Sydney, Jan 12, 2026, 17:15 AEDT — The market has closed.
- Lynas closed higher, buoyed by a surge in rare-earth stocks following policy news
- Australia has prioritized rare earths in the initial rollout of its A$1.2 billion critical minerals reserve, setting the stage before the upcoming G7 discussions
- Lynas has announced it will release its December-quarter results and hold a briefing on Jan. 21
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd shares ended Monday up 4.82% at A$14.78, having fluctuated between A$14.31 and A$15.01 during the session. Trading volume hit roughly 8.02 million shares, according to data from Investing.com.
The buying surge occurs as U.S. officials urge allies to speed up securing supply chains for critical minerals before the G7 finance ministers meet in Washington. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that countries remain vulnerable due to China’s dominance in processing and refining.
Australia announced it will focus on antimony, gallium, and rare earth elements in a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve. The goal is to lock in rights to locally mined minerals and resell them to buyers. The reserve is designed to ease supply disruptions, though officials caution it won’t be up and running until the end of 2026.
Other stocks tied to rare earths also moved up. Arafura Rare Earths jumped roughly 5%, with Hastings Technology Metals and Iluka Resources showing gains as well, according to Market Index data.
The mechanics are crucial. Forward contracts fix a price for future delivery, whereas contracts for difference serve as a cushion — they settle the difference between the agreed price and the market price at delivery, limiting losses if spot prices fall.
Supply worries aren’t just hitting Canberra and Washington. Japan’s research vessel Chikyu, equipped for drilling, has departed to explore rare-earth-rich seabed mud near Minamitori Island. This move comes as buyers seek alternatives to China’s tightening grip on supplies.
Lynas operates its Mt Weld mine in Western Australia and processes rare earth materials in Malaysia. These are key components for permanent magnets in electric motors and wind turbines. “Market demand is strong, and we have a great deal of flexibility in choosing to whom we sell and at what price,” CEO Amanda Lacaze said during the October quarterly call. Reuters
Policy support often lags before appearing in signed contracts, leaving Lynas vulnerable to rare-earth price fluctuations and plant reliability issues. In November, the company flagged that power outages at its Kalgoorlie plant might reduce output for as long as a month.
Traders are focused on any clear outcomes from the G7 meeting regarding price-support tools or coordinated stockpiles. They’re also looking for indications that Australia can transform its reserve framework into bankable offtake agreements, instead of it ending up as just another policy paper.
Lynas’ December-quarter results are due Jan. 21, alongside an analyst and shareholder briefing.
