The United States convened more than 50 countries in Washington this week for a critical minerals summit that delivered a flurry of new initiatives designed to reshape the geopolitics — and pricing mechanics — of minerals essential to semiconductors, electric vehicles and the defense supply chain.

The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.

A new US initiative to establish a stockpile of critical minerals for the civilian economy could add pressure to already stretched supply, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 3 and Wednesday February 4.

European aluminium scrap and secondary ingot prices are on the rise, driven by a significant shortage of scrap. Trade sources indicate that low generation has constrained domestic supply, and this is happening even before the expected EU scrap export restrictions in Spring 2026.

Explore how Saudi EXIM Bank is enhancing its critical minerals supply chains with an $800 million insurance policy supporting global mining.

Explore Kazakhstan's critical minerals role in the global tungsten market amid changing supply chains and rising prices.

Explore the critical minerals trade shift in the US as tariffs and pricing negotiations become a priority for the government.

Explore the Middle East critical mineral landscape driven by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and booming non-oil economy.

Learn how Korea Zinc's JPMorgan-backed smelter prioritizes US feedstock to strengthen supply chain security and mineral development.

The global antimony market is expected to remain adequately supplied in 2026, shaped by increasing supply in Southeast Asia, relatively stable demand and heightened political oversight of critical minerals, sector participants have told Fastmarkets.