• 2024年7月22日
  • Market: Rare earth, Metals
Ellie Saklatvala, Senior Editor - Nonferrous Metals, provides an overview of rare earths market with key updates on neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and more.

Related metals news

News
26/06/19

More BHP iron ore port workers to strike in Australia

More BHP iron ore port workers to strike in Australia

Sydney, 19 June (Argus) — Over 100 workers at Australian mining firm BHP's Port Hedland iron ore operations will vote in the coming weeks to authorise strike action, joining two other unions who have already voted to proceed with strikes at the port. Members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), which represents more than 100 workers at BHP's port operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA), have applied to workplace umpire the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to hold a ballot approving strike action, the union said on 18 June. If successful, this will enable union members to legally take strike action. Subject to regulatory approvals, the ballot will take place in the next few weeks, Argus understands. BHP has been negotiating a new enterprise agreement with its Port Hedland workers since October 2025, which will cover around 450 employees, excluding contractors, Argus understands. Approximately 250 of these workers are represented by unions including the AWU, Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU). Members of the ETU and AMWU have previously voted in favour of strike action, including work stoppages up to 24 hours at a time, in ballots with the FWC on 11 June. Around 150 workers across the AMWU and ETU are eligible to strike, FWC records indicate. They are required to give BHP five days' notice prior to launching strike action, as per their applications with the FWC. Port Hedland is the world's largest bulk iron ore export port and is a key export hub in BHP's WA iron ore supply chain. The firm produced 257mn t of iron ore in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025. If the unions shut down the firm's Port Hedland operations, it could cost the WA A$6.85mn ($4.82mn) in iron ore royalties per day, a BHP spokesperson told Argus . The company is also currently negotiating a new enterprise agreement with workers at its Mining Area C and South Flank iron ore operations. By Emma Partis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Australia's Core Lithium to buy Bynoe project


26/06/19
News
26/06/19

Australia's Core Lithium to buy Bynoe project

Sydney, 19 June (Argus) — Australian producer Core Lithium will buy 100pc of the Bynoe lithium project, located in the Northern Territory, from developer Charger Metals, both companies said today. Core will buy the 63km² site from Charger for A$3.75mn ($2.63mn) in cash. The site surrounds the Core's recently restarted 214,000 t/yr Finniss project and is 9km away from its lithium concentration plant. Core will pay a further A$1mn in cash if the Joint Ore Reserves Committee inferred mineral resource reaches 8mn t or more at a minimum grade of 1pc lithium oxide, pending further drilling. Core will also pay a 1pc royalty to Charger on all gross revenue generated from the tenement, capped at A$10mn, Core said on 19 June. The reserves committee is the accreditation body for Australian mineral resources and reserves. Core's existing Blackbeard prospect is located within the Bynoe project. The company is also developing the contiguous Carlton and BP33 prospects. These exploration sites offer growth options for Core given that spodumene prices have risen sharply in the past 12-months. They may also extend Finniss' 20-year mine life. Argus assessed 6pc spodumene fob Australia at $2,346.50/t on 17 June, up by 323pc on the year. Charger originally bought the Bynoe project from battery recycler Livium for $500,000 in 2024. Charger plans to use revenue from the sale to develop its Lake Johnston lithium project in Western Australia state. By Daniel Gage-Brown Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Radius settles with Calif. over scrap fires


26/06/18
News
26/06/18

Radius settles with Calif. over scrap fires

Pittsburgh, 18 June (Argus) — Metal recycler Radius Recycling has reached a settlement with California environmental regulators over multiple fires at the company's Oakland, California, scrap yard. Radius Recycling will pay $1.5mn in penalties and costs related to 21 violations of hazardous waste law, including from investigations of three fires at the Oakland scrap yard between 2018-2023, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) said 17 June. Radius Recycling, an Oregon-based bulk scrap exporter now owned by Toyota Tsusho, will split the payment roughly evenly to three areas: to reimburse DTSC's enforcement costs, to support special environmental projects, and to pay a civil penalty under hazardous waste law. The company will also upgrade the scrap yard with new fire prevention measures, including installing infrared cameras to detect hot spots in scrap piles. Radius said the settlement resolves all open enforcement matters with DTSC. "Radius Recycling has an unwavering commitment to operate safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with all environmental regulations," the company said. A fire at the Oakland scrap yard in 2023 sparked an uproar in the community. A local district attorney brought criminal charges in the aftermath, but those charges were later dropped . Radius' Oakland yard is a major source of ferrous scrap exports on the US west coast. It exported about 600,000 metric tonnes (t) of scrap in bulk cargoes last year, accounting for a quarter of total west coast bulk exports, according to [ Argus estimates](https://metals.argusmedia.com/dataanddownloads/downloadfile/365085) of VesselFinder tracking data. By James Marshall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

JetZero breaks ground at first Z4 plant


26/06/18
News
26/06/18

JetZero breaks ground at first Z4 plant

Houston, 18 June (Argus) — California-based aerospace start-up, JetZero, this week broke ground at its recently selected $4.7bn plant location in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company aims to build its 250 passenger Z4 jets at the 8mn ft2 site. It estimates deliveries will begin in the early 2030s. The facility will be able to make up to 20/month of the Z4 planes, which JetZero said would be achieved by the late 2030s. The Z4 is desgined to deliver up to 50pc better fuel efficiency over its 5,000-nautical mile range, JetZero says. The Greensboro plant location was revealed on 12 June, the company said. Once complete, the plant will employ more than 14,500 workers. JetZero is also desiging military variants of its Z4 model, including capabilities as an aerial refueler and transport. By Emma DeArman Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

UK 'strongly minded' to nationalise British Steel


26/06/18
News
26/06/18

UK 'strongly minded' to nationalise British Steel

London, 18 June (Argus) — The UK government has indicated that it is inclined to nationalise British Steel as the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill completes its passage through the House of Commons. "The Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill has completed its passage in the House of Commons and has entered the House of Lords. Based on the information currently available, the government is strongly minded to use the powers in the bill to bring British Steel into public ownership in due course, subject to the public interest being satisfied and taking into account all relevant facts at that time," said industry minister Chris McDonald in a statement published on the parliament's website on 18 June. To date, the government has already provided around £555mn ($734.55mn) in working capital, covering items such as raw materials and salaries. These funds will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025–26 and 2026–27, McDonald added. UK legislation that could enable the nationalisation of British Steel has now moved to the House of Lords after clearing its final stage in the House of Commons in early June . While the legislation is not solely focused on British Steel, it is expected to grant the government powers to bring steel companies into public ownership. Following this development, Jingye Group, the Chinese owner of British Steel since 2020, issued a statement on 11 June. The company said that "the British government has not yet provided reasonable compensation". Jingye added that it has recently initiated consultation procedures under the bilateral investment agreement with the UK government, demanding that London "respect the objective facts and provide timely, full and effective compensation for Jingye's investment losses in British Steel". The government took control of British Steel's operations in April 2025 under emergency legislation aimed at keeping the company's Scunthorpe blast furnaces running. By Andrey Telegin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.