Democrats have built their own critical-minerals agenda. A 2026 midterm shift may change deal structures and oversight—not the strategic push to cut China
Company Profile
Korea Zinc
Overview
About Korea Zinc
Korea Zinc Company, Ltd. is a non-ferrous metal smelting and refining company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, and listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX) under ticker 010130. The company processes zinc and lead concentrates sourced from mines worldwide to produce zinc, lead, gold, silver and a range of rare and strategic metals, and is South Korea’s sole producer of indium, bismuth and tellurium, also supplying antimony and other rare metals. Korea Zinc has expanded into nickel sulfate for batteries and copper, and aims to add rare-earth recycling. In 2026 the company advanced a partnership with the U.S. government to build a multibillion-dollar strategic-minerals smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee. It is led by Chairman and CEO Yun B. Choi.
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REEx Intelligence
Recent Articles
Korea Zinc targets rare earth recycling leadership, but Project Crucible's $7.4B plan covers no REE output yet. Here's what investors need to watch.
Congressional scrutiny of federal equity stakes in MP Materials, Vulcan Elements, and others is turning political risk into a new variable for
China controls the conversion layer across 20 critical minerals. REEx ranks U.S. vulnerabilities from gallium to platinum—and why mining alone won't fix it.
Korea Zinc's $7.4B Project Crucible in Tennessee aims to become a global critical minerals hub, with phased production starting 2029 backed by CHIPS Act
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China's export controls on gallium and germanium exposed Western vulnerabilities. Learn why refining capacity—not mining—is the decisive strategic advantage.
Phoenix Tailings' $500M federal commitment for its Freedom Facility signals real rare earth progress, but separation tech and feedstock supply remain key
UK startup DEScycle secures €10M to advance distributed metals recovery using Deep Eutectic Solvents, challenging centralized smelting with micro-refinery
U.S. states, counties, and universities are racing to build mine-to-magnet supply chains, creating a decentralized but competitive critical minerals ecosystem.
China tightens germanium supply chain dominance with Yunnan Lincang's 75-ton expansion while U.S. import reliance exceeds 50% amid rising prices.
China dominates the strategic germanium market through processing control & export licensing while the US relies on imports with 50%+ dependence.
China controls 98% of gallium production while U.S. defense systems depend on grams of gallium and germanium amid a global supply crisis.
Data center recycling could recover rare earths from old servers, but supply chains still depend on mines and Chinese separation plants.
The UN's International Seabed Authority debates deep-sea mining regulations in Jamaica, determining the future of ocean floor mineral extraction.
White House critical minerals czar David Copley outlines new U.S. industrial policy: invest, stockpile, protect miners, rebuild capacity.
Korea Zinc & Alta partner on 100-tpa rare earth magnet recycling facility in US, targeting 2027 operations to reduce China supply dependence.
U.S. takes equity stakes in critical minerals supply chain projects while Energy Fuels achieves first domestic heavy REE milestone for magnets.
Trump admin takes equity stakes in U.S. mining firms to break China's critical minerals supply chain dominance. But can policy intent match output?
USA Rare Earth (USAR) shares dropped 12% as Biden administration backed Korea Zinc instead, raising questions about federal supply chain strategy.
Korea Zinc secures $1.25B from U.S. OSC as part of Pax Silica alliance to decouple critical minerals processing from China.
