MINEX Forum

Tag: Global supply chains

  • Mercuria and Kazakhmys Form Strategic Partnership to Expand Global Copper Trade

    Mercuria and Kazakhmys Form Strategic Partnership to Expand Global Copper Trade

    In February 2026, Swiss commodity trading group Mercuria Energy Group announced an eight-year strategic partnership with Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical company Kazakhmys, marking a shift toward deeper industrial collaboration between global traders and resource producers.

    The agreement goes beyond a traditional financing arrangement and is structured as a long-term partnership combining Kazakhmys’ production capacity with Mercuria’s global trading and logistics infrastructure. The collaboration is expected to enhance access for Kazakh copper to international markets and modern trading mechanisms.

    One of the key outcomes of the partnership is the expansion of Kazakhstan’s copper presence in global supply chains. Mercuria’s international network will facilitate integration of Kazakhmys’ output into long-term contracts with industrial consumers, providing more stable export channels and improving visibility over future demand.

    The cooperation also предусматривает переход к международным механизмам ценообразования, основанным на глобальных товарных индексах. This approach is widely used in developed commodity markets and is expected to improve transparency in export operations, strengthen investor confidence and simplify взаимодействие с финансовыми и торговыми партнёрами.

    As part of the agreement, Mercuria plans to establish a local office and marketing centre in Kazakhstan. The facility will serve as a hub for commercial operations, market analysis and risk management, supporting the development of modern trading infrastructure within the country.

    The partnership is also expected to contribute to technological development in Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical sector. Areas of focus include improving processing efficiency, внедрение цифровых систем мониторинга и развитие решений по переработке отходов. In addition, cooperation with an international trading house is likely to facilitate knowledge transfer in areas such as commodities trading, risk management and hedging instruments.

    Economic benefits are expected at both national and regional levels. The expansion of export operations and development of trading infrastructure may create new employment opportunities across logistics, services, analytics and equipment supply. For Kazakhstan’s industrial regions, where mining enterprises play a ключевую роль в занятости, such initiatives are seen as strengthening economic resilience.

    The agreement comes amid rising global demand for copper, driven by electrification, renewable energy and digital technologies. In this context, the partnership between Mercuria and Kazakhmys is expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in global supply chains for strategic metals and further integrate its металлургический сектор into the international trading system.

  • Kazakhstan Strengthens Global Role in Critical Minerals at Landmark US-Led Conference

    Kazakhstan Strengthens Global Role in Critical Minerals at Landmark US-Led Conference

    Kazakhstan has taken another step toward positioning itself as a key player in the global critical minerals agenda, with Foreign Minister  participating in the first Ministerial Conference on Critical Minerals. The event was held at the invitation of US Secretary of State  and brought together representatives from more than 50 countries to discuss the future of global supply chains.

    The conference opened with remarks from US Vice President  and was attended by leaders of major Kazakh mining companies, highlighting the practical focus of the discussions and growing interest in concrete investment and industrial projects.

    Talks centred on the diversification and resilience of global supply chains for critical minerals, which underpin green energy, high technology, defence industries and the digital economy. Participants stressed that access to these resources is increasingly viewed as a matter of strategic and economic security, prompting calls to reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers and to expand international cooperation in extraction, processing and logistics.

    Addressing the conference, Kosherbayev outlined Kazakhstan’s substantial potential in critical minerals and its readiness to contribute to stable and reliable global supply chains. He pointed to the country’s significant mineral reserves, established processing capacity, modern infrastructure, political stability and a transparent regulatory environment.

    Kosherbayev noted that Kazakhstan is capable of supplying 20 of the 60 critical minerals listed by the , not merely as raw materials but as value-added products demanded by strategic sectors of the global economy.

    Special attention was given to the implementation of a bilateral memorandum on critical minerals cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States, signed during a presidential visit to Washington in November 2025. The agreement, the first of its kind in Central Asia, focuses on expanding processing capacity in Kazakhstan, facilitating technology transfer and improving access for Kazakh products to the US market, marking a shift toward deeper integration in global value chains.

  • Rockfire Resources Unveils Rare Metal Deposits in Greece, Signaling Potential Shift in Global Supply Chains

    Rockfire Resources Unveils Rare Metal Deposits in Greece, Signaling Potential Shift in Global Supply Chains

    Rockfire Resources, an exploration company, gained attention last summer after confirming deposits of scarce metals, germanium, and gallium, in Greece. Located in Molaoi, Peloponnese, drilling by the London-listed company revealed high-grade germanium and elevated gallium, significantly enhancing the value of its Molaoi project. Presenting to officials from the Greek Energy Ministry, Rockfire Resources outlined plans for further exploratory drilling and a viability study on the newfound resource, scheduled to begin post-summer. Notably, silver is also present in the Molaoi asset. Germanium and gallium, critical minerals on US and EU lists due to their geological rarity, have gained global significance, especially after recent export restrictions imposed by China. David Price, CEO of Rockfire Resources, expressed satisfaction at the findings, particularly highlighting the robust germanium results and the unexpected presence of gallium, which is expected to bolster the project’s economic prospects. Germanium, priced at $2,856.30 per kg, demonstrated grades ranging between 9.0 and 40.0 grams per ton (g/t), with individual assays peaking at 73.8 g/t. Gallium, currently trading at $765.30 per kg, exhibited grades between 9.7 and 19.0 g/t, with the highest assay recorded at 33.3 g/t. These metals are crucial in modern technology, finding applications in electronics, solar cells, semiconductors, and military equipment, making the discovery in Greece highly significant. With the global supply chain for germanium and gallium vulnerable to disruption, particularly due to their scarcity, the find in Greece presents a significant development. The European Union is actively seeking alternatives to Chinese supply, urging aluminum and zinc companies to explore gallium production. Mytilineos Energy & Metals, a Greek aluminum producer, has been approached for potential gallium production at its Agios Nikolaos refinery, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese sources. Overall, the confirmation of germanium and gallium deposits in Greece marks a milestone in the country’s mineral exploration landscape, potentially impacting global supply chains and economic dynamics.