Zimbabwe suddenly bans raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports ahead of 2027 schedule, tightening global supply and lifting shares of Albemarle, Lithium Americas, SQM, and others amid rising lithium prices.
The Trump administration plans to build international consensus on rare earth pricing to counter China's market dominance and protect Western refiners from price undercutting.
Morgan Stanley upgrades MP Materials on U.S. rare earth supply needs, while UBS boosts Albemarle expecting a lithium deficit in 2026.
Trump signs trade agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia to reduce tariffs, diversify rare earth supplies, and address trade imbalances as China tightens export controls.
The U.S. government wants up to 10% ownership in Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass mine, vital for U.S. electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This demand is tied to a $2.26B loan and aims to boost domestic supply to cut reliance on China.
Discover how CATL's lithium mine suspension in Yichun, Jiangxi, due to an expired license, impacted global lithium prices and miner stocks, signaling China's move against overcapacity. CATL expects minimal impact, and the mine accounts for 3-6% of global output.
