China's Rare Earth Grab, Gallium and Germanium's Stubborn Supply Gap, and Barrick's Strike Countdown

State-owned China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources, which holds a stake in US rare earth producer MP Materials — a deal that would deepen Beijing's grip on a sector already used as a trade weapon. Three years after China restricted gallium and germanium exports, prices are still nine to ten times higher than pre-curb levels and ex-China supply covers less than 5% of demand. The EU imposed provisional safeguards on electrical steel imports, setting minimum prices of €2,800-€3,400 per tonne effective September 25. And Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto strike deadline in Mali is eight days away with no resolution in sight.

Show Notes

September 20, 2026 | Host: Logan Ore | Runtime: ~11 minutes Stories covered: 1. China Rare Earth Group in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources — controls 3% stake in MP Materials (Mountain Pass, California); would deepen Beijing's state consolidation of the rare earth sector 2. Three years of Chinese gallium & germanium export curbs — prices 9-10x 2023 levels; ex-China gallium supply gap of ~678 tonnes by year-end; named expert quotes from Project Blue, Edmund Optics, Lattice Materials 3. EU imposes provisional safeguards on grain-oriented electrical steel imports — minimum prices €2,800-€3,400/tonne within quota, €3,500/tonne above; effective September 25; first-ever full value chain protection 4. Barrick Loulo-Gounkoto Mali strike — September 28 deadline, eight days out; no resolution announced; 796,000 oz Q2 production on full-year guidance of 2.9-3.25 million oz Sources: - Reuters (China rare earth / Shenghe): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-rare-earth-group-talks-buy-mp-materials-shareholder-shenghe-resources-2026-09-18/ - Reuters (gallium/germanium curbs): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/niche-metals-test-wests-resilience-chinese-export-curbs-2026-09-18/ - Reuters (EU electrical steel): https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-impose-provisional-safeguards-protect-electrical-steel-imports-2026-09-18/ - European Commission (official notice): https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-imposes-provisional-safeguard-measures-imports-grain-oriented-electrical-steel-2026-09-18_en - Reuters (Barrick Mali strike): https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/multiple-unions-threaten-strikes-barricks-flagship-mali-gold-mine-documents-show-2026-09-18/ - Barrick Mining (Q2 2026 results): https://www.barrick.com/English/news/news-details/2026/q2-2026-results/default.aspx

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