Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials
114.5+14.5%All 114.6+14.6%
A single F-35 needs more than 400 kilograms of rare-earth magnets — and almost every magnet of that kind in the world is made in China, the same country the West is preparing to fight. This is the story of the defense industry's "deepest vulnerability," and how governments are now investing their own money to pull the raw-material supply chain back home.
Why is Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials moving?
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Allied money and defense orders build non-China mineral supply; China still squeezes
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Defense and aerospace suppliers post record results and raise guidance Howmet, Kennametal, Elmet, Curtiss-Wright and others reported strong defense and aerospace demand, record backlogs and higher guidance. This shows real, funded orders for reshored strategic materials and parts, not just promises, and supports the theme's industrial base.
Funded demand from defense and aerospace is the core force pulling reshored mineral and component supply chains forward.
New plants and deals widen non-China magnet, tungsten and defense-material supply Elmet bought into Vietnam tungsten, 5N+ won US funding for domestic gallium arsenide, and Evolution Metals raised guidance on ex-China rare earth feedstock and new magnet machines in Korea. These add concrete mine-to-magnet and defense-material capacity outside China.
New capacity and government-backed deals are the supply-side force building a non-China chain.
US and allies restrict Chinese equipment and push sovereign supply Washington restricted foreign grid equipment and blocked Chinese robots, while Germany pressed for a tougher EU line on China and Taiwan firms pledged $20 billion more US investment. These policies force more production onshore and widen the sovereign supply push.
Regulation and geopolitics are actively redirecting supply chains away from China into allied countries.
China keeps using rare earths as leverage, but its refining grip is slipping China's magnet exports to Japan fell and it tightened export controls, yet its share of rare-earth refining dropped from 91% to 85% as Japan and the US build alternative chains. The squeeze is real, but it is also accelerating the shift away from China.
This is the main counterweight and the clearest sign the non-China buildout is working.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components
Sirui Advanced Materials delays rocket engine materials project phase one by one year, increases phase two investment to 465 million yuan
Sirui Advanced Materials has disclosed an announcement adjusting its industrialization project for liquid rocket engine thrust chamber materials, parts, and components. The first phase, a raised-fund project, has had its scheduled ready-for-use date postponed from December 2026 to December 2027. The investment content, total investment, implementing entity, and implementation site remain unchanged. The current investment progress is 24.67 percent, with the delay attributed to site constraints, equipment procurement, and commissioning factors. The second phase, funded by self-raised capital, has had its plan adjusted. The implementation site has been relocated from No. 12 Zhangba Seventh Road, High-tech Zone, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, to an area south of Hengyi Road, north of Heng'er Road, east of Zongyi Road, and west of Xianhu Road in Fengxi New City, Xixian New Area, Shaanxi Province. The implementing entity has been changed from the company to its wholly owned subsidiary Shaanxi Sirui New Materials Power Technology Company Limited, while the production capacity plan remains unchanged. Due to increased supporting investment such as land acquisition and plant infrastructure at the new site, the second phase investment amount has been adjusted from the original 280 million yuan to 465 million yuan. The funding source remains self-raised capital, and the construction period has been extended from two years to four years. The project's original planned total investment was 510 million yuan, of which phase one was planned at 230 million yuan and phase two was originally planned at 280 million yuan. The company cautioned that after self-raised capital is invested, the asset scale will expand in the short term. Affected by asset dilution, return on equity may decline in the short term, and during the construction period the project will temporarily be unable to generate effective output, contributing limited profit to operations.
688102.CG · Capital · Negative Phase one of its rocket engine materials project is delayed a year and phase two capex is raised to 465 million yuan, with ROE dilution flagged.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
GoldHaven Hits Skarn 80 Metres From Prior Intercept at Kuhn Tungsten Target
GoldHaven Resources Corp. reported that the final hole of its 2026 drill program at the Kuhn tungsten-skarn target, part of its district-scale Magno Project in northern British Columbia's Cassiar District, intersected skarn at depth roughly 80 metres south along strike from the lower skarn reported in GOH26-04. The company completed eight holes totaling 1,729 metres of fan-style drilling from two pads about 80 metres apart, the first modern systematic drill test of the target, with assays still pending. The lower skarn interval in GOH26-04 is currently interpreted at approximately 20 to 45 metres true thickness, an interpretation the company calls preliminary. The drill has now mobilized to the D Zone polymetallic target, where historical drilling returned 7.6 metres grading 240 g/t silver, 4.73% lead and 4.74% zinc, a result that predates NI 43-101 and has not been verified by a Qualified Person. The exploration push comes as Washington backs domestic supply: in September the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of up to $2 billion for tungsten ores, concentrates and sodium tungstate for the national stockpile, and the Department of War committed a separate $450 million investment to the same domestic supplier. Beginning January 1, 2027, U.S. defense procurement rules restrict tungsten sourced from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and a U.S. Commerce Department order in effect since August 27, 2026 requires domestic sellers of tungsten waste and scrap to allocate monthly sales to domestic buyers for one year.
ALM · Demand · Positive US defense stockpile tungsten contract and China/Russia sourcing restrictions boost demand for non-Chinese tungsten suppliers like Almonty.
GMTL · Demand · Positive US push for domestic tungsten supply and stockpile purchases benefits Western tungsten developers like Guardian Metal Resources.
EM&T Raises Fiscal 2026 Revenue Guidance 62% to $11 Million, Reaffirms $460 Million Fiscal 2027 Outlook
Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $10 million to $11 million, up from the previous range of $5 million to $8 million issued on September 10, 2026, a 62% increase at the midpoint. The company also reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $400 million to $460 million, whose $430 million midpoint represents roughly 41 times the raised fiscal 2026 midpoint. The Miami-based critical materials and advanced manufacturing company said the raise reflects an expanded ex-China rare earth feedstock position, improved rare earth pricing and continued strong commercial demand. Thirteen additional ULVAC sintered magnet production machines are scheduled for delivery in October 2026 and will be installed immediately after delivery in Pohang, Republic of Korea, where they are expected to lift annual magnet production capacity above 10,000 metric tons, including approximately 6,000 metric tons of high-performance sintered magnets. Chief Executive Officer Frank Moon said the company will showcase what it believes is the largest commercial magnet facility in the world, ex-China, on December 17, 2026, and President Andrew Knaggs pointed to DFARS 252.225-7052, which is expected to extend the mine-to-magnet restriction across the entire neodymium-iron-boron magnet supply chain beginning January 1, 2027.
