CRtiM
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crtim.bsky.social
CRtiM
@crtim.bsky.social
🧑‍🔬 Scientist, but make it anonymous.
🌍 Breaking down the materials that power our world.
📊 Data > vibes.
Pinned
Hi, I’m a researcher/scientist in the field of critical raw materials and I will talk about how these materials impact technology, geopolitics and our daily life. I’ll try to keep it fact based, but there will be personal opinions. Also a fan of aircraft 😅
The US just published there new updated list of critical minerals. It now contains 60 minerals!
November 7, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by CRtiM
Looks like the Chinese export control on rare earth and magnetic materials (No. 61) is suspended for at least a year. But it doesn't look like the battery cell/material and key equipment (No. 58) measure, also announced on October 9th, was suspended as well.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Why Rare Earths Are China’s Trump Card in Trade War
Rare earths are among the most critical raw materials on the planet, deeply embedded in the technologies that underpin modern life. Yet few people had even heard of them until the eruption of the US-C...
www.bloomberg.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Haven’t seen many reports on this, but it definitely could be a big thing! and considering REPowerEU was quite effective I’m slightly positive about RESourceEU…

www.politico.eu/article/ursu...
Von der Leyen touts new plan to break reliance on China critical minerals
European Commission chief warns of “clear acceleration and escalation in the way interdependencies are leveraged and weaponized.”
www.politico.eu
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by CRtiM
Rare earths are indispensable for many modern technologies. To remain independent of monopolist regions, we must invest in suitable research infrastructures – a viewpoint by Jens Gutzmer, mineralogist and Founding Director of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology @hzdr.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by CRtiM
🧵(1/5) Today’s other MOFCOM restriction announcement focuses on the battery industry, different cathode chemistries and anode materials. China will tighten export controls on key lithium-ion inputs starting Nov 8.
#criticalminerals #battchat
October 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by CRtiM
🧵(1/4) Here are two great reads to understand the newly announced restrictions from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on the Rare Earth and Permanent Magnet supply chains:

#rareearth #criticalminerals
October 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by CRtiM
Das chinesische Handelsministerium will die Zusammenarbeit mit ausländischen Unternehmen stärker kontrollieren. Europa ist besorgt um Lieferengpässe.
Handel : China schränkt Exporte Seltener Erden ein
Das chinesische Handelsministerium will die Zusammenarbeit mit ausländischen Unternehmen stärker kontrollieren. Europa ist besorgt um Lieferengpässe.
www.wiwo.de
October 10, 2025 at 6:55 AM
If Boeing re-enters this titanium deal, they’re just walking back into the same trap of political threats, sanctions and single supplier dependence. But nowadays wouldn´t be surprised if they actually do this...

www.aa.com.tr/en/world/rus...
Russia hopes Boeing's joint venture with top global titanium producer to restart
Deputy Premier Manturov says titanium exports remain open, calls project ‘mutually beneficial’ - Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
August 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New USGS Critical Minerals list (the draft version) has been published. From a methodology point of view it is quite interesting and seems really thorough.
August 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by CRtiM
1/8 While the Trump administration talks about securing critical minerals, China just dropped $124 billion in Belt and Road countries in H1 2025—double last year and already beating 2024's entire total. They're not debating. They're doing.

www.caixinglobal.com/2025-08-14/r...
August 18, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A pretty interesting story on the "how missing supply chain resilience leads to danger for costumers" (passengers in this case) topic. Not the first unfortunatly and probably not the last...

simpleflying.com/faa-new-safe...
FAA Identifies New Safety Concern On Certain Boeing 787s: Ram Air Turbine Fittings 'Could Fail'
Not many aircraft are currently believed to be affected.
simpleflying.com
August 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Airbus is shifting from Russia to Riyadh for titanium. A logical and necessary move, but it does raise questions:
- When will this supply actually come online?
- Is this real diversification or just a new dependency on a complex partner?

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Airbus to Source Titanium from Saudi Arabia as Part of Jet Deal
Airbus SE plans to source some metal to manufacture its aircraft from Saudi Arabia as part of a widebody aircraft deal with the kingdom’s flag carrier.
www.bloomberg.com
July 11, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I have never heard a politician speak so honestly about critical raw materials...

