Australian Rare-Earth Miners Capitalize on US-China Decoupling

Washington's strategic pivot from Chinese supply chains has unleashed a windfall for Australian rare-earth miners. A $2 billion US-Australia critical minerals pact is funneling capital into projects designed to break Beijing's dominance, with Graphinex CEO Art Malone describing his company's $860 million loan approval as a career-defining moment.

The deal marks a seismic shift in global resource geopolitics. Once-overlooked deposits like Graphinex's third-largest global graphite reserve are now commanding serious investor attention. Seven Australian firms—including Arafura Rare Earths and Northern Minerals—are首批 beneficiaries of Export-Import Bank financing totaling $2.2 billion.

As export controls tighten and US-China tensions escalate, Australia emerges as the West's linchpin in rewriting rare-earth supply chains. The WHITE House agreement, signed during Prime Minister Albanese's visit, commits both nations to $1 billion each in joint mineral investments—a tangible manifestation of the 'friendshoring' trend reshaping global trade flows.