Mexico Climbs to 36th Place in Fraser Institute’s Mining Ranking

Mexico rose to 36th place globally in the 2025 Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, driven by an increase in mineral potential that now leads the Latin American region. In other news, the Iran war has disrupted aluminum production in the Middle East, forcing force majeure declarations from major smelters and pushing LME prices to a four-year high of US$3,418/t, with Citi projecting a potential rise to US$4,000/t. 

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Mexico Climbs to 36th in Fraser Institute’s Mining Ranking

Mexico’s mining sector demonstrated a recovery in global investment appeal according to the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies, 2025. The country’s ranking rose to the 36th position, up from its 49th-place finish the previous year, a move primarily driven by a sharp increase in its perceived mineral potential. Despite this progress, the survey highlights that persistent challenges in policy, security, and regulation continue to act as significant deterrents for investors.

Mexico Approves Stricter Safety Standards for Coal Mines

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) approved the draft modification to regulations for underground coal mines. The approval comes four years after the collapse of a coal mine in Sabinas, Coahuila, which left ten miners trapped at the El Pinabete mine.

TMC Clears US Permit Hurdle Amid Deep-Sea Mining Debate

The Metals Company (TMC) has cleared a key regulatory hurdle in its bid to mine the Pacific Ocean floor after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deemed its application for an exploration licence and commercial recovery permit "in substantial compliance" with revised US regulations, a development that drew immediate condemnation from Greenpeace International and added pressure to ongoing international negotiations over deep-sea mining governance.

Orla Mining: A Bedrock of Success and Strategy in Mexico

Jason Simpson, President and CEO, Orla Mining, shares that Mexico remains a fundamental cornerstone of the company’s portfolio due to its prolific geology and exceptional national talent. Following a production more than double its current output, the company is transitioning the Camino Rojo operation from an open-pit mine to a high-capacity underground producer by the end of the decade.

Gold Retreats as Dollar Surges on Day 10 of Iran War

Spot gold was down 1.7% at US$5,080.9/oz, while US gold futures for April delivery fell 1.3% to US$5,089.80/oz. Among other metals, spot silver was down 0.3% at US$84.06/oz, platinum gained 0.6% to US$2,148.25/oz and palladium rose 1.4% to US$1,648/oz.

Lithium, Silver Deficits Loom Amid Mexico's Mining Constraints

Global energy and digital transitions are pushing lithium and silver into structural supply deficits, as industrial demand for EVs, solar photovoltaics, and artificial intelligence (AI) outpaces current production capacity. While Wood Mackenzie and the Silver Institute warn of a multi-billion-dollar investment gap and a looming supply shortage as early as 2028, Mexico, the world's top silver producer with significant lithium reserves, is struggling to capitalize on this critical minerals rush due to restricted state-led exploration models and limited federal funding.

Vizsla Silver Death Toll Rises to Seven in Sinaloa Abduction

Vizsla Silver has confirmed seven of the 10 workers abducted from its Panuco project in Concordia, Sinaloa, are dead, following the identification of two additional fatalities. Three employees remain unaccounted for, despite authorities announcing over a month ago that five bodies had been identified and five others were undergoing verification.

Strait of Hormuz Closure Deepens Global Aluminum Supply Crunch

The Iran war has forced smelter closures and force majeure declarations across the Middle East's aluminum industry, threatening a supply crunch in a market where global stocks are near historic lows and LME prices have hit a four-year high of US$3,418/t, with analysts at Citi warning of a potential rise to US$4,000/t if disruptions continue.