To The Moon

The U.S. and Australia have signed a massive $8.5 billion rare-earth and critical-minerals deal, under which 30 key metals will flow from Australia to the United States. 🔥

Companies listed by either the Australian government or the U.S. Export-Import Bank (US EXIM) in the first-round $8.5 billion financing list saw strong moves after the Oct 21 announcement.
Each has clear 6–12 month catalysts such as final investment decisions (FID), offtake agreements, or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approvals.

Follow these ASX tickers directly 👇

1️⃣ $ARAFURA RARE EARTHS LTD(ARU.AU)$ – Flagship Nolans NdPr Project

• Government + US EXIM commitments: > US$300 million

• Output: 4,400 tpa NdPr, 470 tpa mid/heavy REEs; mine life 38 yrs

• Catalyst: FID by Q4 2025, construction 2026

2️⃣ $AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC MATERIA(ASM.AU)$ – Dubbo Rare Earth + Metallisation Plant

• NSW Dubbo project (NdPr + Tb + Dy) secured A$16.4 m placement + A$15 m underwriting; applying for US EXIM US$200 m low-interest loan

• Developing Korea Rare Earth Metal Plant (KREMP) for integrated “Mine → Metal” chain; target 3,000 tpa NdFeB master alloy by 2026

3️⃣ $ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED(ILU.AU)$ – Mineral Sands + Rare Earth Refining Dual Engines

• WA Eneabba project: high-grade monazite; A$1.25 b government loan to build the world’s largest single REE refinery (> 20 ktpa REO)

• U.S.–Australia deal adds US$200 m gallium project (Alcoa–Iluka JV), opening new defense/semiconductor track

4️⃣ $LYNAS RARE EARTHS LTD(LYC.AU)$ – Only Large-Scale REE Separator Outside China

• Not directly funded this round, but U.S. DoD committed US$200 m for Malaysia LuT Plant & Texas heavy-REE facility

• Potential top partner if joint U.S.–Australia fund expands

• Q3 2025 NdPr output 2,923 t (record); EBITDA margin ~30% amid price recovery

5️⃣ $Alcoa Corp(AAI.AU)$ – Gallium from WA Alumina Operations

• Joint application with U.S. headquarters for US$200 m equity funding to build 100 tpa high-purity gallium plant for semiconductors & defense

• Gallium price rebounded from US$280 → US$420/kg; project IRR > 25%

6️⃣ Other Potential Second-Round Beneficiaries

• $NORTHERN MINERALS LTD(NTU.AU)$ – Browns Range heavy REE (Tb, Dy); +11%, under due diligence by U.S.–Australia fund

• $VHM LTD(VHM.AU)$ – Goschen REE-zircon project (VIC); received US EXIM LOI; +18%

• $MINERAL COMMODITIES LTD(MRC.AU)$ – Skaland graphite + REE by-products; applying for IRA downstream subsidies

• $PILBARA MINERALS LTD(PLS.AU)$ & $LIONTOWN RESOURCES LTD(LTR.AU)$ – lithium plays; not REEs but still eligible under IRA “critical minerals” list; may share funding pool via EV supply chains & Tesla offtake deals