Mining

Antofagasta flags fuel, sulfuric acid costs as chief risks despite steady operations

Chilean miner Antofagasta Minerals said rising fuel and sulfuric acid costs are its biggest near-term concerns, even as its operations and project pipeline continue to advance steadily, chief executive Ivan Arriagada told Reuters.Higher oil prices, and the resulting rise in fuel costs, are the company’s main concern on the cost front, Arriagada said in an interview on Monday.

Apr 14, 2026 - 1:05 PM

Kitco Mining Channel

USA Rare Earth CEO defends Trump administration investment as congressional questions swirl

USA Rare Earth shareholders should not be concerned by the terms of the US Commerce Department’s pending investment in the company, which gives equity to Washington even if funding for the deal falls apart, CEO Barbara Humpton told Reuters.The $1.58 billion debt-and-equity funding package announced in January was the latest in a string of critical minerals investments by the Trump administration, part of a push to bolster US production of the building blocks for electronics, weapons and a plethora of other products.

Apr 10, 2026 - 6:24 PM

Copper output from Codelco down nearly 10% in February

Copper production from Chilean state-run miner Codelco fell 9.8% year-on-year in February to 88,500 metric tons, data from copper commission Cochilco showed on Friday.Production at BHP’s Escondida mine, the world’s largest copper mine, fell 7.4% to 105,000 tons. At Collahuasi, another major copper mine jointly run by Glencore and Anglo American, output rose 56.5% to 26,600 tons.(By Fabian Cambero; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)

Apr 10, 2026 - 6:02 PM

Lithium bulls set to gatecrash Chile's copper party

SANTIAGO, April 10 (Reuters) - Chile is set to break with precedent and open its annual global copper gathering next week with a day of panels devoted to lithium, as it seeks to decisively diversify beyond the red metal that has powered its economy ‌for decades.The inaugural World Lithium Conference, organised by consultancy CRU and the International Lithium Association, will kick off what the copper industry knows as CESCO Week in Santiago on Monday.

Apr 10, 2026 - 9:41 AM

Vale signs charter deal with China’s Shandong Shipping to build ethanol-powered ships

Brazilian miner Vale has signed a 25-year charter deal with China’s Shandong Shipping Corporation, which will build the world’s first two transoceanic ethanol-powered vessels under the agreement, a Vale executive told Reuters on Wednesday.The two Guaibamax-class vessels, each with a capacity to transport up to 325,000 metric tons of iron ore, are scheduled to be delivered from 2029 onwards.They will be equipped with rotor sails to harness wind energy and more efficient engines, among other energy-efficiency improvements, Rodrigo Bermelho, Vale’s navigation director, said.

Apr 09, 2026 - 3:42 PM

USA Rare Earth considers building French magnet plant

USA Rare Earth is considering building a permanent magnet plant in France, its CEO said on Thursday, after agreeing to pay 40 million euros ($47 million) for a stake in French rare earth processing firm Carester.The United States and Europe are rushing to establish domestic supplies of rare earths, which are vital for the green energy transition, electronics and the defence sector, and cut their dependence on top producer China.

Apr 09, 2026 - 3:40 PM

Zimbabwe to introduce lithium export quotas, sets conditions for resumption of shipments

Zimbabwe will introduce lithium concentrate export quotas and require commitments for more local processing as part of conditions to allow the resumption of mineral exports, the mines ministry has told producers.Africa’s top lithium producer suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other unprocessed minerals on February 26, after the government alleged malpractices and leakages.

Apr 09, 2026 - 8:27 AM

Africa to pilot bond aimed at formalizing artisanal mining

A sustainability bond aimed at integrating artisanal miners into formal supply chains will be piloted by a Canada-based advisory firm and a mid-tier Zambian copper miner this year, the firms said.Artisanal mining provides livelihoods for hundreds of millions globally. In Africa, it often operates informally on or near company-run mines, hitting their profits, spreading pollution and depriving nations of revenue.

Apr 09, 2026 - 8:26 AM

Mosaic to idle Brazil phosphate plants in cost-cutting push

Mosaic said on Wednesday it will idle two phosphate facilities in Brazil, cut jobs and reduce annual output by about 1 million tonnes, as the fertilizer producer moves to curb costs, redeploy capital and pursue the sale of assets.The US-based company will begin idling and demobilizing its Araxa mining and chemical complex and related mining activities at its Patrocinio complex, leading to workforce reductions at both sites.Mosaic did not disclose how many employees would be affected.

