Toronto, January 11, 2026, 13:08 (EST) — The market has closed.
Ucore Rare Metals (UCU.V) might see fresh interest when trading resumes Monday, following a Washington meeting led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The goal: urge allies to speed up efforts to reduce dependence on China for rare earths and other key minerals, according to a senior U.S. official. (Reuters)
Timing is crucial. Rare earths, essential metals used in magnets that convert power into motion, have become a hot topic as governments rush to secure supply chains amid Beijing’s tighter export controls. According to the International Energy Agency, China processes between 47% and 87% of key minerals, including rare earths. Germany’s finance minister said the G7 will prioritize access to these critical materials. (Reuters)
Smaller, pre-revenue processors are back in focus. Ucore is promoting its RapidSX separation technology and a proposed refinery at England Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana. The company also owns 100% of the Bokan-Dotson Ridge rare earth project in Alaska, according to Reuters company data. It posted no revenue in 2024 and a net loss of C$13.47 million, making its shares vulnerable to funding shifts and policy news.
The stock closed Friday at C$7.15, down 1.24% on the TSX Venture Exchange, according to TMX Money. Trading ranged from C$7.00 to C$7.50, with roughly 432,000 shares exchanging hands, Stock Analysis data show.
In its December update, Ucore reported roughly 5,700 processing hours at its demonstration plant in Ontario. The company is gearing up to install its first commercial-scale RapidSX “Machine” at the Louisiana facility by mid-2026. “The result is a technically proven and de-risked commercialization pathway,” said Mike Schrider, Ucore’s VP and COO. (Ucore Rare Metals)
Ucore has flagged feedstock as a key bottleneck. Reuters revealed in August that Critical Metals inked a 10-year deal to supply up to 10,000 metric tons annually of heavy rare earth concentrate from its Greenland-based Tanbreez project to Ucore’s facility in Louisiana. That same report noted the plant secured $18.4 million from the U.S. Defense Department for its initial phase. The company aims to produce 2,000 tonnes per year of high-purity rare earth oxides by 2026, ramping up to 7,500 tpa by 2028.
Investors are weighing a sector that’s becoming ever more influenced by policy moves. Larger players like MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths usually lead the charge on Washington and Beijing news. But small caps can jump even more sharply on hints of subsidies, stockpile changes, or long-term offtake agreements.
Within the G7 talks, a range of proposals is circulating. Reuters reported earlier this week that setting price floors for rare earths is on the agenda for the Washington meeting. (1330 & 101.5 WHBL)
But the downside is clear: if the meeting ends with vague language and no concrete action, Ucore could face setbacks. Delays in permits, equipment delivery, or lining up enough capital and feedstock would push back its timeline and keep dilution risk alive.
Canada’s finance minister François‑Philippe Champagne will be in Washington on Jan. 11 and 12 to attend a finance ministers’ meeting on critical minerals supply chains, hosted by Bessent, the Canadian finance department confirmed. For rare metals stocks, Monday’s update stands as the next key catalyst.
