Top stories of 2025 on MINING.COM

Essential minerals and gold were both large motifs forming the mining market in 2025. As United States Head of state Donald Trump returned for his 2nd job in workplace and pressed with hostile profession plans, the relevance of steels and minerals pertained to surface area.

On essential minerals, the emphasis was directly on that manages their supply and just how nations can decrease reliance on a handful of manufacturers. Because of export controls enforced by China, Western federal governments promoted brand-new collaborations, while firms competed to create jobs. The insurance coverage revealed that essential minerals are no more simply a mining tale– they’re currently linked straight to nationwide safety, commercial plan and international profession.

Gold, at the same time, advised capitalists why it still matters. Videotape rates raised miners’ appraisals and drove rate of interest in manufacturers, also as more comprehensive markets stayed unclear. Together with gold, copper and various other essential steels such as silver and platinum likewise ordered headings with document rates and limited supply, strengthening the feeling that 2025 was a year when assets mattered even more than ever before.

With that said in mind, we detail out one of the most preferred tales included on MINING.COM in what was just one of one of the most active years in the market.

1. Chinese court sentences 27 people for smuggling antimony ingots

While it’s not a surprise that our most check out tale connects to essential minerals, it features an “aspect” of shock that it’s not regarding unusual planets yet an essential mineral for which China had actually currently put in controls on in 2014. A criminal instance including 27 people wanting to prevent Beijing’s export controls unwinded previously this month, with a Chinese court giving out penalties for the offenders.

2. Ukraine rejects US bid for 50% of rare earth minerals, FT says

Sticking with the essential minerals style, this mid-February Bloomberg record, which pointed out the Financial Times, offers extra information on what had actually taken place in the lead approximately the US-Ukraine contract. The bargain, which was checked in Might, is deemed an essential action in the Trump management’s approach to boost America’s future supply chain safety, and it can lead to billions of bucks in financial investment guided in the direction of establishing among one of the most underexplored countries in Eastern Europe.

3. Barrick hit again as Mali helicopters take off with $117M in gold

The long-running disagreement in between gold mining significant Barrick and the state of Mali saw lots of weaves throughout the year. In July, Mali’s junta-led federal government flew right into the Loulo-Gounkoto facility and took even more gold from the mine, which at the time had actually been put on hold and positioned under provisionary state management. The gold were at some point gone back to Barrick after a bargain was struck in November.

4. US floats idea of launching critical minerals tariff probe

Throughout the week people Head of state Donald Trump’s statement of Freedom Day tolls, Bloomberg reported that the Trump management likewise drifted the concept of releasing a toll examination right into essential mineral imports. At the time, it was clear when or just how the toll probe would certainly occur. Before that, the United States federal government had actually currently checked out prospective copper tolls, which it at some point pressed through later on in the year, albeit on a smaller-than-expected range.

5. US government pours cold water on Critical Metals deal

In very early October, the United States federal government rejected reports that it is wanting to safeguard a calculated placement in among the globe’s biggest unusual planet jobs. This comes days after numerous electrical outlets consisting of Bloomberg reported that the Trump management is taking into consideration getting a risk in Nasdaq-listed Essential Steels, which is establishing the large 45-million-tonne Tanbreez down payment in Greenland. Nonetheless, the federal government stated it has actually been talking with lots of essential minerals firms also.

6. Gold price to reach new highs in 2026: Goldman poll

A write-up by our sis magazine The North Miner takes us to this year’s historical gold rally. A study performed by Goldman Sachs in mid-November disclosed that much of the financial institution’s customers see gold rates remaining to climb following year. A 3rd of the participants, according to the survey, anticipate gold can get to $5,000 an ounce by the end of 2026. As 2025 wanes, the energy in gold stays solid, as rates covered the $4,500-an-ounce mark for the very first time recently.

7. Congo offers US, Europe minerals in exchange for peace

In February, reports arised that the Autonomous Republic of the Congo had actually asked Western countries to aid bring an end to years of dispute in its mineral-rich eastern areas by supplying accessibility to its large sources in return. This acted as a forerunner to one more essential minerals deal that the Trump management protected in the kind of the United States– Congo tactical collaboration, which after months of talks was at some point developed in December.

8. De Beers strikes first kimberlite field in 30 years

For the very first time in 3 years, a brand-new kimberlite area has actually been found in Angola by the globe’s biggest ruby miner De Beers. The discover, introduced in August, comes amidst relentless unpredictability over the business’s future along with a slow-moving market atmosphere. In 2024, its moms and dad Anglo American introduced in it would certainly offer the system. Ever since, both Angola and Botswana have actually gotten in the venture.

9. US cancels $500 million cobalt tender in critical minerals blow

The United States federal government’s tactical transfer to safeguard products of cobalt, an essential mineral utilized in electrical automobiles and various other modern applications, pertained to a time out in mid-October. The Protection Logistics Company had actually introduced a tender for as high as 7,500 tonnes of the steel worth $500 million, yet terminated it because of “superior concerns” with the declaration of job. Ever since, the DLA has actually editioned the tender.

10. MP Materials halts exports to China

Back in April, Bloomberg reported the only United States unusual planet manufacturer, MP Products, has actually stopped its exports to China. The relocation was a feedback to export controls on comparable products important applied by Beijing at the elevation of Sino-US profession stress. MP Products presently runs the Hill Pass mine and linked handling center in The golden state.