The Metalnomist
Independent metals/mining analyst covering offtakes (tungsten), new bauxite projects, DRC copper/cobalt supply and geopolitics; links to detailed writeups.
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
Glencore Expands Cusco Copper Hub with Quechua Acquisition
Glencore buys Quechua in Peru to strengthen its Cusco copper hub around Antapaccay and Coroccohuayco. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/glencore-acquires-quechua-copper.html
Nornickel Forecasts Nickel Surplus, Tight Copper Post‑2025, PGM Rally
Nornickel sees nickel surplus, tighter copper after 2025, and a renewed PGM rally led by investor demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/nornickel-nickel-surplus-and-copper.html
Ecuador to Extend Mirador Mine Contract, Enable Norte Expansion
Ecuador plans a Mirador copper mine contract extension in 1H 2026 to unlock Mirador Norte expansion. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/mirador-copper-mine-contract-extension.html
EVAC Launches US-Made Rare Earth Magnets, Targets 2
eVAC ships its first US-made rare earth magnets and targets 2,000 t/yr capacity by Q1 2026. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/us-made-rare-earth-magnets-shipped-as.html
Fortescue Fully Acquires Alta Copper, Expands Peru Copper Push
Fortescue buys Alta Copper outright, deepening its copper expansion strategy around Peru’s Canariaco project. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/fortescue-alta-copper-acquisition.html
US Rolls Out Pax Silica to Safeguard AI Silicon Supply
US launches Pax Silica to secure polysilicon inputs and expand allied semiconductor partnerships for AI growth. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/pax-silica-silicon-supply-chain.html
Flash Joule Heating Unlocks Gallium, Scandium From Louisiana Red Mud
Metallium and ElementUSA target US gallium and scandium recovery from Louisiana red mud using flash joule heating. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/metallium-flash-joule-heating.html
EU Sets Recycled Plastics Targets, Expands to Steel, Aluminium
EU agrees recycled plastics targets for cars, with future recycled steel and aluminium rules under end-of-life vehicles regulation. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/eu-end-of-life-vehicles-regulation-sets.html
Australia Secures Fixed‑Price Power for Tomago Smelter Post‑2028
Australia moves toward a fixed-price power deal to keep Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter running after 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/tomago-aluminium-smelter-power-purchase.html
Antilles Gold, GeoMinera Begin Cuba Mine, 2026 Commissioning
Antilles Gold and GeoMinera start building Cuba’s Nueva Sabana copper-gold mine, targeting end-2026 commissioning. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/antilles-gold-nueva-sabana-copper-gold.html
China’s 2026 Policy Loosening Boosts Steel, Non‑Ferrous Demand
China signals looser policy and faster green transition for 2026, supporting steel and non-ferrous demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/china-2026-economic-policy-direction.html
Hubei STR to Open 50k‑ton Anode Recycling Plant 2026
Hubei STR will launch a 50,000 t/yr anode recycling plant in March 2026 as China battery scrap rises. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/hubei-str-anode-recycling-plant-will.html
REalloys Secures 5‑Year Rare‑Earth Deal, Boosts Saskatoon Expansion
REalloys signs 5-year SRC deal for NdPr, Dy, Tb and funds Saskatoon capacity expansion. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/realloys-rare-earth-supply-deal-with.html
Almonty Raises $112.5M for Global Tungsten Expansion
Almonty seeks $112.5mn to advance Montana tungsten, Portugal Panasqueira expansion, and Korea Sangdong Mo drilling. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/almonty-tungsten-funding-targets-1125mn.html