Strategic LOI marks a major commercial milestone for the Company’s Tanbreez Project 10-year supply agreement of heavy rare earth concentrate from Tanbreez to Ucore’s U.S. Department of Defense funded Louisiana processing facility NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or the “Company”), a leading critical minerals mining company, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for an offtake agreement with Ucore Rare Metals Inc ( ...

Market Performance - On July 11, the three major indices collectively rose, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 0.01% to 3510.18 points, the Shenzhen Component Index up 0.61% to 10696.10 points, and the ChiNext Index up 0.80% to 2207.10 points [1] - The trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets reached 171.21 billion yuan, an increase of 21.8 billion yuan compared to the previous day [1] - The market saw 2960 stocks rise, with 68 hitting the daily limit, while 2206 stocks fell, with 13 hitting the lower limit [1] Sector Performance - The shipbuilding, non-ferrous metals, securities, diversified finance, and software development sectors led the gains, while glass fiber, engineering consulting services, and banking sectors experienced declines [1] - The securities sector, referred to as the "bull market leader," saw a surge attributed to positive earnings expectations [1] Company Highlights - Several securities firms announced their performance forecasts for the first half of 2025, with Hongta Securities expecting a net profit of 651 to 696 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 45% to 55%; Guosheng Securities projecting a net profit of 243 million yuan, up 78.25%; and Hatou Co. forecasting a net profit of 380 million yuan, a growth of 233.1% [1] - In the rare earth sector, Northern Rare Earth and Baotou Steel announced an increase in the trading price of rare earth concentrates for Q3, leading to a surge of over 5% in the rare earth permanent magnet concept stocks [2] - The demand for rare earth permanent magnet materials is experiencing explosive growth, particularly in green industries such as electric vehicles and wind power [2] Local Stock Performance - In Hunan stocks, 88 out of 147 stocks rose, with Zhenghong Technology and Hunan Silver both hitting the daily limit due to positive performance [3] - Zhenghong Technology reported a sales volume of 26,500 pigs in June, a year-on-year increase of 245.91%, with sales revenue of 41.35 million yuan, up 118.98% [3] - Hunan Silver's net profit for Q1 2025 was 27.98 million yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of 494.88%, and its subsidiary Baoshan Mining holds a mining right for 450,000 tons/year of lead and zinc [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue increased by 25% year over year, primarily driven by a 246% increase in NDPR sales volumes and initial sales of magnet precursor materials [16][18] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA declined by $1,500,000 year over year to negative $2,700,000, attributed to the transition to producing separated products [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS fell from negative $0.04 a year ago to negative $0.12 this year, mainly due to higher interest expense and depreciation from new assets [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The materials division achieved record NDPR oxide production of 563 metric tons, a 36% sequential increase from the previous quarter [13] - The upstream produced 12,213 metric tons of REO, up nearly 10% compared to last year's first quarter, marking the second-best quarter of production ever [18][20] - The magnetics division recorded $5,200,000 in revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA for the segment, marking a significant milestone [14][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - NDPR production volumes grew 36% sequentially and were up 330% compared to last year, with sales volumes at 464 metric tons [19][20] - Realized pricing for NDPR was approximately flat sequentially at $52 per kilogram, down 16% from last year [19][20] - The materials segment revenues increased by 14%, driven by a 246% increase in NDPR oxide sales and a 12% increase in REO realized pricing [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to accelerate the domestic rare earth magnetic supply chain in the U.S. due to geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities [6][9] - The strategy includes scaling operations and engaging with public and private partners to enhance production capabilities [9][12] - The company is transitioning from a rare earth producer to a national champion in rare earth magnetics, focusing on partnerships with key manufacturers [9][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasized the urgency of building a domestic supply chain for national security and economic resilience [6][7] - The recent geopolitical events have validated the company's strategy and positioned it for significant growth [9][40] - Management expressed confidence in achieving substantial growth and improving EBITDA margins as production scales up [21][40] Other Important Information - The company has received a $50,000,000 customer prepayment and expects to receive another $50,000,000 from 2024 tax credits [26] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $30,500,000, with a target of $150,000,000 to $175,000,000 for the year [26][27] - The company is working on separating heavy rare earths in partnership with the Department of Defense, with plans to bring the facility online next year [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide details on partnerships and capital acceleration? - Management highlighted increased discussions with industry and government partners, emphasizing the need for accelerated capital deployment to meet demand [44][50] Question: How are you managing the heavy supply chain? - The company has stockpiled sufficient heavy rare earth concentrate and is executing plans to bring its own separation facility online [52][54] Question: What are the production expectations for the second quarter? - Management expects an increase in production in Q2 compared to Q1, with further growth anticipated in Q3 [62][64] Question: How are you addressing the use of heavy rare earths in production? - The company is focused on thrifting and reducing the use of heavy rare earths while leveraging its vertical integration for recycling [66][70] Question: What are the working capital needs for the year? - The company maintains a strong balance sheet and does not foresee issues with working capital as it ramps up production [72][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue increased by 25% year over year, primarily driven by a 246% increase in NDPR sales volumes and initial sales of magnet precursor materials [16][20] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA declined by $1,500,000 year over year to negative $2,700,000 due to the transition to producing separated products [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS fell from negative $0.04 a year ago to negative $0.12 this year, primarily due to higher interest expense and lower interest income [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The materials division achieved record NDPR oxide production of 563 metric tons, a 36% sequential increase from the previous quarter [13][14] - The upstream produced 12,213 metric tons of REO, up nearly 10% compared to last year's first quarter, marking the second-best quarter of production ever [19][21] - The magnetics division recorded $5,200,000 in revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA for the segment in the quarter, marking a significant milestone [14][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - NDPR production volumes grew 36% sequentially and were up 330% compared to last year [20] - Realized pricing for NDPR was approximately flat sequentially at $52 per kilogram, down 16% from last year [20][21] - The materials segment revenues increased by 14%, driven by a 246% increase in NDPR oxide sales and a 12% increase in REO realized pricing [20][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to accelerate the domestic rare earth magnetic supply chain in the U.S. to enhance national defense and secure downstream enterprise value [5][6] - The vertically integrated model positions the company as a national champion in rare earth magnetics, serving key manufacturers across various sectors [8][12] - The company is focused on executing flawlessly for General Motors, its foundational customer, and aims to transform from a rare earth producer to a national champion [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasized the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities in global supply chains, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions [5][6] - The company is in active discussions with major stakeholders to accelerate its mission and is confident in the transformative value it can deliver [8][12] - Management expects significant year-over-year growth in upstream production and improved EBITDA margins as operations ramp up [40][41] Other Important Information - The company has received a $50,000,000 customer prepayment and anticipates additional cash from tax credits [14][28] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $30,500,000, with a target of $150,000,000 to $175,000,000 for the year [28][29] - The company is executing a project to separate heavy rare earths in partnership with the Department of Defense, expected to come online next year [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide details on partnerships and capital acceleration? - Management highlighted increased engagement with industry and government, emphasizing the urgency to accelerate operations and the potential for extraordinary returns on capital [45][50] Question: How are you managing the heavy supply chain? - Management confirmed they have sufficient material stockpiled to support the Independence facility and are executing rapidly to bring their own operations online [52][85] Question: What are your production and sales volume expectations for the second quarter? - Management expects to increase production in Q2 versus Q1 and anticipates further growth in Q3 without scheduled outages [58][59] Question: How do you view working capital needs and cash balance? - Management expressed confidence in their strong balance sheet and ample cash reserves, supported by prepayments and tax credits [70][71] Question: What is the timeline for scaling operations? - Management noted the rapid acceleration of interest in U.S. magnetics capacity and emphasized the importance of vertical integration for future growth [90][91]