Latest Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) News

Iluka Resources reported a rebound in zircon sales and prices in Q2 2026, while advancing its Eneabba rare earths refinery to nearly 60% completion and securing a key rare earths offtake deal.

Speculation ran hottest in junior resources, where drilling hits, study results and funding deals drove some extreme weekly moves. Rare earths, gold and dealmaking set the pace, while several capital raisings and acquisitions produced mixed reactions.

Iluka Resources has locked in a long-term supply deal with VHM Limited for rare earth concentrate from the Goschen project, underpinning its Eneabba refinery feedstock with a $40 million convertible note commitment to aid project development.

Big moves came from small and mid-cap names tied to drilling, project studies and fresh funding. Healthcare, mining and takeover stocks all had a busy week, but not every strong announcement held its gains.

A handful of small-cap names posted big weekly swings, but the bigger story was a flood of new studies, resource upgrades and funding deals across gold, rare earths and battery materials. Investors chased scale and near-term production, while several raisings and gap-down reopenings showed how quickly early enthusiasm can fade.

Iluka Resources has secured a multi-year, take-or-pay rare earths supply contract with a major automotive company, aligning with its Eneabba refinery ramp-up and backed by a $1.65 billion government loan for refinery completion.

Iluka Resources scaled back mineral sands output in Q1 2026 amid operational idling and market caution, while capital expenditure on its Eneabba rare earths refinery hit $977 million with commissioning progressing.

Iluka Resources has set the allocation price for shares issued under its 2025 final dividend DRP at $6.3449, resulting in the issuance of over 41,000 new shares to participating shareholders.

Small caps stole the spotlight, with a handful of stocks doubling on deal news and early-stage project updates. Large miners were steadier, but even they couldn’t fully escape the week’s sharp gap moves.

Iluka Resources posted a net loss of $288 million in 2025 amid subdued mineral sands demand but progressed key projects including the Balranald mine commissioning and Eneabba rare earths refinery construction.

Iluka Resources has reported a significant 19% increase in heavy mineral tonnage at its WIM100 deposit in western Victoria, enhancing the resource confidence and supporting its rare earths supply ambitions for the Eneabba refinery.

Iluka Resources is set to report a hefty $565 million pre-tax charge in FY25, driven by impairments and inventory write-downs amid ongoing weak demand for mineral sands products.