a/symmetric: China’s global rare earths shopping spree
December 22, 2023Shenghe Resources snaps up strategic assets in Canada and Tanzania, and gains still more leverage over global rare earth supply chains.
The Week That’s Done: A US rare earth magnet factory’s China ties
September 23, 2023The Pentagon is funding a major domestic rare earth magnet factory–but beware hidden risks of its China exposure. Meanwhile, diesel prices surge, uranium may be entering a bull market, and Australia’s national manufacturing fund places its first bets. Plus: a Saudi-Israeli-American uranium deal.
The Week That’s Done: US industrial base, chip sanctions loopholes
August 5, 2023Is US manufacturing booming or slowing down? The factory output index is on a contractionary streak, even as industrial companies give rosy outlooks. Meanwhile, oil giant Exxon wants to supply lithium, a rare earths processing partnership collapses, and Italy regrets joining Beijing’s Belt and Road.
The Week That’s Done: The Smartphone Space Race
March 5, 2023The satellite space race is heating up—and China sees it as the next battlefield in the mobile communications contest. Plus: markets overreact to Tesla’s ex-rare earths announcement, Beijing's lithium crackdown, and Britain’s salad crisis. And banger factory activity in China contrasts with contraction in the US.
The Week That’s Done: The Rare Earth Conundrum
February 26, 2023Australian rare earth miner Lynas hits roadblocks in Malaysia, just as the red carpet is rolled out for its Chinese competitors. Meanwhile, battery giant CATL wants to lock in business with cut-rate prices—but only to select EV makers. Plus, natural gas prices tumble and a manufacturing slowdown in Japan.
Deglobalization Round-Up: February 25
February 25, 2023The Kyocera president says that China is "no longer viable" as the world's factory, as developments in rare earths and semiconductors underscore the point. Plus, China looks further to shore up dependencies on chips, foreign auditors and the US sets up a "Disruptive Technology Strike Force."
The Week That’s Done: February 5
February 5, 2023The EU goes head to head with the US on industrial policy, right when cooperation is most necessary. Plus, BP says that fossil fuels are out but US oil production surges and the world can't kick coal, China's pending export restrictions on solar and rare earth technology, and General Motors pushes ahead with investments in vertical integration. Plus: spy balloon.
America’s Military Readiness Depends on Reshoring Rare Earth Metals
January 26, 2023This is the time for the United States to reshore its critical manufacturing. Thanks to American innovation, we have new, cost-effective manufacturing and processing methods that are environmentally sustainable and safe for workers. I am proud to be part of this solution as a co-founder of Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts-based mineral processing startup.
The Week That’s Done: January 15
January 15, 2023Wheat futures drop in their steepest weekly plunge since August, but risks remain – while the EU eyes more sanctions on Russian fuel, China eyes Australia’s lithium, and South Korea’s Q Cells eyes a new project in Georgia. Plus: A surprise rare earths find, US-EU tension, and a whole lot more.
Factors Briefing: Week of May 2
May 8, 2022India and China double down on coal as the global energy squeeze intensifies – and while Russian alumina supply dwindles; European automakers seek European rare earths supply, and kind of succeed; Malaysia makes moves to fill the cooking oil vacuum
Your March 18 Briefing
March 18, 2022Markets sour on China -- but don't really; the world trudges toward global food shortage; Europe's rare earths efforts risk finding themselves back on square one.
