Nov. 10, 2025Marubeni Corporation
Marubeni has entered into an agreement with RZ Resources Limited (hereinafter, “RZ”) to make an investment and collaborate with RZ to advance RZ’s 100%-owned mineral sands mine development project in New South Wales, Australia and its existing mineral separation and processing plant in Brisbane, Queensland (hereinafter, the “Project”), with options for future equity participation and certain marketing rights (hereinafter, the “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, Marubeni will contribute AUD 15 million and can obtain an equity interest of up to 5% in total.
Project CharacteristicsThe Project will produce heavy mineral sands products such as rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite from a mineral sands deposit*1 for supply to sectors including aerospace, defense, and the permanent magnets industry*2. In June 2025, JX Advanced Metals Corporation (hereinafter, “JX”) joined RZ as a strategic partner. Marubeni, RZ, and JX will jointly advance the Project, including in respect to the development of the Copi Mine, upgrades to RZ’s existing mineral separation plant, and enhancements to RZ’s definitive feasibility study and Environmental Impact Statement, among other workstreams.
Background and SignificanceAmid rising geopolitical risks, securing stable supplies of critical minerals and rare earths has become a global challenge. Demand for titanium—classified as a critical mineral—is expected to grow steadily alongside the expansion of the aerospace and defense industries, while rare earth demand is increasing due to permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Japan relies on imports for nearly all of its critical minerals and rare earths, and supply chains for rare earths in particular are concentrated in certain countries, making diversification of supply sources an urgent priority. Located in geopolitically stable Australia and large in scale among undeveloped mineral sands deposits, the Project is expected to play an important role in strengthening Japan’s economic security. In addition, the Project has received a letter of interest for financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and a non-binding and conditional letter of support from Export Finance Australia.
Future OutlookThrough this Project, Marubeni will work towards the stable supply of critical minerals and rare earths. Looking ahead, Marubeni aims to expand into midstream and downstream areas to build an integrated supply chain and deliver added value in growth fields.
*1: Mineral sands are deposits of economically valuable minerals accumulated by weathering and erosion along coastlines, river mouths, and dunes. Major producers include Australia, India, South Africa, and Brazil.*2: Rutile and ilmenite are feedstocks for titanium metal; zircon is a feedstock for zirconium; monazite contains rare earths used in permanent magnets.
RZ Overview
JX Overview
