Experts predict that the global supply chain for strategic minerals will continue to undergo significant changes in the near future.

Countries are increasing their mineral supply capacity.

Experts predict that the global supply chain for strategic minerals will continue to undergo significant changes in the coming period, as many countries are ready to invest billions of dollars in projects to stockpile and expand supply, aiming to increase self-sufficiency.

On February 2nd, the US government announced a plan to build a strategic mineral reserve called Project Vault. With $10 billion in long-term loans from the Export-Import Bank of the US and approximately $2 billion in private capital, the program aims to purchase and store key minerals such as gallium, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements.

The project operates under a public-private partnership model, in which producers commit to purchasing minerals at predetermined inventory prices. Analysts believe this is a crucial step in promoting the development of the domestic strategic mineral supply chain, while increasing resilience to geopolitical risks and global disruptions.

Mark Smith, President and CEO of NioCorp Developments, said: "This initiative reflects a bold and innovative public-private partnership model that the U.S. needs to accelerate the development of domestic strategic mineral production capabilities and build integrated supply chains."

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) is also advancing plans to build a strategic mineral reserve. Currently, 10 EU member states are participating in a pilot project, focusing on assessing the scale of the reserve, logistics capacity, and long-term storage costs, with Italy, France, and Germany playing a core role. Due to limited domestic mining and refining capacity, the EU is proactively expanding its scope of cooperation externally.

Reint Gropp, President of the Halle Institute for Economic Research (Germany), shared: "For Europe, India is not only a large market, but also has the potential to become a source of rare earth elements and other important minerals. Africa is also considered a noteworthy destination for resources, including rare earth elements."

In resource-rich countries, numerous investment attraction policies are being implemented simultaneously. India recently announced it will invest over $10 billion in rare earth minerals and clean energy, and establish rare earth corridors in four resource-rich coastal states. Meanwhile, Australia is considering implementing a "floor price" mechanism for strategic minerals to attract foreign investment and enhance the competitiveness of its domestic mining industry.

Japan searches for rare earth elements at the bottom of the deep sea.

Efforts to find new sources of strategic minerals are also gradually expanding into previously unexplored areas. Japan is betting on deep-sea technology, with ambitions to access rare earth deposits deep beneath the Pacific Ocean.

At a depth of nearly 6,000 meters below the seabed – where light cannot reach – Japan has successfully recovered rare earth elements from seabed sediments for the first time. This is considered a significant technological breakthrough, taking deep-sea mineral extraction to a new level.

These sediment samples were collected in the waters around Minamitorishima Island, about 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo. Specialized extraction equipment was lowered to the ocean floor, drilled deep into the sediment, and brought the samples aboard the research vessel Chikyu.

According to scientists, this is the first time in the world that rare earth-rich deposits have been successfully recovered at such depth, opening up the possibility of accessing a resource once considered technologically inaccessible. However, the path from testing to commercial exploitation still faces many challenges.

Mr. Masanao Ozaki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, stated: "To move towards the industrialization of rare earth-rich sediment mining, it is necessary to demonstrate the entire process from extraction and separation to refining, and to verify its economic feasibility based on the results of ongoing trials. However, recovering sediments containing rare earth elements is a significant achievement for Japan's economic security and ocean development strategy."

From a strategic perspective, Japanese policymakers view the deep sea as a new area for development, linked to the goal of technological self-reliance and ensuring long-term resource supply.

Shoichi Ishii, Director of Japan's National Project on Science, Technology and Innovation, stated: "Building domestic rare earth production capacity could become a potential option to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on foreign countries."

Mr. Takahide Kiuchi, an economist at the Nomura Research Institute in Japan, stated: "If Japan can extract important rare earth elements, especially heavy rare earth elements, at Minamitorishima, it can export rare earths to other countries. This would give Japan a very important strategic position."

The research vessel Chikyu is expected to return to port in mid-this month, carrying valuable sediment samples and key data. These findings are expected to help Japan move closer to its goals of technological self-reliance, strengthen economic security, and enhance its strategic position in an increasingly fragmented world.

From policy initiatives and market responses to efforts to find new sources of supply, the race for strategic minerals is demonstrating increasingly fierce competition, reflecting the central role of these key materials in the global economy and security. This competition will gradually reshape how major economies strategize in the coming years.

Source: VTV

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