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The United States and European Union formalized the US-EU Action Plan for Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resilience on April 24, announced by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. The plan establishes border-adjusted price floors as the primary trade mechanism to prevent Chinese producers from undercutting allied producers in rare earths, battery materials, and mineral processing. The Office of the USTR and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security will implement the framework, targeting a binding plurilateral agreement.
Eramet's PT Weda Bay Nickel joint venture in Indonesia will exhaust its full-year 2026 production quota of 12 million wet metric tons by mid-May and will enter care and maintenance unless Indonesian authorities approve an upward permit revision. The 2026 quota represents a 63% reduction from Eramet's 2025 allowance of 32 million wet metric tons. The portion allocated for external ore sales — 9 million wet metric tons — was already used up by mid-April. The permit revision request has been formally submitted; the Indonesian government has given no indication it will act quickly.
Australia's Pilbara Minerals (PLS Group) reported a record Q3 at Pilgangoora: 232,436 dry metric tons of spodumene, up 86% year-over-year, beating analyst consensus by more than 8%. Revenue rose 52% to A$567 million. Realized spodumene price up 61% to US$1,867/t. Unit operating costs fell 11% to A$520/t. CEO Dale Henderson: "In aggregate, what we're seeing in the sector is deepening and broadening demand and strong tailwinds for lithium operators." Full-year 2026 guidance of 820,000-870,000 tonnes reaffirmed. Shares +6.2%.
Sources: USTR, Reuters, Bloomberg Law, Mining.com, Finimize, Motley Fool Australia | Host: Logan Ore | The Mining Insider