MP Materials Posts Record NdPr Output, Targets Terbium and Dysprosium Production
MP Materials is accelerating its push to build a fully integrated U.S. rare earth supply chain, reporting record NdPr production and progress toward heavy rare earth and magnet manufacturing. In 2025, its Mountain Pass operations delivered a record 2,599 metric tons of neodymium-praseodymium, more than double the 1,294 metric tons produced in 2024. First-quarter 2026 NdPr output hit a record 917 metric tons, up 63% year over year, and second-quarter production rose 41% year over year to 840 metric tons despite a scheduled semiannual maintenance outage; management expects third-quarter 2026 NdPr production to have exceeded 1,000 metric tons. The company remains on track to begin producing terbium and dysprosium later this year, with first samarium production targeted for 2028, and recently signed a multiyear agreement to supply gadolinium oxide to a leading U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturer. In December 2025, MP produced its first commercial-scale neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets at its Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and it has been delivering magnetic precursor products to General Motors under a supply agreement since the first quarter of 2025. As of June 30, 2026, MP had collected $150 million in required GM prepayments and delivered $104.5 million of precursor products, with the remaining $45.5 million expected within a year, after which it expects to shift to finished magnet sales; it delivered magnets to GM for in-vehicle qualification testing in the second quarter of 2026 and expects commercial shipments to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. MP has begun construction of the 10X magnetics facility, which is expected to contribute to total production capacity of approximately 10,000 metric tons of NdFeB rare-earth magnets per year, and it has launched Project Swarm with U.S. and allied drone manufacturers while continuing its partnership with Apple on magnet recycling and production.
MP · Supply · Positive MP Materials reported record NdPr output and progress toward terbium, dysprosium, and magnet production, expanding its rare earth supply capacity.
GM · Demand · Positive MP Materials is delivering magnetic precursor products and magnets to GM under a supply agreement, with commercial magnet shipments expected in Q4 2026.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
Nova Minerals Moves to Build Alaska Antimony Plant After Equipment Arrives
Nova Minerals Corp said all key plant equipment for its planned antimony processing and refinery operation arrived at Port MacKenzie, Alaska, on October 6, 2026, clearing the way for construction to begin in the coming weeks subject to remaining permits. The delivery included two ball mills, a jaw crusher, an apron feeder, hydraulic filter presses and other ancillary equipment, following a 500-ton shipment of processing and refining equipment that reached Port MacKenzie on September 6. The company is building a vertically integrated U.S. domestic antimony supply chain in Alaska, supported by a $43.4 million award from the U.S. Department of War, with first antimony expected in 2027. The equipment arrival came as the 2026 field season at the Estelle Critical Minerals and Gold Project concluded, with an approximately 8,000m diamond drilling program focused on infill and resource expansion at the RPM gold deposit to advance the Pre-Feasibility Study now complete and assay results expected in due course. Nova also extracted 100 tons of antimony ore to provide initial feed for the Port MacKenzie plant, while construction continues on the Korbel-Stibium access road and the Whiskey Bravo airstrip expansion.
NVA-WT · Supply · Positive Key antimony processing equipment arrived at Port MacKenzie, clearing the way for construction of its vertically integrated US antimony supply chain.
NVA · Supply · Positive Key antimony processing equipment arrived at Port MacKenzie, clearing the way for construction of its vertically integrated US antimony supply chain.
Medaro Mining Reports Multiple Magnetic Targets at Bastnäs Project in Sweden
Medaro Mining Corp. announced results from a high-resolution, low-elevation drone magnetic survey completed across the central section of its Bastnäs Project in central Sweden as part of its 2026 exploration program. The survey identified multiple magnetic high structures correlating with historical iron ore mines, strongly defined magnetic high lineaments trending northeast-southwest across the project area, and a structural fabric overprint that breaks up those lineaments. Coverage gaps caused by terrain, environmental and operational constraints will be infilled during a Phase 2 drone magnetic survey planned for 2027. The geophysical data is being interpreted alongside the company's 2026 surface sampling results, which included 218 rock chip samples collected from new outcrops and historic workings, with previously reported results of up to 32.99% TREO, 16.5 grams per tonne gold and 23.7% copper. Medaro has identified six principal areas of interest from the combined geological, geochemical and geophysical results, and President and CEO Mark Carruthers said the survey has helped prioritize several areas for follow-up exploration and drilling. The Bastnäs Project comprises two mineral exploration permits, Bastnäs 100 and Bastnäs 200, held on trust by McKnight Resources AB, and one permit, Bäckegruvan nr 1, held on trust by Explora Mineral AB, all intended to be transferred 100% to Medaro pending regulatory approvals.
Medaro Mining Corp. · Technology · Positive Drone magnetic survey identified multiple magnetic targets and six priority areas, advancing its Bastnäs exploration program toward follow-up drilling.
Canamera Wins Three-Year Permit for Schryburt Lake REE-Niobium Project, Drilling Starts October 2026
Canamera Energy Metals Corp. has received a three-year Exploration Permit from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines for the Schryburt Lake Rare Earth Element-Niobium Project in northwestern Ontario and has signed a Community Benefit Agreement with Nibinamik First Nation, clearing the way for the project's first-ever diamond drill program to begin in mid-October 2026. The permit, effective from September 10, 2026 to September 9, 2029, authorizes a 19-hole diamond drilling program plus mechanized stripping and trenching, line cutting and geophysical surveys across 36 claims covering the core of the Schryburt Lake Carbonatite Complex. The initial phase, mobilizing October 16, 2026, comprises approximately 1,500 metres of helicopter-supported diamond drilling in three holes testing the Blue Jay, Starling and Blackbird targets, with a budget of approximately CAD $1.7 million. This is the first diamond drill program on the project and the first drilling of any kind since six shallow reconnaissance holes totalling 293 metres were completed in 1977. Expenditures under the program further the CAD $1.5 million First Option expenditure condition under the company's JV Option Agreement, through which Canamera may earn an initial 51% interest in the project, and up to a 90% interest through a three-stage earn-in requiring aggregate expenditures of CAD $9.0 million.