Apr 09, 2026 - 8:25 AM

Chile to name new Codelco board members this month

Chile’s government plans to announce new board members for state-owned miner Codelco this month, mining minister Daniel Mas told Reuters on Wednesday before a congress session.(By Fabian Cambero; Editing by Sarah Morland)

Apr 09, 2026 - 8:24 AM

Environmentalists appeal judge’s ruling for ioneer’s Nevada lithium project

Environmental groups on Wednesday appealed a federal judge’s ruling in favor of ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium and boron project, alleging the proposed Nevada mine would cause a rare wildflower to go extinct.The Biden administration approved the mine in 2024, saying its decision was “science-based.”A federal judge last month rejected claims by environmentalists that the US government improperly approved the project.

Apr 09, 2026 - 8:22 AM

Miners escape from attacked coal mine in Russian-controlled Ukraine, official says

All 41 miners who were trapped ‌underground after Ukraine struck the Bilorechenska coal mine in the Russian‑controlled Luhansk region have been evacuated and ⁠are safe, a Russian‑installed official said on Monday.Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow‑appointed head of the region, said power had been restored to the mine and the workers brought to the ‌surface.He ⁠added none of the miners was injured and that no one required medical assistance.

Apr 07, 2026 - 4:41 PM

Energy Transition Minerals faces likely licence renewal rejection for Greenland project

Greenland has informed Energy Transition Minerals of a potential rejection of its exploration licence renewal application for the Kvanefjeld rare earths project, the Australian miner said on Tuesday.Shares of Energy Transition Minerals fell 5.6% to A$0.051 by 01:52 GMT as trading resumed after a halt on Thursday. The broader S&P/ASX 200 benchmark index was up 1.5%.Kvanefjeld is a large-scale rare earths project with the potential to become a significant western world producer of critical minerals used in manufacture of consumer electronics.

Apr 07, 2026 - 4:35 PM

China’s central bank maintains gold buying for 17th month

China’s central bank stayed the course on gold purchases for a 17th consecutive month, with its reserves amounting to 74.38 million fine troy ounces by the end of March, versus the previous month’s 74.22 million.The country’s gold reserves were valued at $342.76 billion at the end of last month, down from $387.59 billion a month earlier, data from the People’s Bank of China showed on Tuesday.(By Qiaoyi Li and Ryan Woo; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Apr 07, 2026 - 4:26 PM

Japanese copper smelters’ H1 output seen rising 3.3% y/y

Japan’s refined copper production in the first half of the 2026/27 financial year is expected to rise 3.3% year-over-year, according to Reuters calculations based on smelters’ production plans, driven by firm demand for copper alloy products and wire for the power sector.The first half of the financial year runs from April to September.Japan’s largest copper supplier, Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), expects its first-half supply to rise 7.5% from a year earlier, as operating rates at JX Advanced Metals’ smelters are seen to improve, a company spokesperson said.

Apr 07, 2026 - 4:22 PM

Mining

Antofagasta flags fuel, sulfuric acid costs as chief risks despite steady operations

UAE accounted for 80% of Angolan diamond exports in 2025

Indonesia nickel makers trim battery-feed output as sulphur squeeze bites

Congo quarterly copper exports down almost 15% as cobalt rebounds

China’s Yahua Industrial Group gets lithium export quota from Zimbabwe

Glencore takes back ownership of logistics firm Access World

Kitco Mining Channel

USA Rare Earth CEO defends Trump administration investment as congressional questions swirl

Copper output from Codelco down nearly 10% in February

Lithium bulls set to gatecrash Chile's copper party

Vale signs charter deal with China’s Shandong Shipping to build ethanol-powered ships

USA Rare Earth considers building French magnet plant

Zimbabwe to introduce lithium export quotas, sets conditions for resumption of shipments

Africa to pilot bond aimed at formalizing artisanal mining

Mosaic to idle Brazil phosphate plants in cost-cutting push

Chile to name new Codelco board members this month

Environmentalists appeal judge’s ruling for ioneer’s Nevada lithium project

Miners escape from attacked coal mine in Russian-controlled Ukraine, official says

Energy Transition Minerals faces likely licence renewal rejection for Greenland project

China’s central bank maintains gold buying for 17th month

Japanese copper smelters’ H1 output seen rising 3.3% y/y