MAYBE we can check of the "Problem Identification" phase...
Wow - looks like the real VDL is back

Mega-hawkish speech on China at G7 - accuses it of intentionally making the world reliant on rare earths

"We are seeing a new China shock - as China's economy slows down, Beijing floods global markets with subsidised overcapacity its own market cannot absorb"
Statement by President von der Leyen at Session II - working lunch of the G7, \'Economic growth, security and resilience\'
Today, I brought with me a permanent magnet.\nNot just any magnet—this is a rare earth permanent magnet.\nIt was manufactured in Estonia, by a Canadian company using raw materials sourced from Austral...
ec.europa.eu
June 17, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Tell me you have no idea of what you are talking about, without telling me you have no idea of wtf you are talking about! 😂
Opinion: Trump’s next deal for rare minerals should be with North Korea, writes former State Department official Joel S. Wit.
Opinion | Trump’s Next Deal for Rare Minerals Should Be with North Korea
The reclusive nuclear-armed dictatorship might just be willing to strike a deal.
www.politico.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by CRtiM
Our Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 includes an updated interactive online tool allowing users to explore our data on key energy transition minerals

It offers access to demand projections under various scenarios & technology trends

Try it out ➡️ iea.li/4dx9GfY
June 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Turns out aviation supply chain headaches aren't just a USA/EU thing. Welcome to the club, @COMAC 😀

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
US suspends engine sales to Chinese planemaker COMAC, New York Times reports
The United States has suspended some sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including those related to jet engines to Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer COMAC, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
June 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Yes, pretty much sums up everything you need to know about deep sea mining 😀
May 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by CRtiM
Critical minerals are pivotal for energy & economic security, playing significant roles across several sectors

However, rising geographical concentration across key minerals could increase vulnerability to supply shocks

Read more 👉 iea.li/44Pzsd0
May 22, 2025 at 4:07 PM
"However, it’s unlikely that any new supply from the US will be enough by itself in the short-term, providing opportunities for potential supply from mines in jurisdictions with free trade agreements and strong historical alliances with America."

theoregongroup.com/investment-i...
Turbulence in global titanium supply - The Oregon Group - Critical Minerals and Energy Intelligence
Titanium, prized for its strength and versatility, is essential across advanced defense, aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial sectors. From everyday
theoregongroup.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Gotta appreciate the creativity😀 Let´s see if the rest of the aviation industry is as capable to circumvent supply issues further down the value chain.

www.forbes.com/sites/marisa...
Delta Skirts Trump Tariffs On New Airbus A350 With Flight To Japan
Delta Air Lines will avoid tariffs on a new Airbus A350 by flying it from the factory in Toulouse to Tokyo, Japan, instead of the U.S.
www.forbes.com
May 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Deep-sea mining is the nuclear fission of mineral policy:

Politically hyped, scientifically complex, economically questionable - and nowhere near solving any real problems in the next 20 years.

Prove me wrong! 😀
May 2, 2025 at 11:37 AM
While it's probably fair to call it a win for the US and at least not a loss for Ukraine, Europe is completely left out again. It's hard to sell this as anything other than a loss from european perspective... 😬
May 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
As the aviation industry is very sensitive, it could be the foreshadowing example of what happens when you combine supply risks/issues with further tariffs. The outcome doesn't look very promising, to say the least 😬

www.dailysabah.com/business/tra...
Boeing, Airbus jet prices could climb further amid metal tariffs
Prices of commercial planes, already up in recent years due to COVID-19 supply bottlenecks, are poised to get even higher as top makers Boeing and Airbus...
www.dailysabah.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:21 AM
"Q4: Is the U.S. rare earths industry ready to fill the gap in the event of a shortfall?

A4: No. [...]

Q5: Could the United States have seen this coming?

A5: Yes. [...]"

Absolutly love the honesty from @minerals.csis.org 😀

www.csis.org/analysis/con...
The Consequences of China’s New Rare Earths Export Restrictions
China has imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements and magnets in retaliation for new U.S. tariffs. These materials are vital to defense technologies, but the United States is entirely...
www.csis.org
April 16, 2025 at 8:14 AM