Canamera Energy Metals Corp. · Regulation · Positive Received a three-year Ontario exploration permit and signed a Community Benefit Agreement, clearing the way for its first diamond drill program at Schryburt Lake.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrialsimpact 4
Trump Urges Xi Jinping to Restore China-Japan Ties and End Rare Earth Export Controls
US President Donald Trump called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to quickly restore relations with Japan and lift export controls on goods bound for Japan during their joint talks in Washington last September, according to the South China Morning Post. Trump warned that China's export restrictions on Japan, including rare earths, are threatening US industries that rely on Japanese suppliers, and said they indirectly amount to a violation of the US-China trade truce reached in South Korea last October. Trump also urged Xi to join talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, but the report said the Chinese leader showed little willingness to respond. Xi said the dispute between China and Japan should be kept separate from US-China relations and should not affect each other, while warning of the rising risk from a revival of militarism in Japan. Meanwhile, Kyodo News reported that China-Japan relations have deteriorated sharply since Takaichi told parliament last November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt Japan's Self-Defense Forces to respond in support of the United States, leading China to step up political and economic pressure on Japan, including restrictions on trade in rare earths needed to make advanced technology products. Japan had also tried to push for talks between Takaichi and Xi on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen next month, but China rejected the proposal and instead offered a meeting between Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which the Japanese side signaled it could not accept.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲impact 4
China's Rare Earth Refining Share Falls from 91% to 85% as Japan and the U.S. Build Supply Chains Without China
Each time China uses rare earths as a diplomatic card, momentum grows among Japan and the U.S. in particular to build supply chains that exclude China. According to the International Energy Agency, as of 2025 China accounts for 85% of global rare earth refining, but its share of refining rare earths for magnets has fallen from 91% in 2023 to roughly 85% in 2025, and if planned projects come to fruition it could drop to around 70% by 2035. In October 2025, President Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed a Japan-U.S. framework on the mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earths, setting out a policy of diversifying supply chains through a combination of loans, guarantees, insurance, long-term purchase contracts, stockpiling, recycling, and geological surveys. In April 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi launched the Partnership for Resilient Energy and Resource Supply Capacity in Asia, known as Power Asia, under which financial cooperation totals about 10 billion dollars, equivalent in crude oil and petroleum product procurement to as much as about 1.2 billion barrels, roughly one year's worth of ASEAN's crude oil imports. At the second Pax Silica Summit in June 2026, governments from 35 countries and regions including Japan joined a joint statement on the AI field, and connecting the two frameworks of Power Asia and Pax Silica under Japan's leadership has become a realistic policy concept.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲2
Hangyu Technology Plans to Invest 600 Million Yuan in Aero-Engine and Gas Turbine Ring Forging Capacity Expansion Project
Hangyu Technology announced that the company plans to invest in a research, development, and production capacity improvement project for aero-engine and gas turbine ring forgings at the Shawen Ecological Technology Industrial Park in Guiyang National High-tech Zone, with a total investment of approximately 600 million yuan, including 545 million yuan in fixed asset investment and 55 million yuan in working capital. The project construction period is 60 months, with construction expected to start in June 2027 and formal production to begin in June 2032. Funding will come from the company's own funds and self-raised funds. The company stated that this investment aims to enhance independent research and development capabilities, expand business scale, and increase market share. The announcement also cautioned that the project implementation still requires preliminary procedures such as land acquisition, project approval, and environmental impact assessment, and there are risks of delay, change, or termination.
Energy Fuels Holds $996 Million Working Capital as Growth Spending Climbs
Energy Fuels reported $996 million in working capital as of June 30, 2026, up from $927.4 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, including $58.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $878.3 million of marketable securities. The company's net cash used in operating activities declined to $17.8 million in the first half of 2026 from $44.8 million a year earlier, while net cash used in investing activities rose to $133.3 million from $75.2 million on higher investments in marketable securities, equipment and mineral properties, plus contributions to the Donald Project joint venture. In June, Energy Fuels received a conditional $725 million financing commitment from the U.S. Office of Strategic Capital, a proposed 20-year loan to support critical minerals processing expansion at the White Mesa Mill and a planned U.S. rare earth metals and alloys facility, subject to customary conditions and approvals. Among peers, MP Materials generated $4.9 million of operating cash flow in the first half of 2026 versus an outflow of $66.9 million a year earlier, and spent $307.7 million on property, plant and equipment, up from $59.5 million, ending with $429.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. Centrus Energy reported $16.7 million of operating cash outflow in the first half of 2026 against $89.3 million of inflow a year earlier, with capital expenditures surging to $94.8 million from $5.7 million and cash and cash equivalents of $1.87 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Uranium Mining & Development Capital
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Nuclear Fuel Cycle (Uranium & Enrichment) Capital
Critical Materials & Supply Chain › Uranium Mining Capital
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Conversion & Enrichment (HALEU) Capital
UUUU · Capital · Positive Energy Fuels reported $996M working capital and a conditional $725M U.S. Office of Strategic Capital financing commitment for critical minerals and rare earth expansion.
LEU · Capital · Negative Centrus reported $16.7M H1 operating cash outflow versus $89.3M inflow a year earlier, with capex surging to $94.8M from $5.7M.
MP · Capital · Positive MP Materials generated $4.9M operating cash flow in H1 2026 versus a $66.9M outflow a year earlier.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
Titan Mining Signs Preliminary U.S. Army Deal for Alabama Graphite Facility
Titan Mining said it signed a preliminary agreement with the U.S. Army outlining commercial terms for a proposal to build a graphite processing facility in Alabama. The term sheet covers development of the proposed facility on underutilized Army property at Anniston Army Depot, giving the company a pathway to establish downstream graphite processing capacity within an existing strategic U.S. defense installation. The facility would produce purified micronized graphite for industrial, defense and battery applications, and later coated spherical purified graphite, a key material in lithium-ion battery anodes. The proposed lease framework includes an initial 50-year term with two 25-year renewal options, for potential operating tenure of up to 100 years. The U.S. Army would hold the right of first offer to purchase up to 10% of annual production while providing Titan with an infrastructure-ready site to accelerate construction. Shares of Titan Mining rose 2.4% pre-market Wednesday following the announcement.
TII · Demand · Positive Titan Mining signed a preliminary U.S. Army term sheet for a graphite processing facility, with the Army holding a right of first offer to purchase up to 10% of annual production.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
Krait Critical Minerals Appoints Dr. Thomas O'Rourke as Strategic Advisor
Krait Critical Minerals Corp. announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas O'Rourke as a Strategic Advisor to the company. Dr. O'Rourke brings more than four decades of experience spanning U.S. federal financial regulation, banking, risk management, strategic leadership and military service, including approximately 27 years with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and roughly 20 years with the New Jersey Air National Guard. He is expected to advise Krait on capital markets, corporate and financial strategy, government engagement, critical-mineral policy and the North American defense and industrial supply-chain environment. The appointment comes as Krait advances its U.S.-based antimony projects in Washington State, acquired through Nevada Hills Antimony, LLC on September 16, 2026, alongside its flagship Goldbar Spider Lake Project in Ontario. Chief Executive Officer Oscar Mendoza said Dr. O'Rourke's experience is particularly relevant given the September 30, 2026 establishment of FORTRESS America, a Department of War program organized around five pillars including supply-chain and defense-industrial base resilience and a strategic defense reserve. Krait noted the memorandum does not identify the company, antimony, individual mining projects, funding amounts or eligibility criteria, and that the appointment does not imply any government affiliation, endorsement, procurement relationship or commitment of funding.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲
Western Metal Materials Plans Private Placement to Raise Up to 1.19 Billion Yuan for Precious Metal Materials Production Line Upgrades and Other Projects
Western Metal Materials announced that the company plans to issue shares to specific investors, raising total proceeds of no more than 1.19 billion yuan. After deducting issuance expenses, the funds will be used for a high-performance rare and precious metal materials production line technical upgrade project, a tungsten and molybdenum materials industrialization project for high-end equipment, a high-performance titanium and titanium alloy precision casting production line construction project, a cold-rolled precision foil and strip production line construction project, and to supplement working capital.
