Foreign entities hold 42% of all rare earth mineral exploration permits in Brazil, according to an investigation by Repórter Brasil and the Associated Press published in August 2026. Driven by export restrictions from China, Western nations including Australia, the United States, and Canada are actively aggressively securing reserves essential for high-tech manufacturing.
The Bottom Line
Foreign Dominance: International corporations control 42% of Brazil’s rare earth exploration requests, dominating 31 of the 45 most advanced projects in operation or pre-operation.
Geopolitical Capital: The United States and Australia are deploying heavy public and private financing to decouple supply chains from Chinese market control.
Regulatory Headwinds: Rapidly advancing mining policy reforms and loosened environmental licensing frameworks have triggered fierce pushback from environmentalists and traditional communities.
Capital Inflows and Geopolitical Realignment in Goiás
The race for rare earth deposits has shifted from theoretical geological surveys to aggressive balance-sheet deployment. Earlier this year, the Serra Verde mining operation located in Goiás received financiamento público de US$ 565 milhões dos EUA. Shortly after, the asset was acquired by USA Rare Earth comprada por US$ 2,8 bilhões (cerca de R$ 14 bilhões).
Here is the math behind the corporate structure: USA Rare Earth counts the United States government as a minority shareholder. This equity stake followed a aporte de US$ 1,6 bilhão delivered by the administration of Donald Trump. Serra Verde remains uniquely positioned as the sole commercial producer outside of Asia capable of extracting all four magnetic rare earth elements: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.
These four elements serve as the physical foundation for the automotive, medical, renewable energy, electronics, robotics, defense, and aerospace sectors. To lock down processing capabilities, USA Rare Earth announced an agreement in July to acquire a stake in France-based Carester. Under the terms of the deal, Serra Verde acts as the raw material supplier while gaining direct access to French separation technology.
Mapping the Foreign Footprint Across ANM Records
Data from the National Mining Agency (ANM) reveals an unprecedented rush for concessions. Out of 2,727 active exploration requests filed through June 2026, roughly 86% were submitted between 2023 and the present. While foreign-linked entities account for only 12% of individual titleholders, their corporate weight is concentrated in scale, controlling nearly half of all active applications.
Australia leads the foreign contingent with 695 mining requests. A significant share of this activity is driven by Borborema Recursos Minerais, a subsidiary of Brazilian Rare Earths Pty Ltd (ASX: BRE) based in Sydney. According to Robert Muggah, co-founder of the Instituto Igarapé, Australian firms are staking claims early to build alternative supply corridors.
“Australian companies are positioning themselves early. They bring geological knowledge, capital, willingness to take risks and credibility with Western governments seeking alternatives to Chinese supply,” Muggah noted in the investigation by Repórter Brasil and the Associated Press.
| Metric / Entity | Data Point | Strategic Context |
|---|---|---|
| Total ANM Requests (June 2026) | 2,727 applications | 86% filed since 2023 |
| Foreign-Held Permits | 42% of total requests | Dominated by Australia, US, and Canada |
| Advanced Projects Controlled | 31 of 45 projects | Includes assets in operation or pre-operation |
| Serra Verde Acquisition Value | Acquired by USA Rare Earth | Acquired by USA Rare Earth in 2026 |
Vulnerability in the Exploration Funnel
Despite the high volume of filings, translating a mining request into a commercial balance sheet is statistically difficult. Julio Nery, director of mining affairs at the Ibram (Brazilian Mining Institute), points out the steep attrition rate inherent to the sector.
“Out of every thousand potential occurrences of rare earths, only a hundred projects justify drilling and survey work,” Nery explained. “Of those hundred, you end up with only two good projects. The success rate is not very high.”
Chinese operators are also monitoring the landscape. While Chinese firms held no direct requests for rare earths in Brazil through June, enterprises such as Mineração Taboca and Shenghe Resources Holding have expressed active interest in investigating potential deposits.
Environmental Pressures and Legislative Shifts
The rush to extract critical minerals has collided directly with environmental and social compliance frameworks. Data from the Observatório da Transição Energética—a data journalism initiative involving Repórter Brasil, Inesc, and the research group PoEMAS—indicates that rare earth mining requests overlap with or sit within 10 kilometers of 283 protected areas, including indigenous territories and quilombola lands.
Critiques from civil society focus heavily on regulatory changes. In May, the Chamber of Deputies advanced a federal policy framework for critical minerals alongside revisions to the Environmental Licensing Act. These adjustments alter protected buffer zones around mining sites and accelerate approvals for projects deemed nationally strategic.
