# critical minerals
Latest news and articles about critical minerals
Total: 6 articles found
Tungsten Frenzy: Geopolitics Sends ‘War Metal’ Prices and A‑Share Valuations Skyward
Tungsten prices in China have surged more than 70–80% year‑to‑date after recent geopolitical shocks and persistent supply constraints, lifting A‑share tungsten producers to extreme valuations. The spike reflects the metal’s military applications and concentrated Chinese supply, but raises questions about the sustainability of profits and the risk of a market correction.
China’s Researchers Push Kesterite Solar Cells Past 15% Efficiency, Narrowing Gap with Mainstream PV
Chinese scientists have pushed CZTSSe kesterite solar cells past 15% certified efficiency, a notable lab milestone for a thin‑film technology made from earth‑abundant, non‑toxic elements. The result strengthens the case for lower‑cost, widely deployable thin‑film photovoltaics but still faces scaling, stability and module‑level challenges before commercial impact can be judged.
Washington Lines Up 30 Allies and $12bn Stockpile to Blunt China’s Rare-Earth Leverage
The U.S. has launched a diplomatic and financial effort to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled processing of critical minerals by creating a roughly 30-country partnership and a $12 billion stockpile. Short-term measures can mitigate shocks, but long-term resilience requires building refining capacity, recycling and sustained industrial investment that cannot be solved by hoarding alone.
Retail Rush and Policy Support: A‑Share New Accounts Soar as Walmart Briefly Tops $1 Trillion
January saw a dramatic surge in Chinese retail participation with nearly 4.92 million new A‑share accounts, while the PBOC provided targeted three month liquidity to smooth seasonal pressures. Globally, the US moved to build a critical minerals reserve to reduce reliance on China, and Walmart briefly eclipsed a $1 trillion market cap, underscoring divergent strengths in consumer and tech segments.
Surprise U.S. Delegation to Ushuaia Prompts Fears of a Naval Footprint at the Antarctic Gateway
A surprise visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to Ushuaia has provoked Argentine opposition and provincial officials to demand explanations, amid speculation about U.S. involvement in a planned naval base project. The episode underscores tensions between Buenos Aires’ new pro-U.S. tilt and domestic sensitivities over sovereignty and Antarctic strategy.
Washington Ploughs $1.6bn into U.S. Rare-Earth Mines — But Can It Break China’s Grip?
The U.S. is buying a roughly 10% stake in USA Rare Earth for $1.6 billion to hasten domestic rare-earth mining and processing and reduce dependence on China. While the investment is sizeable and politically significant, technical, environmental and resource-quality challenges mean breaking China’s dominance will be a slow and uncertain process.