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China

China is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous nation, with over 1.4 billion people. The capital is Beijing, and the country operates under a single-party socialist system led by the Communist Party of China. China has the second-largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and is a major global manufacturing hub, exporting a vast range of goods from electronics to textiles. The country is the world's largest consumer and producer of many industrial metals and minerals, including steel, aluminium, copper and rare earths, making it a pivotal player in global commodity markets. China's currency is the renminbi, with the yuan as its primary unit. The economy has transitioned over recent decades from a centrally planned system to a mixed economy with significant state involvement alongside private enterprise. Key sectors include manufacturing, construction, technology, agriculture and services. China is a member of international bodies such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and regional groupings including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The country has pursued extensive infrastructure investment both domestically and abroad, notably through the Belt and Road Initiative. China's demand for raw materials has a profound impact on African mining and trade, particularly in minerals such as chrome, platinum-group metals and iron ore.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

China's foreign minister urges BRICS to strengthen strategic minerals cooperation

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on BRICS countries to strengthen cooperation on strategic mineral resources and jointly respond to global challenges, according to a statement from his ministry. Speaking at a security meeting in New Delhi on June 24, Wang urged the group to hold high the banner of multilateralism and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, while also calling for close oversight of artificial intelligence risks.

Kenya awards China Road and Bridge $1.2-billion Nairobi airport expansion

Kenya's government has signed a 154.2-billion Kenyan shilling ($1.2-billion) agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Transport Minister Davis Chirchir says. The project will nearly triple annual passenger capacity to 22-million from 7.5-million and includes a new terminal building, modernisation of existing infrastructure and improved airside and landside operations; the East African nation aims to maintain its role as a regional aviation hub as Ethiopia and Rwanda invest heavily in new airport construction.

China's coal-fired power generation rebounds in 2026 after first decline in a decade

China's coal-fired power generation is set to rebound by 1.5% to 2% this year to 5.4 trillion kilowatt-hours after falling in 2025 for the first time in a decade, analysts say. The rise is driven by El Niño-related demand for air conditioning, a rebound in exports, and renewable energy output growth slowing because of weak wind generation and low solar utilisation in western provinces.

China Updates


Rare earths
Aclara secures $20m of property tax exemptions in Louisiana ahead of rare earths processing build
26th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Aclara Resources has confirmed final approval by the Louisiana government of more than $20-million in property tax exemptions for the planned heavy rare earth separation facility at the... 


BMI lower 2026 steel price forecast, owing to weaker demand
26th June 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Market research and analysis company BMI has lowered its 2026 forecast for the global steel price slightly to $620/t, down from $625/t in its previous forecast, owing to weaker expected steel... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (26/06/2026)
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Martin Creamer talks about South Africa's platinum assets, hydrogen fuel cell technology and a project underway in KZN to add value to the titanium in mineral sands. 


Rhyolite Ridge project area, in Nevada
REalloys, Ioneer selected for critical mineral plant builds at US Army depot
26th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Both Nasdaq-listed REalloys and ASX-listed Ioneer have received a conditional award from the US Army for a long-term land lease on the Tooele army depot, in Utah, for the purposes of establishing... 


SA's platinum assets, hydrogen fuel cell tech, green molecules make headlines
SA's platinum assets, hydrogen fuel cell tech, green molecules make headlines
26th June 2026

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer notes that Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO has declares the company’s South African platinum assets the ‘world’s best’; he discusses Deputy President Paul Mashatile's... 


Savannah Resources' project area in Portugal
European lithium miner eyes secondary listing as interest grows
26th June 2026 By: Bloomberg

London-listed lithium developer Savannah Resources is pursuing a secondary listing in Lisbon or Australia to tap growing investor appetite for battery materials. The company, with a project in... 


Gold pour at Red Lake in Canada
Canada, Japan consider critical minerals joint stockpiling in hunt for China alternatives
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and Japan are working on a range of mining projects, including potential joint stockpiling, Canada's Trade Minister told Reuters, as Japan moves to diversify supplies of critical minerals... 


Coal import data from December 2025 to June 2026
Asia's thermal coal imports jump on China, Japan, S.Korea buying
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Asia's imports of seaborne thermal coal are rebounding as China boosts purchases to compensate for soft domestic output and Japan and South Korea seek energy security amid the fallout from the... 


Graphite
Titan Mining signs lease with US Army for graphite processing
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Canadian miner Titan Mining Corporation said on Thursday its subsidiary Empire State Mines received conditional US Army selection notices for enhanced-use leases at two US sites to develop graphite... 


Kolomela iron-ore mine in South Africa
Iron-ore heads for seventh weekly loss on swelling inventory, falling steel demand
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore prices fell on Friday and were headed for a seventh straight weekly loss, weighed down by swelling portside inventory and faltering steel consumption in top consumer China, as well as... 


AVI KRAWITZ
The diamond industry is taking steps to give consumers assurance that the diamonds they purchase are ethically sourced and to give them the confidence to buy
Diamond industry at a turning point – expert
26th June 2026 By: Keabetswe Shilakwe

The natural diamond industry’s legacy operating model of scarcity driving desire and desire driving price is under strain and as the industry moves forward, producers and traders confront pressures... 


Battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) plant in Mbombela.
South Africa’s battery materials supply status surges ahead with new MMC plant
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

South Africa’s supply status in the rapidly evolving and increasingly geopolitically fragmented battery materials market has taken a major leap forward with the completion of the construction by... 


Frontier Rare Earths CEO James Kenny.
South Africa’s Zandkopsdrift rare earths project highlighted at Junior Indaba
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The Zandkopsdrift rare earths project in South Africa’s endowed Northern Cape was highlighted on day two of the Junior Indaba, which also learnt of the rapid forward momentum of West Wits Mining’s... 


Eneabba mine mineral stockpiles
Eneabba rare earths refinery, Australia – update
26th June 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The Australian government has provided a A$1.65-billion nonrecourse loan to build the refinery. 


Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola
Pretoria pushes back against US criticism on diplomatic engagements
25th June 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

South Africa has issued a formal rebuke following critical remarks made by US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III regarding the African nation's foreign policy alignments. On Thursday, the country's... 


PT Gunbuster Nickel, in Indonesia
Major Indonesian nickel smelter enters court-ordered debt halt
25th June 2026 By: Bloomberg

One of Indonesia’s largest nickel smelters has been placed under a temporary debt suspension by a local court, as the Southeast Asian nation’s industry grapples with ore shortages and low metal... 


Sibanye-Stillwater sales & marketing executive VP Kleantha Pillay.
New longer-term platinum metal applications needed, Sibanye-Stillwater headlines
25th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

To replace declining demand for the autocatalysis that curbs emissions from vehicle exhausts, new longer-term platinum group metal (PGM) applications are required, Sibanye-Stillwater headlined at... 


Zimbabwe Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube
Zimbabwe exploring minerals-backed deals with China to fund infrastructure, minister says
25th June 2026 By: Reuters

Zimbabwe is considering using its vast natural resources to fund road and railway construction projects with China, finance minister Mthuli Ncube said on Wednesday. The southern African nation,... 


Century Aluminium product
US metal producers Brimstone, Century ink MoU to strengthen primary aluminium production
25th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US-based alumina and other industrial materials company Brimstone has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the largest American primary aluminium producer, Century Aluminium, to... 


Vedanta's aluminium smelter in India
Vedanta completes historic demerger, lists four new companies in India
25th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Global diversified miner Vedanta Group has passed a defining milestone in Indian corporate history with the successful listing of four newly demerged companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange and... 


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pqt: 0.269s - ct: 0.361s - 288pq - 2rq
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