Greenland Resources Collects 8 Tonnes of Core, 14 Tonnes of Water for Malmbjerg REE and Magnesium Study
Greenland Resources Inc. has collected more than eight tonnes of drill core and fourteen tonnes of saline and fresh water from its Malmbjerg ore body in Greenland for a by-product test program backed by a non-repayable contribution from the government of Canada. The materials are expected to arrive at SGS Lakefield in Ontario around October 12, and the test program, which aims to verify metallurgical recoveries and concentration grades, will continue until March 2028. The work falls under the Malmbjerg Project Molybdenum Optimization, and Magnesium and Rare Earths By-product Feasibility Study, which received $7 million from Natural Resources Canada's Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration Program. The company noted that China accounts for approximately 69% of global rare earth element production and 89% of global magnesium production, with the EU sourcing 97% of its magnesium from China and US net import reliance on magnesium exceeding 75% of consumption in 2025. The program covers characterization of ore samples and process water, optimization of molybdenum flotation under fresh and saline water conditions, and evaluation of magnesium and REE recovery pathways, with each program potentially advancing to continuous pilot-scale testing.
SGS Lakefield · Demand · Positive SGS Lakefield is the lab receiving the drill core and water samples to run the metallurgical test program for Greenland Resources.
Evolution Metals Taps INERGX for Planned 5 GW US Critical Materials Facility
Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. has signed a Strategic Partnership Letter of Intent with UK-based INERGX Energy Optimisation Ltd. to engineer, supply, integrate and service the energy storage and power optimization systems for its planned critical materials and battery black mass recovery facility in the United States. The Facility is planned at approximately 1 GW of on-site capacity within two years, equivalent to the output of one typical U.S. nuclear reactor, and up to approximately 5 GW at full build-out, equivalent to five reactors and to the annual electricity use of approximately 4 million American homes, powered by on-site LNG generation. Under the LOI, INERGX intends to source cells, packs and battery management systems through qualified European or other approved non-China partners, with full country-of-origin documentation and no change in source without EM&T's written approval, addressing the roughly 85% share of global battery cell manufacturing capacity located in China in 2024. INERGX will carry out a First Block Study within eight weeks of receiving EM&T's site inputs, with definitive agreements for the first block targeted within twelve weeks of the study's delivery and acceptance, and a long-term service agreement with an anticipated initial term of ten years. The partnership comes as EM&T executes on its previously announced fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $400 million to $460 million, reflecting the expected first full-year contribution from expanding its Pohang, Republic of Korea magnet capacity to approximately 10,000 metric tons annually.
EMAT · Demand · Positive Signs LOI with INERGX to engineer and supply energy storage for its planned 1-5 GW US critical materials and battery black mass recovery facility, advancing its expansion.
EMAT · Capital · Positive Partnership supports execution on previously announced fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $400-460 million tied to expanding Pohang magnet capacity.
LH Fund launches IPO of LHCRITMAT fund investing in nine critical mineral groups
Land and Houses Fund Management, or LH Fund, has opened the initial public offering of the LH Critical Materials open-ended fund (LHCRITMAT) from October 6 to 14, 2026, with a risk level of 7. The fund invests in the master fund, the Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM), at an average of no less than 80% of net asset value per fiscal year. Monarat Padungsit, Managing Director of LH Fund, said critical minerals are becoming a strategic raw material for the modern world, driven by their necessity for energy production, transmission and storage, as well as the defense and aerospace industries. The master fund is passively managed, tracking the Nasdaq Sprott Critical Materials Index, which selects stocks that derive at least 50% of revenue or assets from the critical minerals business, caps each security's weight at no more than 4.75%, and reviews index constituents every six months. Its key highlight is diversification across nine critical mineral groups through a single fund, with copper at 26.6% and uranium at 25.2%, followed by lithium, silver and rare earths, as of June 30, 2026. The master fund's portfolio has more than 77% combined exposure to companies listed in Canada, Australia and the United States, in line with the trend of supply chain diversification away from China. The master fund returned 60.33% over the past year and an average of 18.36% per year since inception, as of August 31, 2026. On the demand side, China accounts for as much as 90% of global rare earth processing and refining, while Japan relied on imports from China for 63% of its rare earths in 2024. The United States Geological Survey announced its 2025 national critical minerals list of 60 items, 10 more than the previous list. The IEA estimates global power grid investment in 2026 at about 550 billion US dollars, up nearly 20% from the previous year, with nuclear power capacity under construction totaling 78 gigawatts across 15 countries. NATO members aim to raise defense budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035. On the supply side, constraints remain: capital spending by critical minerals mining companies fell 9% in 2025 and exploration budgets dropped 10%. The IEA estimates that by 2035, mines worldwide may produce 30% less copper than needed and 40% less lithium, requiring about 500 billion US dollars in new mine investment by 2040.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
Empower Names ExxonMobil Veteran Andrew Sinclair as Public and Government Affairs Chief
Empower has appointed former ExxonMobil veteran Andrew Sinclair as its chief public and government affairs officer, the Dallas-based lithium producer announced. Sinclair will be based at Empower's new Washington, D.C., office and will also lead a presence in Austin, overseeing government relations, media and communications as the company aligns with U.S. strategic interest in critical minerals. He brings more than two decades of public affairs experience, including nine years at ExxonMobil, where he oversaw state government relations in the Northeast and helped build the public and government affairs team in Guyana. Empower is scaling commercial production of American-made lithium carbonate and plans to launch its first commercial sales in 2027, with CEO Patrick Dowling calling Sinclair the cornerstone of a leadership team assembled to lead American lithium production. The company noted that the United States controls only 1% of global lithium processing capacity.
Empower · Regulation · Positive Empower hired a government/public affairs chief and opened a Washington office to align with U.S. strategic interest in critical minerals as it scales lithium production.
