China Is Closing the Door on Heavy Rare Earth Exports for Good, NioCorp CEO Warns in Fox News Op-Ed

Rhea-AI Summary

NioCorp (NASDAQ:NB) announced that CEO Mark A. Smith authored a FoxNews.com op-ed on June 1, 2026.

Smith argues that China’s heavy rare earth export restrictions represent a permanent strategic shift, creating ongoing supply risks for U.S. industry and defense until domestic production, including NioCorp’s Elk Creek project, comes online.

News Market Reaction – NB

+6.24%

+6.24% Session close to close

In the Jun 1 session, NB gained 6.24%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

The stock moved +6.2% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Nio...

Analysis

The stock moved +6.2% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with NioCorp’s positioning in prior rare-earth and Elk Creek headlines, where favorable policy and strategic supply-chain developments often preceded gains, including a move of 18.44% on an April strategic article. However, investors have to weigh ongoing financing flexibility under the active S-3ASR shelf and recent prospectus supplements, as additional capital raises could affect per-share economics even amid constructive geopolitical tailwinds.

Key Figures

Electric vehicle price example: $40,000

1 metrics

Electric vehicle price example $40,000 Illustrative value of an electric car using dysprosium-containing magnets

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
May 05	Rare earth strategy	Positive	-2.3%	Commentary on China rare earth dominance and Western supply-chain efforts.
Apr 20	State incentives law	Positive	+2.9%	Nebraska law boosting flexibility for about $200M in tax incentives.
Apr 15	Conference participation	Neutral	-0.5%	CEO presenting Elk Creek and U.S. supply-chain themes at Maxim conference.
Apr 15	China trade weapon	Positive	+18.4%	Article highlighting rare earths as trade weapon and demand for non-Chinese supply.
Apr 09	Offtake term sheet	Positive	+1.6%	Non-binding Traxys agreement covering planned output and possible $30M equity.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent NB-linked strategic and policy headlines have more often seen price gains, with only one notable divergence on broadly positive rare-earth commentary.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, NB has been tied closely to U.S. critical minerals policy and Elk Creek development milestones. A Nebraska law supporting up to $200 million in tax incentives for Elk Creek and a non-binding Traxys offtake and potential $30 million equity agreement both coincided with positive price reactions. Broader rare-earth strategy pieces, including DFARS-related demand catalysts, also saw a strong move of 18.44%. Today’s op-ed continues the theme of U.S. supply-chain positioning amid China’s rare-earth dominance.

Key Terms

heavy rare earths, permanent magnets, samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets

3 terms

heavy rare earths technical

"China's current export restrictions on heavy rare earth exports are not a temporary..."

A group of specific rare earth elements that are heavier in atomic weight and are critical ingredients in high-tech devices—think of them as tiny, high-value spices used in strong magnets, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and some defense systems. Investors watch heavy rare earths because their supply is limited and geographically concentrated, so changes in production, trade rules, or demand can quickly affect prices and the profits of miners, manufacturers, and companies relying on these materials.

permanent magnets technical

"Heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium are essential to high-performance permanent magnets..."

Permanent magnets are materials that produce a steady magnetic field without needing electricity, like a fridge magnet that always sticks. Investors care because these magnets are key parts in electric motors, generators and sensors across industries such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and consumer electronics, so changes in their cost, availability or technology can affect manufacturing costs, product performance and company profits.

samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets technical

"These magnets, along with samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets, help steer cruise missiles..."

Samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets are tiny but extremely strong magnets made from the metals samarium and cobalt; think of them as supercharged fridge magnets used inside electric motors, generators, sensors and precision instruments. They matter to investors because their performance, supply cost and availability affect the competitiveness and manufacturing cost of technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines and consumer electronics, creating supply‑chain, price and geopolitical risks that can influence company profits and capital spending.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Beijing's Current Heavy Rare Earth Restrictions Are a Permanent Strategic Shift, Not a Temporary Bargaining Tactic, Smith Warns

Trump Administration is Moving Aggressively to Accelerate the Build-Out of Domestic Mine-to-Manufacturer Supply Chains

Industry and the Pentagon Still Face Dangerous Shortages Until the US Production Comes Online, Including NioCorp's Elk Creek Project in Nebraska

CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / June 1, 2026 / FoxNews.com today published an opinion-editorial by Mark A. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), warning that China's current export restrictions on heavy rare earth exports are not a temporary negotiating tactic but a permanent strategic decision. U.S. companies and the Pentagon face severe shortages that will not be addressed until U.S. production comes online.

