Australia Sees Surge in Rare Earth Inquiries

On June 6, 2025, Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) announced a sharp rise in inquiries from international buyers interested in rare earth metals and alloys processed at its South Korea facility. This uptick followed China’s tightening of rare earth export controls, which disrupted global supply chains and led to concerns among auto makers, defense contractors, and tech manufacturers worldwide. As one of the few non-Chinese facilities capable of producing rare earth alloys, ASM saw its share price jump nearly 29 %, reflecting market expectations of a new sourcing trend .