Critical Metals Wins Greenland Approval for Tanbreez Rare Earth Mine
Critical Metals Corp. shares rose 13% Monday morning after the company said it received formal mining approvals from the Government of Greenland for its Tanbreez Mine, valid through 2050. The Government of Greenland approved the Mining Plan and Closure Plan for the Tanbreez Project, one of the world's largest heavy rare earth deposits, located in Southern Greenland. The approvals, signed by Minister Múte B. Egede on September 29, 2026, establish a framework for approximately 24 years of permitted operations under the company's existing exploitation licence. They cover the extraction of 19 critical elements, including the heavy rare earths terbium, dysprosium and yttrium, as well as the magnet metals neodymium and praseodymium. The remaining step before construction can begin is obtaining activity-specific operating permits under sections 120 and 121 of the Greenland Mineral Activities Act, covering environmental management, marine transport, health and safety, and the export and sale of minerals. The approvals were granted to the company's Greenlandic subsidiary, Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S, under Exclusive Licence No. 2020-54, which covers mineral exploitation at Killavaat Alannguat, between Narsaq and Qaqortoq in Southwest Greenland.
CRML · Regulation · Positive Critical Metals Corp. received formal Greenland government mining approvals for its Tanbreez rare earth project, a key regulatory milestone.
Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S · Regulation · Positive Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S, the company's subsidiary, was granted the mining and closure plan approvals under its exploitation licence.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
US approves new investments in Ukraine reconstruction fund to support power restoration and critical minerals development
The US Treasury Department announced on the 2nd that it has approved new investment projects under its "reconstruction investment fund" with Ukraine. The main pillars are the restoration of heat and power supply infrastructure and the development of critical minerals, supporting Ukrainian companies as infrastructure damage spreads from Russia's invasion. According to the Treasury, the plan is to build power generation and heat supply facilities in multiple regions of Ukraine, aiming to supply thousands of households. It will also provide funding for battery storage projects in six locations across the country, seeking to stabilize power supply in preparation for blackouts caused by Russian military attacks. In addition, it will support the development of rare earths, uranium and other resources, strengthening supply chains for allied nations.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲
Guangda Special Materials Earnings Call Addresses Employee Stock Ownership and AI Applications
Guangda Special Materials held its 2026 semi-annual earnings briefing online on September 30, responding to questions about artificial intelligence applications, the employee stock ownership plan, product expansion, and raw material price fluctuations. The company's 2026 semi-annual report shows operating revenue of 2.323 billion yuan, down 8.36 percent year on year; net profit attributable to the parent company of 12.34 million yuan, down 93.33 percent; non-GAAP net profit attributable to the parent company of 11.32 million yuan, down 93.67 percent; net operating cash flow of negative 231 million yuan; and a main business gross margin of 13.37 percent, down 7.31 percentage points from the same period last year, mainly affected by reduced new installed capacity in the downstream wind power industry. Regarding the progress of the employee stock ownership plan that investors are concerned about, the company responded that within six months after approval by the shareholders' meeting, the management committee of the employee stock ownership plan will complete the purchase of underlying shares through methods such as buying the company's A-shares on the secondary market, and the company will complete the position building gradually during the building period based on market conditions. On artificial intelligence, the company said the relevant applications are still in the evaluation and testing stage, have not formed large-scale applications, and have no material impact on company performance. In terms of product expansion, the company has passed the international aerospace quality management system certification AS9100D, and its production technology for high-purity superalloy electroslag ingots has been applied in fields such as aircraft engines and gas turbines. Homogeneous fine-grained superalloy forgings have been supplied in batches to aircraft engines, rocket engines, and gas turbines. The aerospace superalloy UNS N07041 has achieved batch supply, and the company has carried out cooperation with relevant customers in the aerospace field and achieved batch supply.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components
RBC Bearings Aerospace & Defense Revenue Jumps 36.9% to $225.4 Million
RBC Bearings is seeing persistent strength in its aerospace and defense markets, with revenues from the segment surging 36.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 to $225.4 million, following year-over-year growth of 32.9% in fiscal 2026. Within the segment, commercial aerospace revenues rose 21.8% while defense market revenues climbed 64.6% in the fiscal first quarter, helped by missile and space applications orders and the July 2025 VACCO Industries buyout. The company ended the fiscal first quarter with a backlog of $2.3 billion, which it expects to act as a tailwind for the segment. RBC anticipates net sales of $505-$515 million for second-quarter fiscal 2027, a year-over-year increase of 10.9-13.1%, driven by strength across both its Aerospace & Defense and Industrial segments. Among peers, Howmet Aerospace saw defense aerospace revenues rise 11% year over year in the second quarter, constituting 15% of company revenues, while GE Aerospace's Defense & Propulsion Technologies segment revenues increased 16% year over year to $3.4 billion in second-quarter 2026.
American Rare Earths Unveils Larger Cowboy State Mine Plan in Updated Scoping Study
American Rare Earths has unveiled an updated Scoping Study for the Cowboy State Mine outlining a larger development concept for Halleck Creek, CEO Mark Wall said. The study evaluates a 4.5-million-tonne-per-year operation with a projected mine life of 26 years, generating an estimated after-tax net present value of approximately US$1.07 billion at an 8% real discount rate. Initial capital is estimated at approximately US$900 million, comprising roughly US$690 million in direct capital and US$210 million in contingency, with the updated study applying a 30% contingency allowance to direct capital versus 20% in the company's 2025 study. Modelled average annual production of neodymium-praseodymium oxide has increased from approximately 1,800 tonnes to 2,500 tonnes, and a separate closure cost provision of approximately US$56 million has been included at the end of the projected mine life. The development concept combines mining, comminution and mineral concentration at the Cowboy State Mine with a separate hydrometallurgical refinery planned for the Wheatland or Laramie area of Wyoming, as the company aims to establish a domestic supply of rare earth oxides and advance technical work to connect those materials with downstream U.S. production of rare earth metals and permanent magnets.
American Rare Earths Limited · Supply · Positive Updated scoping study outlines a larger 4.5Mtpa Cowboy State Mine with higher NdPr output, expanding its rare earth supply project
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲
ATI Raises 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance to US$550–US$600 Million
ATI Inc. has raised its adjusted free cash flow guidance for 2026 to US$550–US$600 million, citing higher adjusted EBITDA and stronger operating performance. The company attributed the increase to robust aerospace and defense demand, pricing gains, and targeted investments. The higher outlook points to improved cash conversion, ongoing buybacks, and a more flexible balance sheet, while also raising the stakes on execution against higher EBITDA and operating performance targets. Five Simply Wall St community fair value estimates for ATI span roughly US$165.85 to US$275.
ATI · Capital · Positive ATI raised its 2026 adjusted free cash flow guidance to $550–$600M on higher adjusted EBITDA and stronger operating performance.