The op-ed can be seen here: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/west-still-doesnt-grasp-danger-chinas-rare-earth-endgame.

In the op-ed, Mr. Smith argues that Western leaders are misreading Beijing's intentions when they treat each new export restriction as leverage to be traded away at the next summit.

"Some Western leaders keep treating each new Chinese export restriction as a bargaining chip," Mr. Smith writes. "That is the wrong way to read what is happening. China is methodically executing a long-term economic and military plan to stop shipping these materials abroad altogether."

Heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium are essential to high-performance permanent magnets that power modern jet aircraft, advanced weapons systems, and hybrid and electric vehicles. A small fraction of these elements by weight allows magnets to withstand intense heat without losing strength. These magnets, along with samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets, help steer cruise missiles, point fighter-jet radars, and drive the silent propulsion in America's submarines. For more than a decade, China has been the world's near-sole supplier but Beijing effectively shut that door to Western defense companies in April of last year.

"A kilogram of dysprosium shipped abroad as a powder earns China a few hundred dollars and employs a handful of miners," Mr. Smith writes. "The same kilogram, tucked inside the motor of an electric car, helps roll a $40,000 vehicle off a Chinese assembly line." Multiplied across the millions of vehicles, wind turbines, drones, and industrial robots China exports each year, the incentive to keep the entire mine-to-magnet-to-manufacturer chain inside its borders becomes overwhelming, a strategy Beijing laid out in its Made in China 2025 blueprint.

Against that backdrop, Mr. Smith credits the Trump Administration with moving decisively to build domestic alternatives. "President Trump clearly sees where this is headed," he writes. "His Administration is working furiously to develop mine-to-manufacturer supply chains in the U.S., including the Pentagon's early investments in the domestic scandium supply chain."

Go here to see Mr. Smith's op-ed: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/west-still-doesnt-grasp-danger-chinas-rare-earth-endgame

For more information on NioCorp and the Elk Creek Project, please visit: https://www.niocorp.com.

# # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim Sims, Chief Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com

Alex Guthrie, Director, Investor Relations, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (647) 999-0527, aguthrie@niocorp.com

@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium #ElkCreek

ABOUT NIOCORP

NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's confidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as well as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What did NioCorp (NB) announce about CEO Mark Smith’s Fox News op-ed on June 1, 2026?

NioCorp announced that CEO Mark A. Smith authored a FoxNews.com op-ed warning about China’s heavy rare earth export restrictions. According to NioCorp, the piece highlights long-term supply risks and the need for U.S. mine-to-manufacturer supply chains, including its Elk Creek project.

How does China’s heavy rare earth policy affect U.S. defense, according to NioCorp (NB)?

According to NioCorp, Mark Smith argues China is moving toward stopping heavy rare earth exports altogether, impacting Western defense supply chains. These materials are critical for permanent magnets in jet aircraft, advanced weapons systems, cruise missiles, fighter-jet radars, and submarine propulsion.

What role could NioCorp’s Elk Creek project play in U.S. rare earth supply chains?

The Elk Creek project is presented as part of future U.S. production to help address heavy rare earth and scandium shortages. According to NioCorp, domestic mine-to-manufacturer capacity, including Elk Creek, is needed before current supply risks for industry and the Pentagon can be reduced.

How does the Trump Administration’s policy feature in NioCorp (NB) CEO Mark Smith’s op-ed?

According to NioCorp, Smith credits the Trump Administration with moving aggressively to build U.S. mine-to-manufacturer supply chains. He notes efforts such as early Pentagon investments in a domestic scandium supply chain as examples of steps to counter China’s rare earth export restrictions.

Why are heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium important, as highlighted by NioCorp’s CEO?

Mark Smith explains that heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium enable permanent magnets to endure high heat without losing strength. According to NioCorp, these magnets power hybrid and electric vehicles, wind turbines, drones, industrial robots, and critical U.S. defense systems.

What strategic concern does NioCorp (NB) raise about China’s mine-to-magnet-to-manufacturer chain?

According to NioCorp, Smith argues China aims to keep the entire mine-to-magnet-to-manufacturer chain within its borders. He links this to incentives from high-value exports like electric vehicles and to policy blueprints such as Made in China 2025, reducing availability for Western buyers.