Asia Metals and mining
Laos finds two new rare earth zones across four provinces
Authorities have yet to release detailed information about the size, reserves or development potential of the newly identified areas.
Nigeria opens Chinese-built $250mn lithium plant, targets leading role in battery supply chain
Nigeria's $250mn launch of a lithium-processing plant comes as as UNCTAD forecasts global demand will rise by 353% between 2024 and 2040, driven by electric vehicles, battery storage and clean energy tech.
South Korea bags 2.07mn-tonne tax-free EU steel quota
The deal is a vital win for East Asian industrial supply chains as Seoul protects its critical automotive, battery and electronics manufacturing hubs inside Europe from the trading bloc's sweeping protectionist clampdown.
India's Laxyo enters African underground mining market with $23mn contract at Zambia's Mopani copper mine
Laxyo's expansion into African underground mining marks the Indian company's first overseas project ahead of a planned IPO.
China issues $50bn warning to Indonesia, slamming nickel production cuts
China has issued a multi-billion-dollar warning to the Indonesian government amidst the economic escalation across the global electric vehicle supply chain
India’s aluminium giants eye decade-high margins
The deficit being seen in the global market has been triggered by curtailment in production in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, which contributed almost 8.3% to the world’s aluminium production in calendar year 2025.
Indonesian navy seizes trillions in rare earth cargo off Batam
Following the seizure, military and energy ministry scientists launched an emergency chemical audit of the seized containers.
Eight dead in Indian state owned steel plant blast
The accident happened when a sudden explosion during a steel casting operation sent a fireball to the ceiling height of the facility and set an overhead crane ablaze, in one of the most serious incidents at the state-owned plant in recent memory.