Reasons Behind the Expected Significant Growth of the Billion Dollar Rare Earth Elements (REE) Market in the Future
Rising Demand for Rare Earth Elements: The global market for rare earth elements (REE) is projected to grow significantly, driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and the use of permanent magnets in EV batteries. The market size is expected to reach USD 6.28 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6% from 2025 to 2030.
Geopolitical Factors and Market Opportunities: China's dominance in the REE market, producing about 60% of global output, presents both challenges and opportunities for other countries like the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Geopolitical tensions may lead to increased exploration and development of REE resources outside of China, as companies seek to reduce dependency on Chinese supply.
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- Market Performance: The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator rose by 102.62 points to 25,079.66, indicating investor optimism towards tech stocks, which may drive positive performance in upcoming trading sessions.
- Active Stocks: Circle Internet Group, Inc. (CRCL) increased by 11.24 points to $72.61 with a trading volume of 4,323,122 shares, currently at 74.86% of its target price, reflecting market confidence in its future growth.
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- Southwest Airlines Outlook: Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) rose by 0.25 points to $50.89 with a trading volume of 725,737 shares, with an EPS forecast of $0.51 for Q1 2026, suggesting potential improvement in the company's profitability.
- Export Ban Enforced: Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines has announced an immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports to encourage mining companies to establish processing operations domestically, thereby enhancing the economic value and benefits of the country's mining sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the export ban announcement, shares of Sigma Lithium, Albemarle, and Lithium Americas surged by 13%, 7%, and 5% respectively in Wednesday's pre-market trading, reflecting strong market demand for lithium resources and investor optimism.
- Mining Compliance Requirements: Only companies holding valid mining titles from the government will be permitted to export minerals, with agents and third-party traders prohibited from exporting on behalf of title holders, which will strengthen the management and control of mineral resources.
- Lithium Resource Potential: According to the British Geological Survey, Zimbabwe has lithium reserves of 480,000 tonnes and is projected to produce 22,000 tonnes of lithium between 2022 and 2024, making it the fifth-largest lithium producer globally, further highlighting the country's significant position in the global lithium market.
Google's Innovation: Google is set to utilize iron-air batteries to power a new data center campus in Minnesota.
Impact on Battery Technology: These iron-air batteries can deliver electricity for up to 100 hours, significantly enhancing the longevity of clean energy systems.
- Capital Expenditure Plan: Lithium Americas announced a capital spending target of $1.3B to $1.6B for phase 1 of its Thacker Pass lithium project, with construction set to begin in 2026 and a completion target by late 2027, reflecting strong confidence in the lithium market.
- Tariff Impact Assessment: While the project involves equipment and materials sourced from Canada, China, India, the UAE, Turkey, and the EU, approximately 75% of the capital cost structure related to labor, contractors, and other services is not expected to be directly affected by potential tariffs, thereby reducing cost risks.
- Electric Vehicle Production Capacity: The Thacker Pass project, a joint venture between Lithium Americas and General Motors, contains enough lithium to support the production of 1 million electric vehicles annually, further solidifying the company's critical position in the electric vehicle supply chain.
- Financing Background: Lithium Americas has secured $2.23B in financing from the U.S. Department of Energy's loan program, supplemented by strategic investments from GM and Orion Resource Partners, demonstrating strong support from both government and industry for the project.

- Stock Market Trends: Stock futures were rising on Thursday as investors reacted to recent economic data.
- Economic Data Impact: The rise in stock futures comes in the wake of a delayed U.S. monthly jobs report and other economic indicators.
- Surge in Investments: The Trump administration has made unprecedented equity investments in at least 10 companies over the past year, including critical minerals and chipmakers, aiming to build a domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on China, indicating a proactive government role in economic strategy.
- U.S. Steel Golden Share: The administration secured a golden share in U.S. Steel as a condition for approving Nippon Steel's acquisition, granting the president veto power over key business decisions, which ensures stability and growth in the U.S. steel industry, reflecting direct government intervention in vital sectors.
- Strategic Deal with MP Materials: The Defense Department struck a landmark deal with MP Materials, investing $400 million in preferred stock with rights to purchase additional shares, positioning the Pentagon as the largest single shareholder and further solidifying U.S. dominance in the rare earth mining sector.
- L3Harris and Defense Partnership: L3Harris announced a proposed partnership with the U.S. government, where the Pentagon will invest $1 billion in its rocket motor business, with plans for an IPO in the second half of 2026, allowing the Pentagon's investment to convert into common equity, enhancing the capital base of the defense industry.











