Australia’s BRE achieves first output at RE pilot plant

: Metals
26/09/08

Australia-based developer Brazilian Rare Earths (BRE) has produced its first rare earth concentrate at its stage one pilot facility in Camacari, located in Brazil's northeastern Bahia state.

BRE produced the concentrate at the newly commissioned the beneficiation circuit of its refinery using feedstock from its planned Monte Alto mine in Bahia, which it is still developing, the company said on 8 September.

The company plans to commission its stage two hydrometallurgical plant by April-June 2027 to produce separated neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, as well as heavy rare earth concentrate and uranium yellowcake. BRE will also use the plant to test the recovery of scandium, niobium, titanium, and tantalum as potential co-products.

The company has secured 6.4mn Brazilian reals ($1.25mn) in funding for the stage two plant from the Brazilian national industrial research hub Senai Cimatec, which will cover 59pc of the project's capital and operational expenditure.

The company will also receive technical and engineering support for the pilot plant from French rare earth refiner Carester, who is BRE's heavy rare earth offtake partner. BRE and Carester in October 2025 signed a 10-year offtake deal for heavy rare earth concentrate sufficient for Carester to produce 150 t/yr of separated dysprosium and terbium oxide at its Caremag refinery in Lacq, France.

BRE released an integrated scoping study for both the Monte Alto mine and the Camacari refinery in August. The study plans for first production in 2031 and outlines average production over a 14-year mine life of 5,276 t/yr of NdPr oxide and 2,253 t/yr of heavy rare earth concentrate, containing dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium, and yttrium (see table).

The company is now undertaking a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Monte Alto.

Separately, the company is continuing exploration at its Sulista rare earths project in Bahia. Sulista was not included in the scoping study or ongoing PFS.

By Daniel Gage-Brown

Planned production at Camacari		t/yr
	2031-2035	Life of mine average
Light
Neodymium-praseodymium	6,351	5,276
Middle and heavy
Dysprosium	229	207
Terbium	45	40
Samarium	565	485
Gadolinium	360	319
Yttrium	1,060	989
Total*	2,502	2,253
Note: Total includes unlisted rare earth oxides
- Brazilian Rare Earths

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

26/09/04

Turkish scrap-rebar margins climb

London, 4 September (Argus) — Turkish steelmakers' feedstock-finished product margins have grown in recent weeks on the back of firming rebar prices and relatively stable scrap purchasing. While demand in the domestic construction sector has been increasing seasonally, mills have been more measured in their scrap purchasing while also not rushing to lift availability of thinner rebar dimensions that have been in shortage in some areas. So together with ample cargo availability, scrap import prices have remained relatively stable over the past several weeks, while buyers have accepted successive hikes on rebar. But demand for scrap has been increasing and mills are focusing on completing their books for October shipment. Recent US-origin sales activity saw an uptick in scrap prices, which now sit at $380/t cfr, but that increase has been far outpaced by rises in Turkey's domestic rebar market. Scrap prices floated around $375/t cfr since the second half of July before this week's $5/t increase. During that time, domestic rebar prices have climbed $30/t to sit above $600/t for the first time since April. Mills' margins have typically been tight in recent years, but stable feedstock pricing and rises in the rebar market have pushed some Turkish steelmakers' margins to $15-35/t, according to Argus estimates — a multi-year high. The imported scrap-domestic rebar differential required in order to make a profit is typically indicated at about $200/t, although this does vary widely between mills and according to production capacity utilisation, energy prices, domestic scrap prices and availability. Some mills are likely to require significantly more than a $200/t differential, sources say, while the largest mills can comfortably profit with a $190-200/t gap. Mills have also purchased ample volumes of Asian billet in the past few weeks at relatively competitive prices, which will support export margins. At least 250,000t of billet or possibly above 300,000t was booked from mid-August onwards, the bulk of it Chinese and Indian material priced at $495-505/t cfr. Export prices have now pushed above $590/t fob for rebar meaning mills that bought billet $100/t lower should theoretically have a margin of up to $45/t if they sell sufficient volumes at new price levels. By Corey Aunger and Brendan Kjellberg-Motton Scrap to rebar differentials in Turkey, Jan-Sep Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Italian ADI awaits decision on blast furnace shutdown

