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Summary
In a notable global supply-chain move, Japan’s Marubeni Corporation will invest approximately A$15 million (US $9.75 million) in RZ Resources’ Copi heavy-mineral sands project in New South Wales, granting Marubeni up to 5 % equity and certain marketing rights. Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of the Interior formalised the 2025 “critical minerals” list at 60 entries, adding major materials including copper, silver, silicon and potash. Back in Canada, the federal government outlined its new Climate Competitiveness Strategy which commits over C$2 billion in clean-tech and critical-minerals investment — aligning minerals and manufacturing under one strategic push.
Key Points
Japan’s Marubeni invests in Australian heavy-mineral sands: Marubeni will contribute A$15 million to RZ Resources’ Copi project (NSW), granting it up to 5 % equity and marketing rights, as the partners aim to produce critical sands like rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite (used in aerospace, defence and magnet supply chains). https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-marubeni-invest-australian-critical-minerals-project-2025-11-10/
U.S. list of critical minerals reaches 60: The USGS update retains the previous 50 entries and adds 10 new materials (including boron, copper, lead, silicon, silver, phosphate, potash, metallurgical coal, rhenium, uranium), signalling broader recognition of supply-chain vulnerabilities. https://www.metaltechnews.com/story/2025/11/12/tech-metals/and-now-there-are-60-us-critical-minerals/2542.html
Canada’s climate-/minerals-strategy aligns major capital: The Canadian budget unveils the Climate Competitiveness Strategy, committing billions in investment tax credits, expanded critical-minerals tax incentives and manufacturing support — signalling a tighter coupling of clean energy and minerals policy. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2025/11/ministers-dabrusin-and-hodgson-outline-budget-2025s-new-climate-competitiveness-strategy.html
Why It Matters
Allied capital flows accelerate global diversification — The Marubeni-RZ deal illustrates how Japanese and Western capital is actively chasing non-Chinese supply chains for critical minerals, especially heavy sands used in high-end manufacturing.
Strategic material definitions broaden further — With the U.S. expanding its critical-minerals list to 60 items, the scope of what’s considered “strategic” now includes mainstream industrial metals and inputs, not just niche rare-earths.
Manufacturing and minerals policy merge — Canada’s strategy shows that minerals are no longer just inputs for mining portfolios — they’re integral to industrial policy, domestic manufacturing and clean-energy transition frameworks.
Watchlist Companies
Company / Entity | Context | Homepage / Link |
|---|---|---|
RZ Resources (ASX: RRZ) | Australian miner whose Copi heavy-mineral sands project attracted Marubeni’s investment. | |
Marubeni Corporation (8002.T) | Japanese conglomerate increasing presence in critical-minerals supply chains. | |
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) | U.S. copper producer likely to benefit from copper’s addition to critical-minerals list. | |
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (UCU) | Rare-earth & downstream-processor developer aligned with allied supply-chain policy. |
Critical Minerals Spotlight
Heavy-mineral sands (rutile, ilmenite, zircon, monazite) — Often overlooked relative to lithium/REEs, these sands are critical for aerospace, defence and magnet-metal supply chains and now feature in major investment deals.
Copper & silicone & silver — re-classified strategic — With their inclusion on the U.S. list, these metals gain policy support and may attract capital flows that reshape supply-chain economics.
From mine to manufacturing — policy evolution — Canada’s strategy and allied deals highlight that the bottleneck is shifting to refining, processing and manufacturing — not just extraction.
Action Points
Track the development of the Copi project: final feasibility study, processing-plant build-out, Marubeni offtake agreements — early mover advantage may accrue.
Monitor companies positioned in newly classified minerals (copper, silver, silicon, potash) for policy-driven upside in U.S. incentives and supply-chain re-routing.
For supply-chain buyers and manufacturers: with aesthetics of capital now aligning with minerals and manufacturing, securing long-term contracts and processing-access should be a priority rather than just ore-supply.
This briefing is for informational purposes only and is not legal, investment, or policy advice. Information is believed accurate at time of publication; sources are publicly available.
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