Today's Mining Pulse
Chinese financing fuels a $98 billion mineral power shift
A wave of $98 billion in Chinese financing and heightened U.S. diplomatic activity has thrust critical minerals into the geopolitical spotlight. Resource‑rich nations such as the DRC, Brazil and Zambia are leveraging their mineral wealth to negotiate better terms and assert greater control over strategic industries.
Also developing:
Uganda’s Merchandise Exports Surge 72% Driven by Gold and Coffee
Uganda’s merchandise exports jumped 72% year‑over‑year, reaching $1.45 billion in January 2026. The surge was driven primarily by a 182% rise in gold shipments, which alone generated $914 million, and strong coffee earnings. The country posted a $147 million trade surplus for the month, while gold overtook coffee as the top foreign‑exchange earner. Over the past six years, gold exports have climbed from $1.26 billion to $6.4 billion, reshaping Uganda’s export profile.
Analysts Warn EV Bubble Could Burst, CEOs Face Strategic Reset
Analysts caution that a slowdown in EV demand, rising raw‑material costs and fierce price wars are threatening a bubble that could burst, putting pressure on CEOs of major manufacturers to rethink strategies. The warning arrives as Chinese makers unveil new...
Japan’s Long-Term Titanium Push Key to West’s Security Check on China
Japan is accelerating a China‑free titanium strategy, highlighted by Sovereign Metals' off‑take agreement with Mitsui to deliver up to 70,000 tonnes of high‑grade rutile from Malawi each year. The move follows Western supply shocks, including the shutdown of Ukraine’s titanium...
Middle East Tensions Disrupt Zimbabwe’s Gold Exports
Zimbabwe's gold exports are being hit by Middle East tensions that have disrupted key shipping routes. The United Arab Emirates, which accounts for 45% of Zimbabwe's gold export revenue, is affected as the Strait of Hormuz closure forces vessels around...
EGC and Mercuria Partner to Transform Kasulo Into Benchmark for Responsible Cobalt Mining
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) and Mercuria Energy Trading have signed a memorandum of understanding to transform the Kasulo artisanal cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo into a global benchmark for responsible mining. The partners will work with...
America’s Military Potemkin Crisis
Jack Lifton, co‑chair of the Critical Minerals Institute, argues that the U.S. narrative of a looming critical‑minerals shortage is a manufactured “Potemkin” crisis. He contends that bureaucrats inflate the problem to channel large sums of taxpayer money to politically connected...
Reopened Mines Power Economic Recovery in Zambia’s Copperbelt
Zambia’s government has reopened previously closed mines in the Copperbelt, reigniting a sector that drives most of the country’s export earnings. The revival has created thousands of direct jobs and spurred indirect employment in transport, engineering and services, while prompting...
US Invokes Defense Production Act to Boost Domestic Phosphorus Production
The U.S. government issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic mining and processing of elemental phosphorus, a critical input for glyphosate herbicides. The move seeks to reduce reliance on foreign sources amid global supply concerns.
Details Unavailable: No Source Data on Executive Order for Phosphorus Production
The eight supplied articles do not include any mention of a U.S. executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to increase elemental phosphorus output for glyphosate herbicides. Consequently, specific facts, quotes, and figures cannot be reported.
Is America Suffering From the “Resource Curse”?
The blog revisits the classic "resource curse" theory, which argues that nations abundant in natural resources often experience slower long‑term growth and weaker institutions. It highlights how traditional petrostates like Saudi Arabia and Russia exemplify this pattern, and then asks...
Ukrainian Strikes Cause “Most Serious Threat” To Russian Oil Exports Since War Began
Ukrainian drone strikes on the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust‑Luga and the Kirishi refinery have knocked out roughly half of Russia's oil export capacity, the most severe disruption since the 2022 invasion began. The attacks, combined with recent seizures...
Hormuz Oil Flow Down 40%, Now Mostly Crude
Pre-war Strait of Hormuz flow (crude + products): ~20m b/d. My updated flow assumptions: Iran: ~1.5m b/d (SoH) UAE: ~1.0m b/d (Fujairah above pre-war) KSA: ~5.0m b/d (Yanbu above pre-war) Plus ~1.0m b/d (Non-Iranian SoH tankers) Plus >2.0m...
New Oklahoma Aluminum Smelter Set to Revamp U.S. Supply
Century and EGA plan a major Oklahoma aluminum smelter that could transform US primary metal supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/century-ega-oklahoma-aluminum-plant.html
EU Trade Commissioner Discusses Critical Minerals, Tariffs with US
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic confirmed progress on a critical minerals agenda and a resolution of tariff disputes with the United States. Both sides settled on a 15% import tariff for most EU goods, halving the rate previously threatened by...
