Chile and US Sign Joint Statement to Consult on Rare Earths and Critical Minerals

Amid sustained demand growth, India plans to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earths. The stockpile will be sized to cover six months of domestic consumption, aiming to guard against risks of global supply disruptions and sharp raw material price volatility. Led by India’s Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Heavy Industries, the reserve covers key raw materials essential for new energy vehicles, energy storage and the electronics sector, fields where India currently relies heavily on imports. At present, the United States, China, South Korea and other countries have already established strategic reserve systems for critical minerals.

In April 2026, the output of NdFeB blanks reached 32,603 metric tons, representing a significant month-on-month increase of 8.73% and a year-on-year rise of 9%. The industry-wide average operating rate climbed to 76.37%, indicating an accelerated expansion. According to SMM's frontline research, production is expected to further increase to 34,097 tons in May, a month-on-month growth of approximately 5%. If this forecast materializes, it will mark the highest production level since January 2025.