Arafura Rare Earths Inks Deal with Traxys to Supply US Critical Minerals for Defense and Tech Sectors

[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.

Brazil's antitrust regulator Cade launched an investigation into US rare earth company USAR's proposed acquisition of Brazilian rare earth producer Serra Verde. Serra Verde is currently Brazil's only operational rare earth mine. The transaction includes a 15-year offtake agreement between Serra Verde and a special purpose vehicle funded by US government agencies including the Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy. The agreement explicitly stipulates lowest prices for rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.

Rare Earths and Critical Minerals: China will address U.S. concerns regarding supply chain shortages of rare earths and other critical minerals (including yttrium, scandium, neodymium, and indium). China will also address U.S. concerns regarding the prohibition or restriction of sales of rare earth production and processing equipment and technology.