US Funding Accelerates Domestic Heavy‑Rare‑Earth Magnet Supply Chain
USA Rare Earth funding could speed up a US mine-to-magnet supply chain for heavy rare earths and domestic magnets. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/usa-rare-earth-funding-could-accelerate.html
Indonesia's 2026 Nickel Quotas Tighten Feedstock, Not Oversupply
Indonesia nickel ore quotas may tighten feedstock supply in 2026 without solving oversupply in downstream nickel products. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/indonesia-nickel-ore-quotas-risk.html
Seequent Assesses Offshore Data Today to Prepare for Tomorrow
Seequent is launching a unified platform that merges geophysical, geological, and geotechnical offshore data into a cloud‑native environment. The initiative addresses long‑standing data fragmentation that hampers accurate seafloor mapping and risk assessment. By standardizing metadata and applying automated quality checks,...
Analyst Warns Oil Crisis Could Trigger May Economic Collapse
Global economy could collapse by early May: Analyst issues stark warning over oil crisis https://t.co/HeVyeLGS3s
US Gas Prices Stay Low, Softening Energy Shock Impact
For the American economy, the key different between the current energy shock and previous ones is the (lack of) impact in US natural gas prices. That's crucial for industrial activity and electricity prices (and thus inflation). Far less reported than...
Daughter of Ifugao Rises to Lead Major Gold Miner
Joan Adaci‑Cattiling, an indigenous Ifugao descendant, became president of OceanaGold Philippines (OGP) in 2024, leading the country’s second‑largest gold and copper producer. Under her guidance, OGP has deepened community ties through a 1% revenue Community Development Fund and a 0.5%...
Lithium Prices Could Double by 2026 Amid China Supply Panic
Interesting take. Always tough to predict #lithium price. I think a doubling from here in 2026 is rich but not impossible. China’s current supply freak-out is real.
Helium Shortage Threatens Chip Production, 40% offlineHelium Shortage Threatens Chip Production, 40% Offline
40% of global helium is offline It's critical for computer chips and there's only a few weeks of inventory https://t.co/NrxRXjRzCl
DOE Pushes Fast-Track Reactor Licensing at Idaho Lab, Raising Uranium Mining Stakes
The Department of Energy convened senior officials at Idaho National Laboratory, with 31‑year‑old lawyer Seth Cohen steering a fast‑track licensing push for advanced nuclear reactors. The meeting underscored a Trump‑era overhaul of nuclear regulation and signaled a potential surge in...
Subtract 300k Bpd From 2026 Oil Demand Forecasts
⭕️For now, whatever your estimates of global oil consumption growth for 2026, subtract about 300 kb/d from it. This number will change as we move forward.
Oil Shipments Surge Across Gulf Despite US‑Iran War
PHOTO(S) OF THE DAY: Oil loadings across the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea during the US-Iran war. From top left clockwise: Fujairah single point mooring (March 28); Kharg island (March 27); Yanbu (March 24); and Al Muajjiz (March...
Drillers See Triple-Digit Crude and Hit the Brakes
Brent crude has surged past $100 a barrel and WTI topped $90, creating a price environment that comfortably exceeds shale breakeven levels. Yet U.S. oil drillers remain hesitant, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as a major obstacle to investment...
Kemi Badenoch to Call for Oil Drilling to Be Maximised
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is launching a "get Britain drilling" campaign that proposes ending the moratorium on new oil and gas licences, scrapping the windfall tax on energy profits, and boosting financial support for the fossil‑fuel sector. She argues...
Sponsored Video at PDAC: Prince Silver Targets 100Moz at Nevada Past-Producer
Prince Silver Corp. announced at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference that it aims to define a 100‑million‑ounce silver resource at its Nevada past‑producer property. CEO Derek Iwanaka emphasized the project's existing infrastructure and near‑term drilling plans...
South Korea, EU Commit to Deepen Critical‑Miner Supply Chain Ties
South Korea’s Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met with EU External Action Service secretary general Belen Martinez Carbonell in Seoul, agreeing to broaden cooperation on critical‑material supply chains and economic security. The dialogue, set against a backdrop of geopolitical tension,...
Oil Prices Surge as Middle East Tensions Threaten Energy Security
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to halt oil shipments to Cuba and a high‑level call involving Elon Musk, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open have pushed global oil prices to multi‑year highs....
Silver Poised for Short‑term Bounce, Bull Market Ended
$Silver - Made a multi week low at the yearly pivot at 61. I expect a multi week bounce into late April/early May. The bounce could get to as high as the 1st yearly resistance at 94. The bull market...
