Brazil's Rare Earth Permit Surge Highlights Underused Critical Mineral Reserves

The National Mining Agency (ANM) recorded 401 research permit applications for rare earth minerals up to 8 June 2026, a volume that approaches 85% of the total requests filed in Brazil over the previous four decades. The surge follows a rapid increase that began in 2023, when applications jumped to 901, and continued with a record 1,018 filings in 2024 before easing to 655 in 2025.

A study presented at the International Critical Minerals Seminar by Ipea and ANM found that Brazil holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals, ranking second globally for graphite and rare earths. Despite this strategic endowment, domestic production has stagnated or declined between 2017 and 2023, leaving the country far behind competitors such as Australia and South Africa. The report notes that while investment in mining, exploration and capital equipment has risen since 2023, especially for lithium, copper and rare earth projects, the gap between reserve potential and actual output remains substantial.