美国防部拟斥资10亿美元囤积关键矿产以强化战略储备

Group 1 - The U.S. Department of Defense plans to procure up to $1 billion in critical minerals to enhance metal supply security and ensure the availability of materials needed for defense systems and advanced technologies [1] - This procurement marks one of the largest expansions of the U.S. strategic material reserves in years, with a focus on securing stable supplies of cobalt, antimony, tantalum, and scandium [1][2] - The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is managing a total asset value of $1.3 billion in strategic commodities, which can only be utilized during wartime or under presidential orders [2] Group 2 - The proposed procurement includes $500 million for cobalt, $245 million for antimony from U.S. Antimony Corporation, $100 million for tantalum, and approximately $45 million for scandium from Rio Tinto and APL Engineered Materials [1] - Recent years have seen significant price increases for various minerals, with germanium prices soaring and antimony trioxide prices nearly doubling year-on-year [2] - The DLA is also evaluating the potential procurement of rare earth elements, tungsten, bismuth, and indium, with intentions to purchase 222 tons of indium ingots, nearly equivalent to the total U.S. refined indium consumption for 2024 [3]