its Texas lithium refinery near Corpus Christi to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/tesla-texas-lithium-refinery-starts.html
Energy Fuels Expands Utah Mill for Low-Cost NdPr
Energy Fuels targets low-cost NdPr at Utah’s White Mesa Mill with a 6,000t/yr expansion plan. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/utah-low-cost-ree-producer-plans-could.html
Novelis Adds Bag Houses for 85k‑ton Recycling Boost
Novelis commissions bag houses at UK plant to support an 85,000 t/yr recycling expansion before UK DRS. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/novelis-commissions-bag-houses-at-uk.html
US and Chile Launch Talks to Secure Critical Minerals
US-Chile critical minerals talks open to secure copper, lithium, and rare earth supply chains. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-chile-critical-minerals-talks-kick.html
Germany, India Forge Critical Minerals Partnership Across Supply Chain
Germany and India sign new deals to deepen critical minerals cooperation across mining, processing, and recycling. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/germany-india-strengthen-critical.html
Taseko Nears First Copper Cathode as Arizona Plant Finishes
Taseko expects first copper cathode in coming weeks as Florence Copper completes construction in Arizona. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/taseko-expects-first-cu-cathode-in.html
PTC Lands ISRO Titanium Ingot Order, Expands VAR/PAM Capability
PTC secures an aerospace-grade titanium ingot order for ISRO and scales VAR and PAM capability. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/aerospace-grade-titanium-ingot-order.html
MP Considers Texas Site for Second Magnet Plant
MP weighs Northlake, Texas, for a second magnet plant as it builds a 10X facility targeting 10,000 t/yr by 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/mp-materials-second-magnet-plant-could.html
Brazil, Saudi Arabia Team Up on Critical Minerals Mapping
Brazil and Saudi Arabia launch a critical minerals working group and seek Saudi funding for Brazil mapping. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/brazil-saudi-arabia-to-cooperate-for.html
Airbus Exceeds 2025 Delivery Target, Ships 793 Jets
Airbus delivered 793 aircraft in 2025, topping its revised target as supply chain constraints eased. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/airbus-delivered-793-aircraft-in-2025.html
Lilac, Traxys Lock 10‑year, 5,000
Lilac and Traxys sign a 10-year offtake for 5,000 t/y Utah lithium carbonate starting in 2027. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/lilac-traxys-lithium-offtake-secures.html
Intrepid Potash Moves Utah Brine to Battery-Grade Lithium
Intrepid Potash advances a Utah lithium project to make battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine byproduct. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/intrepid-potash-utah-lithium-project.html
Capstone Strike Slashes Chile Mine Output to 30%
Capstone Mantoverde strike cuts Chile mine output to 30% as Union #2 walks out after failed bargaining. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/capstone-mantoverde-strike-cuts-chile.html
Runhe Targets 100k‑ton Rare‑Earth Catalyst Plant in Sichuan
China rare earth catalyst project advances as Runhe plans a 100,000 t/yr rare earth catalyst plant in Sichuan. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/china-rare-earth-catalyst-project-runhe.html
China Doubles Tianyuan TiO₂ Capacity with New Plant
China chlorination titanium dioxide expansion doubles Tianyuan capacity with a new 100,000 t/yr chloride TiO₂ plant. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/china-chlorination-titanium-dioxide.html
Glencore Commits 2,400 T/Yr E‑waste Supply to Metallium Texas
Glencore signs a binding deal to supply 2,400 t/yr of e-waste to Metallium’s Texas plant. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/glencore-metallium-e-waste-recycling.html
US Pushes Formal Venezuelan Critical Minerals Value Chain
US critical minerals talks in Caracas signal a push for a formal Venezuelan mining value chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-critical-minerals-supply-chain-in.html
Nanshan Boosts Indonesian Alumina Output to 4 Mt/Yr
Nanshan adds 1mn t/yr in Indonesia, lifting total alumina capacity to 4mn t/yr with new port support. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/nanshan-indonesia-alumina-capacity.html
Parnaiba Basin Holds Rare Earths, Phosphate, Uranium, SGB Finds
Brazil’s SGB reports Piaui assays showing rare earths, phosphate, and uranium in the Parnaiba basin. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/brazil-parnaiba-basin-rare-earths.html
EU Widens ETS Aid, Adds 20 New Sectors
EU expands ETS indirect carbon cost compensation to 20 new sectors and raises coverage for eligible industries. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/eu-ets-state-aid-expansion-widens.html
Lithium Royalty Secures 1.5% Goulamina Spodumene Stake
Lithium Royalty Corp buys a 1.5% Goulamina lithium royalty in Mali, gaining long-dated spodumene exposure. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/goulamina-lithium-royalty-deal.html
IRS Adds Backup Reporting for CCS Credits Pending EPA System
IRS and Treasury set backup reporting for CCS tax credits if EPA electronic reporting is not ready by June 2026. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/carbon-capture-tax-credit-guidance-sets.html
EU Mulls Aluminium Scrap Export Caps Amid Rising Shipments
EU consults on aluminium scrap export limits as shipments rise and secondary producers face margin pressure. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/eu-aluminium-scrap-export-restriction.html
Talon Takes Over Lundin’s Michigan Eagle Mine, Humboldt Mill
Talon acquires Lundin’s US Ni, Cu subsidiary, taking Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill in Michigan. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/talon-acquires-lundins-us-ni-cu.html
EGA Expands Hanover Facility, Doubling Scrap Processing by 2028
EGA expands Leichtmetall in Hanover, boosting sorting and melting capacity for post-consumer scrap by 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/ega-leichtmetall-recycling-expansion.html
Trimet Adds Scrap Hall, Boosts Aluminium Recycling by 16,000 T/Yr
Trimet expands Essen with a new scrap hall, lifting Trimet aluminium recycling capacity by about 16,000 t/yr. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trimet-aluminium-recycling-capacity.html
UK Court Blocks Appeal, Trafigura Pursues $700M Recovery
Trafigura nickel fraud case advances as UK court blocks appeal and Trafigura seeks $700mn recovery. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trafigura-nickel-fraud-case-trader-to.html
Poland Cuts Copper Tax, KGHM Eyes 2026 Output Boost
Poland’s KGHM targets higher copper output in 2026 as Poland cuts its copper extraction tax from January. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/polands-kghm-targets-higher-copper.html
EU Targets Pre‑consumer Scrap in CBAM to Stop Evasion
EU proposes CBAM treatment for pre-consumer aluminium and steel scrap to curb circumvention and boost traceability. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/eu-cbam-pre-consumer-scrap-proposal.html
