Lynas, Arafura Rally on Rare-Earth Supply Concerns

ASX-listed rare-earth miners firmed as geopolitical tensions and reported Chinese export curbs refocused markets on critical metal supplies. Lynas drew the most attention, bouncing after reports of renewed demand tied to Chinese restrictions and amid heightened scrutiny of short sellers; the company also announced a forthcoming CEO departure, prompting questions about near-term leadership and strategy. Arafura and other peers posted modest gains, supported by a broader base-metals lift that left the ASX 200 slightly higher. Traders pointed to rising volumes and tight trading ranges as drivers of sector volatility, with investors balancing strong downstream demand from clean-energy and defence applications against the concentration of processing capacity in China. Analysts caution that while policy shifts or trade frictions could accelerate investment into alternative sources and refining capacity, significant supply expansion will be capital- and time-intensive, keeping structural tightness plausible in the medium term. Market participants will watch policy signals, export controls and project timelines to assess whether current price moves mark a durable repricing of risk.