As EU Raw Materials Week begins today in Brussels, the strategic importance of critical metals is in sharp focus. In a new opinion piece for the Financial Times, Trafigura CEO Richard Holtum highlights an uncomfortable truth: while Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian gas, it remains exposed to a similar vulnerability in metals supply chains. Metals are the foundation of modern economies – essential for energy infrastructure, defence, and the technologies driving the green and digital transitions. Yet Europe’s refining and smelting capacity has steadily eroded, leaving it reliant on imports for critical materials such as gallium, germanium and antimony. Through our Nyrstar subsidiary, Trafigura has invested more than €680 million since 2019 – in turn, sustaining Europe’s remaining smelting capacity. But lasting resilience requires coordinated public and private action. As Richard argues, “Europe needs to act quickly or accept permanent dependence on others for critical metals.” Read the full Financial Times article here: https://on.ft.com/49nfhp5 #EURawMaterialsWeek #CriticalMetals #ConnectingVitalResources
Trafigura CEO warns of Europe's metal supply chain vulnerability
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OUT NOW: China just announced new export controls on critical minerals, magnets, and the tech to process them. Lori Wallach breaks down why this is a global problem 15 years in the making — and what’s at stake now: https://lnkd.in/gDu3fxjJ
Critical Minerals, Critical Mistakes - The Road to China’s Monopoly Power
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Russia Re-enters the Critical Metals Arena — What It Means for Europe Earlier this week, President Putin ordered a national roadmap for rare-earth extraction to be completed by December 1. Russia claims 28.7 million tonnes of rare-earth reserves — yet currently produces barely 1 % of global output and depends heavily on foreign refining capacity. At the same time, the EU welcomed China’s 12-month suspension of rare-earth export controls, signalling a brief window of supply-chain stability. For Europe’s industry, these two moves highlight a simple truth: The geopolitics of critical and strategic minerals are shifting fast. What this means for the EU and buyers: • Russia aims to become a new supplier — but lacks refining capacity. • EU importers face tighter scrutiny over origin, traceability, and sanctions exposure. • Non-Russian, fully REACH-compliant sourcing models , delivered in days not months — like the one EuStrategix operates — will become even more essential. At EuStrategix Critical Metals, we continue to strengthen European supply autonomy through certified, conflict-free, and REACH-compliant sourcing of Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, and other high-purity oxides. https://lnkd.in/df6UKC7n info@eustrategixcriticalmetals.com +34 911 98 90 11
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The rare earth sector is now at a turning point, marked by intensifying strategic competition. China’s recent export controls have exposed global supply vulnerabilities, prompting urgent efforts by the US and allies to localize and diversify supply through innovative measures. Download our report to gain a strategic view of critical minerals developments: https://okt.to/8VJ1jM #criticalminerals #rareearth #energytransition
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The rare earth sector is now at a turning point, marked by intensifying strategic competition. China’s recent export controls have exposed global supply vulnerabilities, prompting urgent efforts by the US and allies to localize and diversify supply through innovative measures. Download our report to gain a strategic view of critical minerals developments: https://okt.to/8VJ1jM #criticalminerals #rareearth #energytransition
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While Beijing's suspension of export controls on rare earths brings temporary reprieve to EU industry, it doesn't fix the fundamental asymmetry allowing China to weaponize its position on so-called critical minerals. Brussels is now racing to put together a new plan by the end of this year to diversify European supply of so-called critical raw materials — such as lithium and copper — away from China. The thing is: We’ve been here before.
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* G7 Launches Critical Minerals Alliance with 25 Deals to Buck China’s Rare Earths Edge. • Canada lands six projects as the G7 formalizes its supply chain pact born out of the Kananaskis summit. https://lnkd.in/gJBvNUpm
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have signed a framework agreement to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth metals and to secure and diversify supply chains for critical minerals. Read more on this story: https://lnkd.in/ev3sC6f8
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As competition over critical minerals intensifies, Washington is deepening partnerships across Central Asia challenging China’s dominance and building resilient supply chains. Read more : https://lnkd.in/gyaVWP2E #ETEdgeInsights #CriticalMinerals #SupplyChain #Geopolitics #CentralAsia #China #USForeignPolicy #StrategicCompetition #TradeWars Tamanna Singh
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Trump, Albanese Seal Major U.S.-Australia Minerals Pact https://lnkd.in/gB2Ya9Je The United States and Australia have agreed to jointly invest over $3 billion in critical mineral projects to reduce dependence on China’s supply chains. #TrumpandAlbaneseDeal #USAustraliaMineralsPact #MineralsPact #TWN #TradeWorld #Trade #TradeWorldNews
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