Brazil rare earth permit surge raises Amazon environmental concerns
Brazil has emerged as a focal point in the global race for rare earth minerals, with foreign-backed companies driving a sharp surge in exploration applications, according to a joint analysis of mining permits by The Associated Press and Reporter Brasil.
The review examined National Mining Agency records through June. Of Brazil’s 2,727 overall rare earth exploration applications, 42% were made by subsidiaries of foreign mining companies or firms with foreign ownership stakes, the analysis found. Eleven of the 20 companies with the largest number of applications are backed by foreign investment, mostly from Australia, the United States and Canada.
The pace of the recent expansion is notable. More than 86% of all rare earth exploration applications were filed in the past three years, including 268 in the first half of 2026 alone. The acceleration has intensified environmental concerns about the Amazon and other ecologically sensitive regions.
Brazil’s reserves rank second only to China’s, the joint analysis found, positioning the country as a potential alternative source of minerals essential to electronics, magnets, batteries, wind turbines and electric vehicle motors. Rare earth minerals are a group of chemicals used in digital and defense technologies and are considered critical to the global transition away from fossil fuels.
The International Energy Agency estimated in 2022 that demand for rare earths could increase at least threefold by 2040, driven in part by the energy transition. The shift toward Brazil comes as the United States and Australia seek alternatives to China’s dominance in rare earth supply.
The mining rush has drawn scrutiny from environmental groups concerned about the impact on the Amazon rainforest and other ecosystems. Researchers named in the AP coverage of the permitting surge include Robert Muggah, Leonardo Durans and Julio Nery. Sophie Davies is among the analysts cited.
The coverage also names several companies pursuing permits in Brazil’s rare earth sector, including USA Rare Earth, Inc., Aclara Resources, Inc. and Atlas Lithium Corp.