Long Road Ahead Before Australia Can Challenge China for Rare Earths Dominance: Miner

‘I don’t think this is something that one country, one company can do,’ says a representative from a critical minerals miner.

Attendees gather around an Ioniq electric vehicle cut in half made by South Korean automaker Hyundai on display on the second media day at the Beijing International Auto Exhibition in China on April 25, 2026. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Major hurdles stand in the way for Australia to create an alternative critical mineral supply chain to China, one mining company says.

Australian Strategic Minerals (ASM) says despite the country’s vast mineral reserves, transforming it into operating mines with processing facilities will need to overcome challenges like infrastructure gaps, complex approvals processes, and skills shortages.