TLDR
- MP Materials stock climbed 11% in premarket trading Monday after China imposed new approval requirements for rare-earth mineral exports.
- The stock hit a record high of $78.34 on Friday and has gained over 400% in 2025, marking the company’s best year on record.
- China controls approximately 85% of global rare-earth refining capacity and implemented export restrictions earlier in 2025 during trade disputes.
- The Defense Department invested in MP Materials to ensure domestic supply of critical materials used in electric vehicles and military equipment.
- President Trump said the U.S. would retaliate against China’s controls but later posted that the situation “will be fine.”
MP Materials stock surged 11% to $87.05 in premarket trading Monday morning. The rally extended gains from Friday when the stock closed at an all-time high of $78.34.
China’s Commerce Ministry announced Thursday that foreign suppliers need government approval to export products containing certain rare-earth minerals. The new requirements triggered a buying wave across the rare-earth mining sector.
USA Rare Earth stock jumped 23% in premarket trading while Ramaco Resources gained 5.9%. Albemarle, which primarily mines lithium, rose 6.2% on the news.
President Trump responded Friday by announcing the U.S. would retaliate against China’s export controls. His comments added fuel to the rally already underway in rare-earth mining stocks.
Why MP Materials Matters
MP Materials operates as the largest rare-earth producer in the Western Hemisphere. The company’s Mountain Pass facility produces neodymium and praseodymium oxides.
These materials serve as essential components in high-strength magnets. The magnets appear in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and F-35 fighter jets.
China maintains control over roughly 85% of global rare-earth refining capacity. This dominance gives Beijing substantial influence over global supply chains for critical materials.
The country first restricted rare-earth exports earlier in 2025 as trade tensions with the U.S. escalated. Those initial restrictions prompted concerns about supply security for American manufacturers and defense contractors.
The Defense Department responded by investing in MP Materials. The investment aims to secure domestic access to rare-earth materials for military applications and critical infrastructure.
Stock Performance and Market Reaction
MP Materials shares have soared more than 400% in 2025. The performance puts the stock on track for its best year ever, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday evening attempting to calm trade fears. He wrote “Don’t worry about China, it will be fine” and noted President Xi “doesn’t want Depression for his country.”
Broader market futures responded positively to Trump’s comments. S&P 500 futures gained 1.1% while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.8%.
The rare-earth rally continued Monday morning despite the reassuring words. MP Materials led sector gains in premarket trading ahead of the regular session.
Friday’s session saw MP Materials climb 8.7%. That jump established the previous record close before Monday’s premarket advance.
Current Trading Metrics
MP Materials carries a current market cap of $13.87 billion. Average daily trading volume reaches 15.5 million shares.
Technical indicators show a buy signal for the stock. Analysts maintain a positive outlook with Buy ratings citing favorable growth prospects.
The year-to-date price performance shows a 377.97% gain. TipRanks data highlights upside potential based on current market conditions and analyst forecasts.
MP Materials opened Monday’s premarket session at $87.05, extending momentum from China’s export control announcement and Trump’s Friday retaliation comments.
