Hands off Brazil’s Niobium: Bolsonaro Sees China as Threat to Utopian Vision

A view of a niobium mining facility owned by China Molybdenum Co Ltd (CMOC) is seen in Catalao, Goias state, Brazil on Oct. 3, 2018. Jake Spring/Reuters

CATALÃO, Brazil—Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate favored to win Brazil’s presidential election this Oct. 28, has a vision for his nation’s economy: niobium.

This mineral is used as an additive to steel to make the metal stronger and lighter. Niobium is in high demand by automakers, aerospace companies and a host of other industries.