In this issue
Two forces define mining this month: the true cost of iron ore and the accelerating race for critical minerals. Our cover story, “The Environmental Costs We Export (Iron Ore),” sets the tone—examining externalities that increasingly shape prices, permitting and trade policy. We pair that with practical pieces on keeping iron-ore mines productive and how IT in 2025 is modernizing planning, maintenance and safety.
On the critical-minerals front, we track shifting power centers. Latin America’s copper outlook hinges on Argentina’s incentives as Chile’s momentum cools. The EU’s €1.3B push into Africa signals a new sourcing map, while the Pentagon’s rare-earths deal, heavy REE moves in South Australia, U.S. antimony’s return, and a revived graphite supply chain point to “friend-shoring” becoming real. We also cover nickel’s price slide, Apple’s $500M commitment to MP Materials, and a $7.7B surge in mining finance.
Policy and risk get equal weight: India’s Mining Bill 2025, the U.S. deep-sea mining drive, and the crackdown on illegal gold in the Amazon. This issue is designed to help executives and investors read the commodity tape—and act before the market does.
