Rare Earths Market Fluctuates: Stock Prices Plummet as Export Restrictions Ease
Market Reaction to China’s Export Controls: Rare earth and critical mineral stocks fell sharply due to expectations that China may pause its export control measures, with significant declines in companies like MP Materials and USA Rare Earth.
U.S.-China Trade Deal Developments: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that a trade deal has been drafted between the U.S. and China, potentially averting the threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports set for November 1.
Temporary Easing of Export Restrictions: Reports indicate that Chinese regulators may temporarily ease enforcement of export restrictions, leading to a pullback in rare-earth mining stocks, although this may not resolve underlying tensions in resource management.
Future Market Implications: While a pause in China's export controls may alleviate immediate market concerns, ongoing demand for EVs and renewable energy could strain supply chains, benefiting domestic producers as the U.S. invests in mining and processing initiatives.
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- Supply-Demand Imbalance: The silver market is projected to face its sixth consecutive annual supply deficit in 2026, with cumulative shortfalls exceeding 800 million ounces over the past five years, equivalent to an entire year of global mine production, indicating that industrial demand from solar panels and electric vehicles is growing faster than new supply.
- Americore Resources Discovery: Americore Resources has uncovered five historic core holes at its Trinity Silver Project in Nevada that were previously overlooked, with Hole SC-4 returning 209.5 feet grading 145.98 g/t silver, potentially significantly increasing the existing 36 million-ounce silver equivalent resource estimate.
- Wheaton Precious Metals Performance: Wheaton Precious Metals reported production of approximately 691,670 gold equivalent ounces in 2025, exceeding its guidance of 670,000 GEOs, and has acquired an additional silver stream from the Antamina mine through a new partnership with BHP, projecting production of 860,000 to 940,000 GEOs in 2026, showcasing strong growth potential.
- Hecla Mining Growth: Hecla Mining achieved silver production of 17 million ounces in 2025, exceeding 2024 production by over 5%, and outlined its strategic plan for 2026 to 2028 at its Investor Day, indicating continued investment in domestic silver production amid increasing supply security concerns.
- Market Stabilization Mechanism: U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg stated that the new pricing mechanism aims to stabilize markets by unlocking private investment, expected to roll out through the Pax Silica program, although specific implementation details remain unclear.
- Strengthened International Cooperation: The U.S. has reached agreements with the European Union, Japan, and Mexico to introduce price floor policies to address supply chain vulnerabilities, demonstrating U.S. leadership in global critical mineral supply chains.
- Positive Stock Market Reaction: Following the announcement, rare earth mining companies such as United States Antimony Corp (UAMY), MP Materials (MP), and USA Rare Earth Inc. (USAR) gained over 2% in pre-market trading, reflecting market optimism regarding the new policy.
- Divergent Investor Sentiment: Despite the stock price increase, retail investor sentiment on Stocktwits leaned bearish, indicating cautious attitudes towards long-term prospects, although some users expressed optimism about the sector's future.
- Joint Venture Structure: U.S. Antimony Corp. and Americas Gold and Silver Corp. have formed a joint venture, with the former holding a 49% stake and the latter 51%, ensuring balanced management and decision-making through equal representation.
- Mineral Processing Profits: The joint venture will establish a hydrometallurgical processing plant in Idaho's Silver Valley to process copper, silver, and antimony mined by Americas, expected to generate downstream profits from previously untapped antimony production, enhancing overall profitability.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, U.S. Antimony's stock rose by 5%, becoming the top-trending equity on Stocktwits, indicating optimistic market sentiment, with investors viewing it as a long-term investment opportunity.
- National Mineral Strategy: The establishment of this joint venture aims to strengthen domestic critical mineral production, reduce processing costs, and provide a complete mine-to-product solution for antimony, aligning with national needs in defense and industrial applications.
- New Joint Venture Established: United States Antimony Corporation has entered into a joint venture with Americas Gold and Silver Corporation to construct a state-of-the-art hydromet processing facility in Idaho, which is expected to improve recoveries of copper, silver, and antimony while reducing processing costs.
- Management Structure: The joint venture will be owned 51% by Americas and 49% by United States Antimony, with United States Antimony serving as the managing member, ensuring equal representation in major decisions to enhance collaboration efficiency.
- Environmental Permits Secured: Americas has obtained key environmental and operational permits, allowing immediate construction planning for the first commercial-scale hydromet processing center in North America, which holds significant market potential.
- CEO Media Appearance: United States Antimony CEO Gary C. Evans appeared on FOX News on Tuesday morning alongside Americas Gold and Silver CEO Paul A. Huet to discuss the new joint venture, enhancing the company's visibility among investors and potentially driving further stock price increases.
- Joint Venture Formation: United States Antimony (UAMY) has formed a joint venture with Americas Gold and Silver (USAS) to construct and operate an antimony processing plant in Idaho's Silver Valley, with USAS holding 51% and UAMY 49%, aiming to provide a mine-to-finished production solution for this critical mineral in the U.S.
- Supply Chain Security: The joint venture will secure antimony feed material from the Galena complex, with priority given to USAS's mined material, thereby enhancing the security of the U.S. supply chain for this essential mineral.
- Technical and Market Support: UAMY will leverage its expertise in constructing and operating such facilities and provide the joint venture access to its antimony marketing network, including connections with the U.S. government, which will bolster the venture's market competitiveness.
- Permit Progress: The site for the new hydromet facility in Idaho has obtained all necessary primary permits, except for construction permits, ensuring smooth project advancement and future production capacity.
- Share Price Surge: Shares of U.S. rare earth miners rose in pre-market trading following President Trump's announcement of a $12 billion critical mineral reserve, indicating a positive market response to the initiative.
- Project Context: Known as Project Vault, this critical mineral reserve aims to counter China's dominance in rare earth minerals, protecting U.S. tech firms and automakers from supply shocks while reducing reliance on Chinese resources.
- Funding Structure: The plan combines $2 billion in private funding with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with Trump stating that American taxpayers are expected to profit from the interest on the loan, highlighting the project's potential economic benefits.
- National Security Strategy: The new reserve is modeled after existing strategic petroleum and critical stockpiles, intended to support U.S. industry and prevent future supply disruptions, thereby enhancing national security and economic resilience.











