For decades, tungsten sat on the margins of US industrial policy. Despite its essential role in armor piercing munitions, aerospace alloys and advanced manufacturing, the ultra hard metal was sourced overwhelmingly from China, while US domestic mining faded from view.

Osaka, Japan-headquartered Daikin Industries, the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer, is partnering with Shin-Etsu Chemical, Hitachi and Tokyo Eco Recycle to recover and recycle rare earth magnets from compressors starting in 2027, the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday April 14.

Aluminium markets in the US and Mexico are facing an unprecedented mix of geopolitical disruption, trade policy shifts and tightening supply conditions.

Military readiness relies on a narrow set of industrial inputs that enable advanced systems to function under extreme conditions. As supply chains become more complicated and politicised, securing reliable access to these materials is emerging as a strategic challenge for the defense industry.

An interview in which Andrea Hotter spoke with Jon Stibbs, managing editor for technology and energy metals, to explore a growing concern for global defense supply chains.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) move to extend its export window for cobalt quotas has been viewed as potentially easing supply tightness, although the immediate market reaction has been limited.

Growing uncertainty over Guinea’s bauxite export policy, alongside severe disruption to alumina supply chains caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, emerged as key themes at the Fastmarkets Bauxite & Alumina Conference in Miami on March 24-25, with delegates warning of heightened price volatility and shifting trade flows.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may have exported less than half of the volumes allocated to miners for the fourth quarter of 2025, extended to the end of the first quarter of 2026, under the country's new quota system, sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Wednesday March 25.

Why overcoming finance hurdles in mining is crucial for securing critical minerals and powering the global shift to clean energy

An interview with Sir Mick Davis, former CEO of Xstrata, founder and CEO of Vision Blue Resources, on financing in mining with Andrea Hotter for the Fast Forward podcast