ATI · Demand · Positive The raised outlook is attributed to robust aerospace and defense demand for ATI's products.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components
Citi Adds Howmet Aerospace to 90-Day Upside Catalyst Watch, Keeps $329 Target
Citi added Howmet Aerospace to a positive 90-day Catalyst Watch on Wednesday, maintaining its Buy rating and $329 price target on the aerospace supplier. The call implies 42.5% expected share-price appreciation, or a 42.7% total return including dividends, from Howmet's Sept. 29 closing price of $230.94. Lead analyst John Godyn said recent concerns weighing on the shares appear overdone and described Howmet as one of Citi's top aerospace and defense compounders. Howmet shares have fallen about 9% since Citi initiated a separate positive 30-day Catalyst Watch on Aug. 31, which has now expired, with Citi attributing the weakness to GE Aerospace's acquisition of Consolidated Precision Products, potential risks to Boeing's 737 production and delivery schedule, and rising geopolitical and fuel-related pressures on aerospace and defense stocks. Citi forecasts third-quarter EPS of $1.38 and fourth-quarter EPS of $1.44, bringing estimated 2026 EPS to $5.37, and its 2027 EPS estimate of $6.76 is above the $6.48 consensus cited in the report.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
US Antimony Reports Third Quarter MIL-SPEC Antimony Shipments to Defense Logistics Agency
United States Antimony Corporation announced an update on its third quarter delivery of Military Specification antimony ingot shipments to the Defense Logistics Agency under its existing $245 million sole-source supply contract. USAC is the sole producer of MIL-SPEC antimony ingots, which are more than 99.6% pure, in the Western Hemisphere. Antimony flake feedstock from the company's joint partner's Bolivian Hydrometallurgical facility landed at the Thompson Falls smelters during the third quarter, and its roughly 99% purity is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of the company's gas-fired furnaces. Chairman and CEO Gary C. Evans said the company is fulfilling the first significant delivery of a finished product in its nearly 60 year history, and that processing has begun on Stibnite Hill, Montana, antimony material mined late last year and this year, which now totals in excess of 400,000 pounds and is stockpiled at Radersburg, Montana.
UAMY · Demand · Positive USAC is fulfilling MIL-SPEC antimony ingot shipments to the Defense Logistics Agency under its $245M sole-source supply contract, a concrete product order.
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Sovereign Critical Minerals & Magnets
Mkango Files Amended Form F-4 for Crown PropTech SPAC Merger
Mkango Magnetic Materials Limited announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mkango Rare Earths Limited, filed an amendment to its registration statement on Form F-4 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2026, in connection with its proposed business combination with Crown PropTech Acquisitions, first announced on July 3, 2025. The Amended Form F-4 comprises a preliminary proxy statement of CPTK and a preliminary prospectus of MKAR covering the common shares and warrants to be issued in the deal. The filing has not yet been declared effective by the SEC and remains subject to completion or amendment. Subject to the SEC review process and customary closing conditions, including approval by CPTK shareholders, MKAR's common shares and warrants are expected to list on Nasdaq under the symbols MKAR and MKARW on closing. Mkango, which is listed on AIM and the TSX-V, is pursuing a strategy to become a market leader in recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, and its Songwe Hill and Pulawy rare earths projects have both been selected as Strategic Projects under the European Union Critical Raw Materials Act.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Sovereign Critical Minerals & Magnets Capital
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials Capital
Crown PropTech Acquisitions · Capital · Positive Amended Form F-4 filed with SEC advances its proposed SPAC business combination with Mkango Rare Earths, with shares/warrants expected to list on Nasdaq.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲impact 4
Metallus Wins $995 Million Defense Logistics Agency Steel Contract, Gets $125 Million Initial Order
Metallus has been awarded a single-award, firm-fixed-price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency to supply steel for critical defense applications, with a maximum ceiling of $995 million over a five-year ordering period. The ceiling represents the maximum amount the DLA may order over the contract term and is not a commitment to purchase that amount. On September 29, 2026, Metallus received an initial delivery order under the contract valued at approximately $125 million, and the company has up to 24 months to fulfill each delivery order. Chief executive officer Mike Williams said the award and initial order mark another key step in the continued transformation of Metallus and reflect the company's proven ability to produce specialty steel that meets the rigorous performance, quality and traceability requirements of critical defense applications. Metallus, based in Canton, Ohio, employs approximately 1,850 people and had sales of $1.2 billion in 2025.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲
Tronox and JX Advanced Metals Sign Rare Earth Cooperation and Investment Agreement
Tronox Holdings plc has signed a cooperation and investment agreement with JX Advanced Metals Corporation to advance its rare earth and critical minerals business. Under the agreement, the two companies will fund on a 50/50 basis approximately $32 million to support a definitive feasibility study for Tronox's proposed rare earth cracking and leaching facility in Australia, a pre-feasibility study for a proposed rare earth oxide refinery in the United States, and development of a US-based pilot facility capable of producing initial quantities of high-purity rare earth oxides. The Cracking Plant is planned for the Rockingham Industrial Zone in Western Australia, about three kilometers south of Tronox's Kwinana TiO2 pigment plant, while the Refinery is expected to be located on Tronox-owned land adjacent to its Hamilton, Mississippi TiO2 pigment facility. Together, the two sites would aim to produce up to 10,000 tonnes per annum of total rare earth oxides, and the agreement also contemplates joint development of niobium, scandium, zirconium, and hafnium from Tronox's mineral resources. If the engineering studies demonstrate technical and commercial viability, the companies will explore forming a joint venture to fund, build, and operate the assets, and they have engaged with government-backed financing institutions including the US Export-Import Bank and Export Finance Australia.
5016.JP · Capital · Positive JX Advanced Metals signs agreement to co-fund ~$32M in rare earth studies and explore a joint venture with Tronox.
TROX · Capital · Positive Tronox signs cooperation and investment agreement with JX Advanced Metals, with 50/50 funding of ~$32M for rare earth feasibility studies and potential JV.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲3impact 4
Amprius Technologies wins $75M US defense grant to retrofit battery line
Amprius Technologies shares rose 11% Monday after the company secured a grant of up to $75 million from the U.S. Department of War to retrofit an existing domestic production line for high-energy density battery cells. The grant, awarded through the DoW's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, will fund the conversion of a U.S.-based electric vehicle battery production line operated by a major South Korean manufacturer to produce batteries for unmanned aerial systems. The retrofitted line is expected to have the capacity to produce 12 million Amprius cells annually when completed in early 2028, with the cells intended to meet domestic sourcing requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act. The total conversion project is expected to cost approximately $100 million, including in-kind investments from Amprius and its South Korean partner. CEO Tom Stepien said the DoW grant is intended to establish a primary source of domestic, NDAA-compliant battery production, adding that the company's technology combined with its South Korean partner's U.S. manufacturing prowess positions Amprius to accelerate adoption of standardized, high-performance pouch cells in a fast-growing market.
