Mount Ridley Mines Upgrades World's Largest JORC-Compliant Scandium Resource at Grass Patch Project

[Pr-Nd oxide rebounds slightly as suppliers hold prices firm; terbium oxide continues to weaken; metals follow gains but transactions remain limited] Yesterday, Pr-Nd alloy prices edged up slightly, mainly driven by increased inquiry activity from downstream magnetic material enterprises and higher raw material prices. Some suppliers raised their quotes, but actual transaction follow-through remained limited. In the medium-heavy rare earth metals segment, although market inquiry activity was relatively low, dysprosium-iron alloy and terbium metal quotes remained relatively firm, with a clear tug-of-war between sellers and buyers and transactions in a stalemate.

【SMM Rare Earth Flash】 Brazil's Congress approved on Wednesday a government-backed bill establishing a national policy for critical and strategic minerals. The legislation creates a R$2 billion (approx. US$393 million) Mineral Activity Guarantee Fund and provides R$5 billion (approx. US$982 million) in tax credits over five years for companies processing critical minerals within Brazil. Eligible projects may receive tax credits of up to 20% of qualifying investment expenditures. The bill also establishes the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CIMCE), reporting to the Presidency, responsible for defining the list of critical minerals and reviewing transactions involving national sovereignty.Brazil holds the world's second-largest rare earth reserves, estimated at 21 million tonnes. The bill now awaits President Lula's signature and aims to boost domestic processing and value addition of critical minerals. Critics have expressed concerns over potential excessive government intervention.