26/09/04

News

26/09/04

Italian ADI awaits decision on blast furnace shutdown

London, 4 September (Argus) — Italian steelmaker Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI) is running low on raw materials at its Taranto site, as the company and market participants wait to see if the shutdown of the hot melting area will go ahead. The company was ordered by a court to close the hot end at the end of July due to environmental infractions. Since then, it has ceased with new raw materials purchases, a source at the company said. There are enough raw materials for operations to run until the end of September and cover existing steel orders, they added. One trader estimated that the steelmaker has about two weeks of production left before the site runs out of raw materials. "They have failed on their [raw material] contracts for months [...] anyone who has steel term contracts with ADI is going to be left disappointed", the same source said. Government meetings regarding the future of the company are scheduled for next week, and a final decision from the court is expected by 16 September. ADI's potential stop to production comes in the context of ongoing negotiations about its sale with several interested parties. The latest party to submit a bid for the former Ilva assets was a consortium of Italian companies, led by steel association Federacciai. The bid, however, included only the cold end of operations. Indian steelmaker Jindal is understood to still be in the running, as is US equity firm Flacks Group, and a few other parties. Talk in the market this week suggested that some of the bidders, likely Italian-based companies, which rely on purchasing coils on the open market, are looking for slab supply to ADI and use the company as a tolling service. ADI is in negotiations with a re-roller for a 100,000t/month slab supply in exchange for tolling services, a company source said. By Carlo Da Cas and Lora Stoyanova Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US adds 162,000 jobs in August

26/09/04

News

26/09/04

US adds 162,000 jobs in August

Houston, 4 September (Argus) — The US added 162,000 nonfarm jobs in August, nearly triple analysts' expectations, following two months of small job gains, in a sign the labor market may be stabilizing. Job gains were led by hiring in food services, drinking places and local government education, the Labor Department reported. Employment was revised up to 21,000 jobs added in July following upward revisions of 44,000, while gains were revised up to 31,000 for June on upward revisions of 11,000, for combined upward revisions of 55,000 over the two months, the Labor Department said. Still, job gains for the prior 12 months beginning July averaged just 31,000/month. "August's pick-up in payrolls looks like payback after two very weak months and the reversal of a seasonal adjustment distortion to education jobs," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note. It said seasonal factors used to adjust the raw data was "the most generous since 2015, potentially flattering the headline number." Food services and drinking places added 59,000 jobs in August, compared with average gains of 12,000 over the prior 12 months. Local government education added 42,000 jobs. Manufacturing added 16,000 jobs last month and is up by 58,000 from a recent low in December 2025. Health care added 13,000 jobs, about a third the pace of the last 12 months. Information technology shed 23,000 jobs, following average monthly losses of 8,000 over the prior 12 months. Construction added 22,000 jobs in August, following recent gains that were largely linked to data center buildouts, according to Pantheon. "AI likely is continuing to dissuade businesses in a wide range of sectors from adding to staff numbers for now," Pantheon said. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1pc, the Labor Department reported. Average hourly earnings slowed to an annual 3.1pc in August from 3.2pc the prior month, showing wage gains are trailing inflation. The labor participation rate ticked up to 61.6pc last month from 61.2pc the prior month, which was the lowest since the Covid-19 pandemic. The measure tracks those employed and actively looking for work and has been weakened by discouraged workers leaving the labor force, retirements and a smaller immigrant workforce, partly linked to government expulsions and crackdowns. The CME's FedWatch tool showed about 57pc odds of a rate hike Friday at the Fed's next policy meeting later this month, up from about 53pc odds on Thursday, as signs the labor market is strengthening helps it focus on rising inflation pressures linked to the Mideast Gulf war. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Australia's Core sells remaining lithium stockpile

