Lynas reaches highest share price in 14 years

ASX-listed rare earths stocks have seen their share prices jump in recent weeks amidst trade tensions between the US and Chinese governments.

It comes as both nations threaten tariffs and restrictions targeting critical minerals and high-tech goods, with heightened plausibility of ex-China supply chains, involving Australian junior miners.

Lynas Rare Earths has climbed almost $7.32 in the last month to reach a share price of $21.62 on Tuesday – a new 14-year high.

Another is Arafura Rare Earths that has jumped $0.24 per share in the last month to a price of $0.42 on Tuesday.

Likewise, Iluka Resources has jumped $2.79, up almost 48 per cent in last month, to reach $8.64 per share on Monday, while St George Mining has risen $0.09, up 112.5 per cent in the same period, to a price of $0.17.

The growth in St George has stemmed from Gina Rinehart’s private company Hancock Prospecting investing $22.5 million in the company, expanding her rare earths portfolio to more than $3.5 billion across Lynas, Arafura, and Brazilian Rare Earths.

St George executive chairman John Prineas said that the $72.5 million capital raise was “with the strong support received from local and overseas institutional investors”.

“We are … very pleased that Hancock Prospecting has chosen to increase its existing shareholding in St George and emerge as a substantial shareholder,” he said.

“Hancock Prospecting is a company with significant experience in recognising the value in strategic commodities and backing successful critical minerals companies including MP Materials and Lynas Corporation – as well as having significant project execution and delivery experience for St George to leverage off in the future.”

Rinehart’s backing of St George, especially its Araxá project – a carbonate deposit similar to Lynas’ Mt Weld in WA – is fuelled stronger enthusiasm in the rare earths sector.

This, supported by the Federal Government’s $1.2 billion critical minerals strategic reserve, is positioning Australian miners for the ex-China supply chain reshuffle.