AMPX · Regulation · Positive Amprius won a $75M US Department of War grant to retrofit a domestic battery production line, funding capacity for 12M cells annually.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components
TransDigm Completes $1.066 Billion Acquisition of Prince & Izant
TransDigm Group Incorporated has completed its acquisition of Prince & Izant, formerly a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners, for approximately $1.066 billion in cash, including certain tax benefits. The deal, first announced on July 27, 2026, was financed through cash on hand. Prince & Izant, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered brazing alloys and specialty metal components, serving primarily the aerospace and defense, aeroderivative turbine, and transportation end markets, with select applications including aircraft engine fuel nozzles and rocket engines. The company spans nearly 10,000 active SKUs, derives the majority of its revenue from the aftermarket and from specialty metals including gold, silver, and platinum alloys, and employs approximately 220 people across manufacturing locations in Cleveland, Ohio; Tinley Park, Illinois; Franksville, Wisconsin; and Bay Shore, New York. Prince & Izant is expected to generate approximately $390 million in revenue for the calendar year ending December 31, 2026.
TDG · Capital · Positive TransDigm completed its $1.066B cash acquisition of Prince & Izant, an M&A event financed from cash on hand.
Prince & Izant · Capital · Positive Prince & Izant was acquired by TransDigm for ~$1.066B and is expected to generate ~$390M revenue in 2026.
Industrial Growth Partners · Capital · Positive Industrial Growth Partners sold its portfolio company Prince & Izant to TransDigm for ~$1.066B, a successful exit.
Allied Critical Metals Closes Second Tranche of U.S.$25 Million Placement With Tribeca
Allied Critical Metals Inc. has closed the second tranche of its previously announced U.S.$25 million private placement of common shares, raising gross proceeds of U.S.$15 million from new strategic investor Tribeca Investment Partners. The Second Tranche consisted of 10,317,073 common shares issued at C$2.05 per share, subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period under applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies. The company said net proceeds will fund development of its Vila Verde pilot project, ongoing exploration and development at the Borralha Tungsten Project, and additional working capital. In connection with the closing, Allied paid Clarus Securities Inc. a finder's fee comprising a cash commission equal to 5% of gross proceeds and broker warrants equal to 5% of the shares issued, each exercisable at the offering price for 24 months. Chief Executive Officer Roy Bonnell said the closing paves the way to continue developing the flagship Borralha Property and the near-term producing Vila Verde Property, while Tribeca portfolio manager Ben Cleary said the two past-producing tungsten assets could become significant contributors to the defense industry amid a dramatic shortage of tungsten concentrates.
Allied Critical Metals Inc. · Capital · Positive Closed second tranche of US$25M placement, raising US$15M to fund Vila Verde and Borralha development
Tribeca Investment Partners · Capital · Positive Tribeca is the new strategic investor funding the placement as portfolio manager cites tungsten shortage
Clarus Securities Inc. · Capital · Positive Clarus Securities received a 5% cash finder's fee and broker warrants for the placement
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components
Greenbriar Nears $1.8B Deal for Spectrum Control
Greenbriar Equity Group is close to a deal to buy aerospace and defense supplier Spectrum Control for more than $1.8 billion, according to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the talks. Greenbriar emerged ahead of competing industrial bidders for Spectrum Control, which is owned by private equity firm AEA Investors. An agreement could be announced as soon as this week, though negotiations could still fall apart or another buyer could emerge. Greenbriar and AEA declined to comment to Bloomberg, and Spectrum Control did not respond to a request for comment. The potential acquisition highlights continued demand for suppliers serving the aerospace, defense and space markets, and a deal above $1.8 billion would give private equity a notable win in a sector where strategic buyers and public markets have competed aggressively for assets. The transaction would follow several large aerospace and defense deals this year, including GE Aerospace's agreement this month to acquire Consolidated Precision Products for roughly $12 billion, while Arcline-backed Arxis and J.F. Lehman-backed Doncasters also went public in 2026, each raising more than $1 billion.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Electronics, EW & Sensors Capital
Aerospace & Aviation › Aerostructures & Components Capital
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components Capital
AEA Investors · Capital · Positive AEA Investors, owner of Spectrum Control, is set to exit via a >$1.8B sale to Greenbriar.
Greenbriar Equity Group · Capital · Positive Greenbriar is nearing a >$1.8B acquisition of Spectrum Control, a notable private-equity win in aerospace/defense.
Spectrum Control · Capital · Positive Spectrum Control is the target of a >$1.8B buyout by Greenbriar, valuing the aerospace/defense supplier.
Trump accepts Xi Jinping's invitation to visit China in mid-November after three-day Washington trip wraps up
US President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China in mid-November, after Xi wrapped up a three-day visit to Washington on Friday, September 25. It was his second personal meeting with Trump in 2026 and the first visit to Washington by a Chinese leader in 11 years. The two leaders will meet again at the APEC summit in Shenzhen and the G20 meeting in Miami in December. On trade and investment, the White House said the United States and China have moved forward with the trade and investment mechanism agreed at their meeting in Beijing in May, endorsing a proposal for tariff treatment favorable to trade in non-sensitive goods worth 30 billion dollars for each side's exports. The US side covers agricultural goods, fishery products, wood products and medical equipment, while imports from China cover consumer goods such as small electrical appliances and toys. China will import at least 10 million tons of coal from the United States in 2027 and at least another 10 million tons in 2028. Both sides will continue discussions on supply chain shortages related to rare earths and other critical minerals, and will set up a consultation mechanism on artificial intelligence and a communication channel between the two countries to respond to related incidents. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Trump administration plans to disclose further details on Monday about what the United States and China achieved in weeks of negotiations.
Trump and Xi Extend Trade Truce by Two Months, but Rare Earths Remain Unclear
The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24 took place in a friendly atmosphere, with both leaders displaying a good personal relationship. However, analysts in the United States view the meeting as more about image than concrete results. The key outcome so far is the extension of the trade truce by two months, from its original expiry on November 10 to January 10, 2027, to open the way for the two sides to negotiate a more comprehensive economic agreement. Nevertheless, several important issues remain unclear, including tariff reductions, purchases of agricultural goods and Boeing aircraft from the United States, China's rare earth exports, cooperation on artificial intelligence safety, and positions on Taiwan and Iran. Analysts also view the announcement of two giant pandas heading to Zoo Atlanta as a positive signal for people-to-people relations, but say it cannot substitute for resolving the structural conflicts between the United States and China. At the same time, U.S. senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties continue to criticize China, with concerns about its expanding regional influence and military buildup. Analysts say the meeting is significant in terms of maintaining channels of communication and preventing relations between the two countries from deteriorating further, but the main issues of trade, technology, rare earths, Taiwan, and Iran will still need to be watched through actual actions after the meeting.
