Daily Mining Industry Report: June 20, 2025

Daily Mining Industry Report: June 20, 2025

🇨🇦 Canadian Highlights

(No major Canada-specific mining developments were reported in the past 24 hours. Canadian-focused advancements will resume in tomorrow’s report.)

🌍 Global Developments

Glencore Seeks Government Support for Queensland Copper Smelter
Glencore has declared its Mount Isa copper smelter and refinery in Australia economically unviable amid low processing fees and elevated energy and labour costs. The company is requesting financial aid from both the federal and Queensland governments to maintain domestic smelting capacity and sovereignty in the downstream metals industry wsj.com+14reuters.com+14ft.com+14.

Greenland Awards Permit for EU‑Backed Molybdenum Mine
Greenland Resources, backed by the EU’s Raw Material Alliance and Canadian investors, received a 30-year permit for the Malmbjerg open-pit molybdenum mine. The site is projected to supply roughly 25% of Europe’s molybdenum demand, strengthening supply-chain diversification amid tightened Chinese export controls reuters.com.

Global Markets Stabilize on Middle East Diplomatic Break
Following a two-week pause in direct U.S. involvement in the Israel–Iran conflict, markets—including mining-linked commodities such as oil, copper, and precious metals—have shown tentative recovery. Attention remains on inflation indicators and energy price exposure reuters.com.

⚙️ Technological & Industry Trends

Explosives Sector Forecasts 8.7% CAGR through 2034
The global explosives market, essential for mining operations, is projected to grow from US$47.7 billion in 2025 to US$100.7 billion by 2034. Key growth drivers include mining demand, greener explosives development, AI innovations, and regulatory oversight globenewswire.com.

Smaller-Scale Mining Operations Gain Traction
A shift is underway favoring smaller, lower-cost mining ventures as an agile alternative to mega-projects. These nimble operations allow quicker deployment and adaptability amidst global exploration constraints mining-journal.com+3cruxinvestor.com+3theoregongroup.com+3.

📈 Market Trends

• Downstream Capacity at Risk: Glencore’s appeal spotlights global concerns over smelting resilience and downstream metal sovereignty.

• Critical Metals Diversification: Greenland’s molybdenum permit underscores strategic moves by Europe and North America to reduce dependency on Chinese supplies.

• Commodities Sensitivity to Diplomacy: The brief diplomatic reprieve in the Middle East has provided temporary relief, but geopolitical volatility continues to sway energy and metals markets.

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