Rare earth permanent magnet producers outside China are securing critical materials through key deals and partnerships. These efforts aim to strengthen the global supply chain amid China’s export controls and rising demand for NdFeB magnets.

Vegoils futures moved in opposite directions on Friday August 1. Crude palm oil (CPO) futures ended the week marginally higher after trading both ways during the day, recovering slightly after steady losses in the previous session on a weaker ringgit. Related vegoil futures were also mixed.

Spodumene production in Australia and Canada rose in the second quarter of 2025, with most producers maintaining profitability despite falling prices. However, several high-cost operations remain inactive amid ongoing market uncertainty.

The global ferroalloys industry, a foundational component of steel production for decades, is shifting to a new state of balance driven by the accelerating green energy revolution, industry sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday July 23.

Electra Battery Materials Corp announced on Thursday July 31 that it is starting metallurgical testing on cobalt feedstocks at its historic Cobalt Camp in Ontario and at its Iron Creek, Idaho cobalt and copper project to expand North American supply of critical minerals contained in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

The forecast for the new wheat crop in Australia improved as rain finally brought relief to most of the producing regions in the country, Fastmarkets learned.