26/09/04

News

26/09/04

Australia's Core sells remaining lithium stockpile

Sydney, 4 September (Argus) — Australian producer Core Lithium has agreed to sell its remaining 25,000t of lithium fines from its Finniss stockpile in the Northern Territory (NT) to trading firm Glencore International. The sale has a base price of approximately $285/t cif, based on indicative lithium oxide content, Core said on 4 September. The shipment will take place in September via Darwin port. The company did not disclose a shipment destination. Core sold the first 20,000t batch of fines from the stockpile to Glencore for $290/t cif in April, and the second 25,000t batch of fines to Glencore for $270/t in June. Following the recovery in lithium prices since December last year (see graph) , the company restarted mining at the Grants open pit at its Finniss Lithium Operation in May, marking the end of a two-year closure. The company also acquired the Bynoe lithium project in June. Bynoe is located next to Finniss in the NT. The tenement is still under exploration, but Core hopes that it may extend Finniss' 20-year mine life. Argus assessed 6pc spodumene fob Australia at $2,202/t on 1 September, more than doubling on the year. By Daniel Gage-Brown Australian SC6 prices 2025-26 $/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Brazil approves critical minerals bill

26/09/03

News

26/09/03

Brazil approves critical minerals bill

Sao Paulo, 3 September (Argus) — Brazil's senate passed a bill creating the first structural policy for its growing critical minerals industry. The senate passed the bill on the evening of 2 September by a symbolic vote, with the session's president proclaiming the outcome based on responses from lawmakers present, rather than through a recorded numerical tally of votes in favor or against. The bill had passed in the lower house and was approved with only minor changes to its text, making the senate's approval final. The bill is now set to be sanctioned by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The bill, which supports the local critical minerals industry, creates a fund — with R2bn ($406mn) in federal money — to "guarantee projects and activities linked to the production of critical and strategic minerals" including rare earths, nickel and lithium. It also sets up a program with R5bn in tax credits over five years to encourage "processing and transformation" of such minerals. The bill also defines critical minerals as resources whose scarcity could affect the national economy, while strategic minerals are those structurally important to Brazil's sovereignty because of the size of its reserves. Brazil holds one of the world's largest non-Chinese supplies of critical minerals. It has the largest niobium reserves globally, ranks second in rare earths and graphite, third in nickel, fourth in manganese, and also possesses large lithium reserves, according to government figures. A controversial clause The bill establishes a federal council, which can rule on transactions it considers relevant to national sovereignty, a provision opposed by market participants. The council's structure allows the federal government to approve or veto transactions it deems relevant to national or public interests. Market participants and lobbyists tried to strip the council of its ruling powers, but to no success, multiple sources told Argus . While the policy is broadly viewed as a positive development, the bill preserves the council's project approval powers without specifying its scope or review criteria. "The bill establishes another oversight body without clearly defining its responsibilities or which projects will be subject to its approval," Marisa Cesar, president of Brazil's critical minerals association AMC and vice-president of corporate affairs at PLS Brasil told Argus . "That lack of predictability could affect Brazil's ability to attract and retain investment." Cesar said the absence of clearly defined review criteria could create practical challenges, especially if the council's oversight extends to a large number of transactions. Without clear thresholds or project-selection criteria, companies could face an additional layer of regulatory scrutiny across thousands of annual mining-sector operations, she said. Next steps Still, much of the policy framework still needs to be built. The government must appoint members to the new federal council, which will have 20 seats. Federal officials will fill 15 seats, while industry groups, research institutes and other civil society organizations will choose the remaining five. Authorities must also structure the R2bn investment fund and establish the R5bn tax-credit framework. Industry and government representatives also need to determine which minerals qualify as critical and which qualify as strategic. The legislation calls for a list that can evolve to reflect changing market conditions, technological developments and national priorities. All policies should be in place within 90 days. Even though market participants and the chief of staff's office are in talks to implement all structures related to the bill, delays could happen. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more