US President Donald Trump speaks to the press a few essential minerals stockpile with $12 billion in preliminary funding, as Washington seeks to decrease reliance on China for uncommon earths and different assets, within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2026.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Photos
U.S.-listed uncommon earth miners surged in premarket buying and selling on Tuesday, following President Donald Trump’s announcement to ascertain a essential mineral reserve.
Crucial Metals superior 5%, USA Uncommon Earth rose 4.3%, and MP Supplies gained 3.5%. Shares of Vitality Fuels had been 4% increased, whereas Idaho Strategic Assets popped 6.2% and NioCorp Developments rose almost 3%.
The strikes come after Trump on Monday outlined particulars for Undertaking Vault, a first-of-its-kind strategic minerals reserve designed for the U.S. personal sector.
The plan is ready to pool $2 billion in personal capital with a $10 billion mortgage from the U.S. Export-Import Financial institution, Trump mentioned within the Oval Workplace.
“For years, American companies have risked operating out of essential minerals throughout market disruptions. Right this moment, we’re launching what will probably be generally known as Undertaking Vault, to make sure that American companies and staff are by no means harmed by any scarcity,” Trump mentioned.
“We do not need to ever undergo what we went by means of a 12 months in the past — though it did work out,” he continued.
“Simply as we now have lengthy had a strategic petroleum reserve and a stockpile of essential minerals for nationwide protection, we’re now creating this reserve for American trade, so we have no issues,” Trump mentioned.
Uncommon earths have come to the fore as a key bargaining chip within the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies.
Regional composition of uncommon earths and everlasting magnet manufacturing in 2024, based on knowledge compiled by the Worldwide Vitality Company.
IEA
To make sure, China is the undisputed chief of the essential minerals provide chain, chargeable for almost 60% of the world’s uncommon earths mining and greater than 90% of magnet manufacturing.
A subset of essential minerals, uncommon earths confer with 17 parts on the periodic desk which have an atomic construction that provides them particular magnetic properties. These supplies are very important parts to an unlimited array of contemporary applied sciences, from on a regular basis electronics, corresponding to smartphones, to electrical autos and navy tools.
From an trade perspective, it’s critically vital to see the U.S. taking “decisive steps” to shore up minerals and uncommon earths, mentioned Wade Senti, president of Florida-based magnet maker Superior Magnet Lab.
“However wanting forward, what’s much more essential will probably be placing these minerals to make use of in everlasting magnets that energy the applied sciences of the long run—from EVs to humanoid robots,” Senti advised CNBC by e mail.
“Progressive everlasting magnet know-how can carry out with a big number of totally different essential minerals—not simply neodymium—giving America extra optionality and instruments in provide chain safety,” he added.
— CNBC’s Yun Li contributed to this report.
