Brazil puts rare earths atop critical minerals list

· Trade · Brazil · United States

Brazil approved its first list of critical and strategic minerals under a new national policy aimed at attracting investment and expanding domestic processing of resources increasingly sought by Western countries to reduce reliance on China. Rare earths and copper top the list. The move comes as Lula's election win dashed US hopes of quick access to Brazil's rare earths. Brazil has the world's second-largest rare earth reserves.

Why it matters：Brazil is positioning itself as a Western alternative for rare earths, a market China dominates and that is central to defence and clean energy supply chains.

Key points

  • Brazil approved its first critical and strategic minerals list.
  • Rare earths and copper top the list.
  • Brazil holds the world's second-largest rare earth reserves.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day