Critical Minerals

Together we’re building the critical minerals supply chain the US needs.

Australia has the critical minerals the United States needs to sustain and grow its defence, advanced technology, and energy security manufacturing supply chains. Australia has the ability to supply 36 of the 50 mineral commodities on the United States list of critical minerals and is currently producing 29.

Australia has 680 resource deposits aligned with the US Critical Minerals list, 90 per cent of these deposits are available for investment and development by US firms. To support the sector, the Australian Government has invested USD $2.4 billion into its Critical Minerals Facility and recently announced a USD $4.3 billion Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive.

President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese

In October, Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump signed the United States-Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals to create diverse, resilient and sustainable critical minerals supply chains that reduce market concentration.

As part of the Framework, Australia and the US will take measures to each provide at least USD $1 billion in investments towards a USD $8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects in the United States and Australia over the next six months.

Under the Framework, Australia and the United States will work together to:

  • Invest in critical mineral projects in Australia and the United States
  • Enhance the capabilities of our mining and processing sectors
  • Promote trade in minerals produced to high standards and encourage markets to reward high standard production
  • Cooperate on challenges in critical minerals markets, such as unfair trade practices and price volatility.

Historic critical minerals framework signed by President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese

 21 October 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the United States Donald J. Trump today signed a landmark bilateral framework on critical minerals and rare earths at the White House in Washington DC. This will see an accelerated pipeline of priority projects delivered by and for the two nations.

The United States–Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths will deliver a US/Australia secured supply chain for critical minerals and rare earths, required for defence and other advanced technologies. This represents a significant new chapter in the over 70 years of our formal Alliance.

Also announced today, to complement the Framework, the US and Australia will take measures to each provide at least USD$1 billion in investments towards an USD$8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects in Australia and the United States over the next six months.

Delivering Australia's critical minerals supply

12 January 2026

The Albanese Government has announced new details of its $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve which will secure the supply of key minerals vital for Australia’s economy, national security and Future Made in Australia ambitions.

The first minerals to be the focus of the Strategic Reserve will be antimony, gallium and rare earth elements, which are crucial for clean-energy and high-technology manufacturing as well as advanced military equipment. The Reserve will operate by securing rights to minerals produced in Australia and on-selling those rights to meet demand, giving an added boost to Australia’s critical minerals sector and strengthening reliable supply chains for our trading partners.

The Reserve includes $1 billion for transactions to be drawn from the expanded $5 billion Critical Minerals Facility, which provides government-backed loans and equity support for projects. A further $185 million has been allocated for selective stockpiling of minerals, where required, and other implementation costs.