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Executive Summary Global cobalt prices have risen sharply due to constrained supply and upstream stockpiling, reflecting structural control issues rather than demand-driven scarcity. Although the Democratic Republic of Congo dominates cobalt production, control over refining, offtake, and inventory is concentrated downstream , largely under Chinese firms . U.S. policy responses such as strategic stockpiling and reshoring are necessary but insufficient, as they address avail

Executive Summary The Risk:  Critical mineral recycling has become a systemic blind spot, exposing enterprises to geopolitical, ethical, and compliance failures. The Regulatory Stake:  Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), recycled inputs are presumed non-compliant unless provenance is proven. The Strategic Opportunity:  Enterprises that build mineral-level visibility now can de-risk opera tions, unlock compliant circularity, and gain a structural advantage be

Earlier this month, China stopped approving rare earth export licenses to Japan. There was no formal announcement, but the impact was immediate. Japanese companies supplying automakers, semiconductor manufacturers, and defense firms began feeling the strain almost at once. According to The Wall Street Journal , the move followed political tensions over Taiwan, reinforcing how critical minerals are now used as instruments of economic leverage rather than neutral trade inputs.

A New Phase of Supply Chain Exposure for U.S. Industry The years following 2025 mark a structural turning point for global mineral systems. Electrification, advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and defense modernization are expanding simultaneously, creating sustained pressure on materials the United States does not meaningfully control. The challenge now extends beyond mining. Refining, magnet manufacturing, and recycling capacity have become the most significant const

A recent article published in Bloomberg  vividly described the devastation experienced in Asheville, North Carolina, after storm Helene ripped through the region. The article also shows how disaster related companies have outperformed the S&P.     The process of recovery and rebuilding of communities and infrastructure from major climate events requires financing, and Adaptation Financing can play a major role.    What is Adaptation Financing     Adaptation finance refers to

The global race for critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) has moved from intentions to strategic commitments.  In October 2025, the United States locked in two landmark agreements that will reshape material sourcing for every U.S. manufacturer, from EVs and batteries to semiconductors, defense systems, and clean energy.  New US Allied Mineral Frameworks   U.S.A & Japan Framework for Securing Critical Minerals and Rare Earths   The new framework commits both nations

What Are Critical Minerals? Critical minerals are essential materials for modern technologies. They play a vital role in electric vehicles, smartphones, renewable energy, and defense systems. Key examples include cobalt, lithium, nickel, and graphite, which are crucial for batteries and semiconductors. A special subset of these minerals is the rare earth elements (REEs). This group includes neodymium, dysprosium, and europium. These elements enable powerful magnets, lasers,

Executive Summary  Artificial Intelligence is entering into every area of business and our daily lives.  Enterprises are adopting Agentic AI, where autonomous systems can plan, reason, and act across complex business processes.  For manufacturers and supply chain leaders, this represents an opportunity to design resilient, adaptive, and sustainable US sourced supply chains and manufacturing operations. But here’s the reality: AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it. 

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping global economies at a staggering pace. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of AI “Giga Factories” , these massive data centers are required to train and power generative AI models. But as demand for compute & storage soars, the physical infrastructure supporting these systems is under unprecedented strain.  At the 2025 ISI Annual Conference , thought leaders from across engineering, climate risk, and AI-enabled software innovatio