Rare earth and critical minerals names are ripping higher after a report that President Donald Trump is preparing to launch a $12 billion initiative to stockpile key materials. The plan, reportedly called “Project Vault,” is being compared to a Strategic Petroleum Reserve but for minerals like gallium, cobalt, and lanthanum that are essential to tech, defense, and clean energy supply chains.
Digging for Security
Stocks tied to domestic supply are catching a strong bid, including MP Materials, USA Rare Earth, Critical Metals, NioCorp Developments, and United States Antimony Corporation. The move highlights how sensitive these names are to policy shifts aimed at reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
How Project Vault Would Work
Under the reported structure, manufacturers would commit in advance to buying certain minerals and pay upfront fees. Project Vault would then procure and store those materials, charging carrying costs tied to financing and storage. Companies could draw down their stockpiles as long as they replenish them, and in the event of a major supply disruption, they would be able to access their full reserves.
The initiative is designed to secure domestic access to minerals heavily dominated by China’s production and processing ecosystem. Major industrial players such as Google, General Motors, and GE Vernova are reportedly involved, underscoring how critical these materials are for everything from EVs and semiconductors to grid equipment and advanced manufacturing.