Latest Critical Minerals Supply Chain News

Vanadium Resources (ASX: VR8) has taken major steps to commercialise its Steelpoortdrift project with a non-binding offtake deal with U.S. Vanadium and appointed Rand Merchant Bank to lead funding efforts.

Evion Group has secured key approvals from Madagascar’s Ministry of Mines to convert exploration permits into mining permits for its Maniry Graphite Project, backed by significant EU funding and US trade initiatives. Meanwhile, its Indian joint venture progresses a major graphite plant expansion to meet growing demand.

Osmond Resources is progressing its Orión EU Critical Minerals Project with promising drilling results, positive mineral processing testwork, and a new partnership targeting rare earth carbonate production in Spain.

Australian Strategic Materials reports a 70% surge in NdFeB alloy production, installs pilot heavy rare earth furnace, and progresses its acquisition by Energy Fuels with regulatory approvals underway.

Meteoric Resources has reported strong pilot plant performance and advanced feasibility work at its Caldeira rare earths project, alongside a $50 million non-binding financing letter from Export Finance Australia and robust Brazilian government backing.

Volt Resources has secured a major extension and volume increase to its Bunyu graphite offtake agreement while progressing high purity graphite production and downstream refinery development in the US.

Sovereign Metals' March 2026 update reveals a robust DFS for its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, a substantial resource upgrade, strategic offtake MOUs, and a high-value heavy rare earth by-product discovery.

Venari Minerals has achieved a key metallurgical milestone by producing 99.5% pure battery-grade lithium carbonate from its Red Mountain Project in Nevada, highlighting its potential as a domestic US lithium chemical source alongside valuable by-products.

Castile Resources has kicked off pilot plant bench scale testing for its Rover 1 project, integrating a 41% resource upgrade and higher metal prices into its Bankable Feasibility Study. The company also secured $8.4 million in funding and is preparing for exploration drilling amid regional consolidation.

Mandrake Resources has identified overlapping placer claims staked by Utah Brine Corporation, linked to Neometals Ltd, on its Utah Lithium Project tenure. Legal demands have been issued to resolve the dispute, which affects a small portion of Mandrake’s 3.3Mt LCE resource.

Ionic Rare Earths (ASX: IXR) has secured a £12 million UK government grant offer for its Belfast rare earth magnet recycling facility and is progressing its Brazilian JV and Ugandan heavy rare earths project, reinforcing its role in ex-China supply chains.

American Rare Earths is fast-tracking its Wyoming Halleck Creek rare earths project, defining a pilot plant pathway, advancing oxide to metal studies, and targeting a NASDAQ listing by year-end 2026.