Australian Govt Orders Sale of Chinese Stake in Rare Earth Firm Amid Security Concerns

Published: May 18, 2026 16:53

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[SMM Rare Earth News Flash] According to foreign media reports, the Australian government ordered six China-linked shareholders of rare earth company Northern Minerals to sell their stakes within two weeks, with combined holdings of nearly 27%. This was the second such intervention by Canberra in two years, aimed at protecting the country's heavy rare earth industry from external influence. The company is developing the Browns Range heavy rare earth project in Western Australia, where products such as dysprosium and terbium are critical to national defense and the semiconductor industry.

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