US Invests Over $1 Billion in Latin American Critical Minerals Since 2025
US Minerals Push
US invests $1B+ in Latin American critical minerals
Funding surge for lithium, copper, rare earths since
Aims to secure supply chains for energy, national
Stock video by Leolo212 via Pixabay
Mar 12, 2026

US Invests Over $1 Billion in Latin American Critical Minerals Since 2025

According to a report by White & Case, the United States has directed more than one billion dollars into critical minerals investments across Latin America since the start of last year. This spending surge under the current administration signals a more assertive effort to secure supplies of lithium, copper, and rare earths.

The strategic push centers on Latin America, which holds a large portion of global lithium reserves. Brazil and Argentina have become focal points for development, driven by their vast reserves and rising foreign investment. Brazil possesses the world's second-largest rare earth reserves, while Argentina hosts the largest number of lithium projects in the region.

US agencies and multilateral lenders are showing direct interest in projects through loans, equity stakes, and structured agreements. For instance, the Inter-American Development Bank approved a significant loan for a lithium project in Argentina, and the US Development Finance Corporation is considering a major investment to expand rare earth operations in Brazil.

Market conditions for lithium have improved recently, with prices rebounding in early 2026. Argentina has implemented a new incentive regime to attract large investments, and one company has already been approved under this framework for a multi-billion dollar lithium project. The country's lithium output capacity has increased substantially since 2023.

Beyond energy transition goals, critical minerals are now treated as matters of national and energy security, with defense and advanced technology sectors driving demand for secure supplies. This shift is influencing mining transactions and regulatory approvals globally.

While US investment accelerates development, Latin American governments continue to balance interests between Washington and Beijing, as Chinese companies remain dominant in mineral processing. Governments in the region are focused on building domestic processing capacity to capture more value from their resources.

Copper is expected to remain the primary driver of mining investment across the region, with major projects advancing in Chile and Argentina. Political risk, community engagement, and domestic policy changes continue to shape the investment landscape and project timelines.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. 11.1
      United States
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    2. 11.2
      China
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    3. 11.3
      Japan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    4. 11.4
      Germany
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    5. 11.5
      United Kingdom
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    6. 11.6
      France
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    7. 11.7
      Brazil
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    8. 11.8
      Italy
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    9. 11.9
      Russian Federation
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    10. 11.10
      India
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    11. 11.11
      Canada
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    12. 11.12
      Australia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    13. 11.13
      Republic of Korea
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    14. 11.14
      Spain
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    15. 11.15
      Mexico
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    16. 11.16
      Indonesia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    17. 11.17
      Netherlands
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    18. 11.18
      Turkey
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    19. 11.19
      Saudi Arabia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    20. 11.20
      Switzerland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    21. 11.21
      Sweden
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    22. 11.22
      Nigeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    23. 11.23
      Poland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    24. 11.24
      Belgium
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    25. 11.25
      Argentina
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    26. 11.26
      Norway
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    27. 11.27
      Austria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    28. 11.28
      Thailand
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    29. 11.29
      United Arab Emirates
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    30. 11.30
      Colombia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    31. 11.31
      Denmark
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    32. 11.32
      South Africa
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    33. 11.33
      Malaysia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    34. 11.34
      Israel
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    35. 11.35
      Singapore
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    36. 11.36
      Egypt
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    37. 11.37
      Philippines
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    38. 11.38
      Finland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    39. 11.39
      Chile
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    40. 11.40
      Ireland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    41. 11.41
      Pakistan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    42. 11.42
      Greece
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    43. 11.43
      Portugal
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    44. 11.44
      Kazakhstan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    45. 11.45
      Algeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    46. 11.46
      Czech Republic
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    47. 11.47
      Qatar
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    48. 11.48
      Peru
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    49. 11.49
      Romania
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    50. 11.50
      Vietnam
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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