Mining Metal Supply Crisis Needs More Than Prices
I’m sure higher energy prices, higher interest rates, and ongoing wars will go a long way in solving the problem of getting mines to produce the metals we desperately need. The world still underestimates the scale of the problem: A lack of...
U.S.–Indonesia Trade Deal Sparks Outcry Over Mining Expansion and Fossil‑Fuel Extraction
Environmental activists have condemned the U.S.–Indonesia trade agreement signed on Feb. 19, saying it paves the way for expanded mining and fossil‑fuel extraction in Indonesia. The deal, valued at $33 billion, includes provisions that could loosen export bans on raw minerals and...
Helium Shortage Triggers $930 M Warning for IonQ, Rigetti and D‑Wave Stocks
A market alert warning of a $930 million hit to the quantum‑computing sector has pushed IonQ, Rigetti and D‑Wave shares down. The warning stems from a helium supply crunch caused by the Iran‑U.S. conflict, which threatens the low‑temperature environments needed for...
Summit Sold Its Midwest Pipeline as a Carbon Solution. Now, It’ll Be Used for Fossil Fuels.
Summit Carbon Solutions, originally marketing its Midwest CO₂ pipeline as a carbon‑sequestration tool for ethanol plants, has quietly redirected the project toward enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The shift follows expanded federal tax credits that reward CO₂ used in oil production...
Bosai's Indonesia Smelter Signals China's Overseas Capacity Surge
Bosai plans an Indonesia aluminium smelting project in East Java, highlighting China’s accelerating overseas capacity strategy. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/bosai-indonesia-aluminium-smelting.html
China Opens Nickel, Lithium Futures to Foreign Investors
China will open nickel and lithium futures to foreign investors, aiming to strengthen global metals pricing power. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/china-nickel-and-lithium-futures.html
U.S. Rare‑Earth Production Resumes, Sector Earnings Show Mixed Trends
A U.S. firm has reportedly resumed domestic production of a critical rare‑earth material for the first time in decades, though the company gave no specifics. Meanwhile, Chinese mining and energy groups posted divergent full‑year results, underscoring volatility in the global...
Brent to Rise $10‑15 Post‑Hormuz, If No Recession
♦️It’s important to remember where we stood in early February compared to now. ♦️Here’s why: 🔹Before the Hormuz crisis, the expectation was for Brent crude to remain range-bound in the $60s, with only occasional spikes. 🔹Once the dust settles — a couple...
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
AUD and NZD Tumble to Two‑month Lows as Middle East War Dents Commodity Demand
The Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar fell to their lowest levels in about two months on Thursday, pressured by a sharp rise in fuel prices and a broader slowdown in commodity demand linked to the war in the Middle...
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
Five Tankers Load, Dozens Still Queuing in Red
While 5 oil tankers are loading at Once in the two Saudi ports on the Red Sea, count the tankers that are waiting to load (In red)
Taming the Acid Clouds with a New Blueprint for Making Fuel on Venus
The Chinese Academy of Sciences team unveiled a modular instrument designed to survive Venus’s corrosive, high‑pressure atmosphere while filtering acid aerosols, enriching trace gases, and performing laser‑based spectroscopy. The three‑stage filtration unit achieves over 99.99% removal of sulfuric‑acid droplets as...
Saudi East-West Pipeline Hits Full 7 Million‑Barrel Capacity
Very early on the war I wrote about SaudiArabia’s crucial East-West oil pipeline (see 👇). Now, the conduit has reached its nameplate capacity of 7 million b/d, wit exports from the Saudi Red Sea coast to global markets >5 million...
Thailand Secures Safe Strait of Hormuz Passage for Tankers
Thailand has reached a deal with Iran to allow Thai tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. “An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz," Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said...
The Cushion Is Gone and the Oil Market Is Now Exposed
The global oil market absorbed the shock of the largest supply disruption in history – the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – thanks to pre‑war inventory cushions. For roughly four weeks, prices remained muted as surplus stocks and strategic...
Supply Disruptions Reshape Oil, Gas Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
PODCAST: What’s next for oil, natural gas and the U.S.-Iran war? A great pleasure to join a special edition of the #ColumbiaEnergyExchange podcast with host @JasonBordoff to discuss how supply disruptions are reverberating across the industry. 🎧Listen now: https://t.co/Nfa3nQ6UWm
Gulf Aluminum Plants Supply 9% Globally, Tightening Markets
The facilities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman account for roughly 9% of global primary aluminum. This is going to tighten supply for many key global industries like construction, vehicles, and aerospace. #aluminum #iranwar #geopolitics https://t.co/qO2ERCGHMN
AI Boosts Mining Safety with Real‑Time Situational Awareness
LoopX: #AI-Powered Situational Awareness for Safer Mining Operations via @WevolverApp #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/kRmRKzfu84