BA · Tariff · Neutral Boeing aircraft purchases by China are among the unresolved issues in the extended US-China trade truce, with no concrete deal reached.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components2
Woodward to Move Military Actuation Work to Spartanburg and Sell Santa Clarita Campus
Woodward, Inc. announced on September 21 that it will move military flight-control actuation production from Santa Clarita, California, to a new aerospace manufacturing campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and separately sell the Santa Clarita campus along with selected legacy commercial rotorcraft, land-systems, and business-jet product lines. The Spartanburg facility is expected to begin operating in summer 2027, with Santa Clarita operations ceasing no later than December 2027, affecting approximately 400 roles through phased transitions. The divestiture is expected to close in fiscal 2027, and the announcement disclosed neither sale proceeds nor projected net savings. Spartanburg, already in advanced construction, is also expected to manufacture A350 spoiler actuation systems, and management says the move will refine its manufacturing footprint and improve its supply chain as demand for aircraft controls increases. Woodward must transfer processes and production knowledge, staff the new site, and obtain customer or regulatory approvals while maintaining deliveries, with qualification delays, quality problems, and lower productivity cited as risks. Insider Monkey's database showed 74 hedge funds holding Woodward at the end of 2Q2026, down from 76 funds three months earlier.
WWD · Supply · Neutral Woodward is moving military actuation production to Spartanburg and selling Santa Clarita lines, a footprint/supply-chain shift with cited qualification and productivity risks
China Rare Earth Group in Talks to Acquire Shenghe Resources and Its 3% MP Materials Stake
Reuters reported on September 18, 2026 that state-owned China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources, which holds a roughly 3% stake in US rare earths company MP Materials Corp. and serves as MP's exclusive offtake partner for distributing rare earth concentrate in China. A deal would extend Beijing's consolidation of its rare earths sector to one of the last major Chinese firms in the space with private ownership. Shenghe's roughly 3% holding would not give China Rare Earth Group operational control over MP, which has repeatedly stated that neither Shenghe nor the Chinese government controls its operations, and the U.S. Department of Defense became MP's largest shareholder through a $400 million preferred-equity investment. MP stopped shipping rare-earth concentrate to China in April 2025 and terminated its Shenghe offtake agreement, while the Pentagon provided a 10-year NdPr price floor, long-term magnet purchase commitments and a $150 million loan, and Apple committed $500 million to purchase and develop U.S.-made magnets with MP. Shenghe publicly denied that its controlling shareholder planned a transfer, and Reuters' sources could not determine what would happen to Shenghe's foreign stakes or how the unusual shareholder combination involving China Rare Earth Group and the Pentagon might affect the transaction. Hedge fund count for MP Materials slipped to 50 funds in the second quarter from 52 in the first, even as position value rose to $1.01 billion from $619.1 million, according to Insider Monkey's database.
600392.CG · Capital · Neutral State-owned China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources, extending Beijing's consolidation of the rare earths sector, though Shenghe denies any controlling-shareholder transfer plan.
MP · Regulation · Neutral China Rare Earth Group's talks to acquire Shenghe, holder of ~3% of MP and its former China offtake partner, could shift the shareholder mix, though Shenghe's stake gives no operational control and the outcome is undetermined.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲
Rio Tinto Logistics wins $995M Defense Logistics Agency aluminum contract
Rio Tinto Group's unit Rio Tinto Logistics won a maximum $995M IDIQ contract on Friday for high-purity aluminum. The five-year contract has no option periods and runs through May 7, 2031. It is funded with fiscal 2025–2029 transaction funds and was awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office.
RIO.LSE · Demand · Positive Rio Tinto Logistics won a $995M Defense Logistics Agency contract for high-purity aluminum, a concrete order for its product.
ALUMINUM · Demand · Positive The large DLA high-purity aluminum contract signals firm government demand for aluminum, supportive of the commodity.
Defense Industrial Base — Strategic Materials & Components▲impact 4
Metallus wins up to $995M U.S. defense contract for High Fragmentation 1 Steel
Metallus has been awarded a U.S. defense contract worth up to a maximum of $995M for High Fragmentation 1 Steel. The five-year contract runs through Sept. 24, 2031, and carries no option periods. Funding comes from fiscal 2025–2029 transaction funds under the contract, with the DLA Contracting Services Office serving as the contracting activity.
Sovereign Supply — Minerals & Reshoring Industrials▲impact 4
TISCO Says Era of Capital Competition Will Keep Interest Rates High Through 2028
The TISCO Economic and Strategic Analysis Center, or TISCO ESU, assesses that global financial markets are entering a phase of capital competition, as governments around the world need to borrow heavily to expand defense budgets while private-sector big tech and hyperscaler firms seek to raise enormous sums to accelerate the buildout of data center infrastructure, chip fabrication plants, AI facilities, and power plants. This is pushing interest rates and government bond yields up by roughly 0.60 to 0.90 percent. Komson Prapakpol, head of the TISCO Economic and Strategic Analysis Center, said the United States plans to expand its defense budget from 1 trillion dollars to 1.5 trillion dollars, an increase of 50 percent, while Japan aims to raise defense spending from below 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP, the highest level since the period from 1970 to 1980. Germany and France are also accelerating increases in their security budgets. Thanaphat Thanachat, an analyst at TISCO ESU, said the United States has public debt exceeding 100 percent of GDP, or more than 40 trillion dollars, and a fiscal deficit as high as 6 percent of GDP per year, driving its interest burden to double that of four to five years ago. France's public debt has risen by nearly 20 percent of GDP between 2019 and 2025, with an annual deficit of 5 percent of GDP. As for the interest rate path of the three major central banks, TISCO ESU expects the Federal Reserve to raise rates one more time, by about 0.25 percent, at its December meeting, ending at 4.25 percent, and to hold at that level through 2027 before cutting in 2028. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates one more time, by about 0.25 percent, in December, while the Bank of Japan is expected to gradually keep raising rates until they reach 1.75 percent in mid-2027. The yield on 10-year U.S. government bonds is expected in the base case to hold steady at 5 percent through the end of 2026, but if the Federal Reserve fails to control inflation, the worst case could see the bond yield rise to 6 percent.
TISCO.BK · Monetary · Neutral TISCO ESU forecasts higher-for-longer rates (Fed to 4.25% through 2027), a macro-rate view from the group's research arm rather than a company-specific event.