The MMTA minor metals conference 2026 opens on 21 April at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, Canada, with a programme built around one of the most contentious questions in commodity markets: how China’s export controls on gallium, germanium, tungsten, and antimony are redrawing the map of global critical mineral supply. The full three-day agenda — confirmed by organiser Metal Events Ltd — spans trade policy, technology metals pricing, defence supply chains, and high-purity metal production, with speakers drawn from Chinese producers, Western traders, and academic geopolitics experts.
For the session-by-session breakdown of what each speaker will cover and who should be in the room, read on. For background on the conference and why Vancouver 2026 is the most geopolitically significant MMTA event in recent memory, see our MMTA Conference 2026 Preview.
MMTA Minor Metals Conference 2026 — Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21–23 April 2026 (pre-conference events from 20 April) |
| Venue | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver, Canada |
| Organiser | Metal Events Ltd — Rachel Carnac, Co-Founder & Joint MD |
| Theme | “How minor metals are defining a new world order” |
| Expected attendance | 300+ (Lisbon 2025 exceeded 300) |
| Registration | £1,300 (members) / higher for non-members |
| Event website | metalevents.com |
Pre-conference activity on Monday 20 April includes a Golf Tournament sponsored by ICD Group and a Margarita Cocktail Party sponsored by IMS Metals & Alloys. Registration opens Tuesday 21 April at 17:00, followed by a Welcome Reception from 18:00 to 20:00, sponsored by CCMA LLC.
Wednesday 22 April — Full Conference Agenda
The main conference day runs from 09:00 at the Hyatt Regency. Three formal sessions cover trade and tariffs, metals market dynamics, and a geopolitical panel, with a Gala Dinner in the evening.
Session 1: Trade, Tariffs & Minor Metals in a Changing World Order
Rachel Carnac of Metal Events Ltd opens proceedings at 09:45, followed by a welcome address at 09:50 from Stephen Hall, Chair of the MMTA and Managing Director of Advanced Alloy Services Ltd (Sheffield, UK).
At 10:00, Thomas Feldmann, Corporate Development Director at 5N Plus (Canada), presents “Criticality + Instability = Opportunity (?)” — a session expected to address how supply chain disruption is creating commercial openings for Western producers of high-purity specialty metals.
At 10:30, Jan Giese, Senior Manager Minor Metals & REE Sales at Tradium GmbH (Germany), presents “The impact of geopolitics on minor metals” — covering how Chinese export licensing regimes have affected physical trading flows in gallium, germanium, and related elements.
Session 2: Minor Metals at a Crossroads
At 11:30, Theo D. Ruas, Global Sales Manager Metals & Compounds at Indium Corporation (USA), presents an indium market outlook. Indium demand is driven by transparent conductive films for displays and solar cells; Western supply remains heavily dependent on Chinese and South Korean refining capacity.
At 12:00, Mandy Yin, Product Director at Zhuzhou Keneng New Material Co., Ltd. (China), presents “High purity Indium and Gallium: critical metal materials, market situation.” A Chinese producer addressing the supply of two export-controlled metals at a Western trade forum is an unusual dynamic. For current price data on these elements, see the indium price tracker and gallium price tracker on our sister site rare-earth-mining.com.
At 12:30, Grace Asimov, Market Editor at Fastmarkets (USA), presents “Shifting dynamics in antimony: how supply, demand and geopolitics are redefining the market landscape.” China imposed antimony export controls in late 2024; this session is among the first structured industry forums to address the consequences for pricing and supply allocation.
Luncheon runs from 13:00 to 14:30, sponsored by Titan International (NYSE: TWI).
Session 3: Panel — Trade, Technology and Defence
The afternoon panel, running 14:30 to 15:30, is titled “How are minor metals defining a new world order? Trade, Technology and Defence.”
David S. Abraham, Affiliate Professor at Boise State University (USA) and author of The Elements of Power, joins the panel alongside Ian Margerison, Executive Marketing Manager at the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (TIC), Belgium.
Evening Programme
Pre-Dinner Drinks run from 17:30 to 18:30, sponsored by Advanced Alloy Services Ltd. The Gala Dinner follows from 18:30 to 21:00, co-sponsored by ICD Group and Donald McArthy Alloy Processors (DMT).
Thursday 23 April — Day Two Sessions
At 09:30, Dr Jinghui Wu, CEO of Ningbo Chuangrun New Materials (China), presents “Developments in high purity metal: titanium, cobalt, niobium, and tantalum.” The session covers high-purity production across four metals with distinct supply chain profiles — cobalt is primarily sourced from the DRC, while niobium supply is dominated by Brazil.
At 10:00, Will Parry-Jones of Wolfram Advisory (UK) presents “Wolfram Wars: tungsten and the scarcity trap.” China controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production; the session title signals a direct engagement with the strategic implications of that concentration.
A Barista Coffee Break sponsored by Exotech follows at 10:30.
At 11:45, Argus Media (USA) presents “Critical materials in automotive” — covering how evolving powertrain technology and lightweighting requirements are shaping demand across a range of technology metals.
Speakers to Watch at the MMTA Minor Metals Conference 2026
Grace Asimov, Fastmarkets — The antimony session arrives at a commercially critical moment. China’s export controls imposed in late 2024 caught Western buyers with limited strategic reserves and few near-term alternative sources. Asimov’s session will be the first structured pricing-agency analysis of the resulting market dislocation at a major industry forum.
Will Parry-Jones, Wolfram Advisory — Tungsten sits at the intersection of defence procurement, cutting-tool manufacturing, and Chinese industrial policy. “Wolfram Wars” is a deliberately provocative framing; the session will address what Western buyers and traders can realistically do given China’s dominant position across mining and processing.
David S. Abraham, Boise State University — Abraham’s 2015 book The Elements of Power mapped the geopolitical stakes of technology metal supply chains before most policymakers were paying attention. His presence on the panel signals that the Vancouver programme intends to engage seriously with the defence and strategic policy dimensions of minor metals — not just the commercial ones.
Mandy Yin, Zhuzhou Keneng — A Chinese producer presenting on indium and gallium supply at a Western-organised minor metals conference carries inherent editorial weight given the ongoing export restriction regime. Whether her session reads as commercial outreach or genuine market transparency briefing will be one of the more interesting dynamics of the day.
Sponsors and What They Signal
The sponsor list at the MMTA minor metals conference is a reliable proxy for who holds confirmed marketing budget in the technology metals and superalloy sectors. Advanced Alloy Services Ltd (Pre-Dinner Drinks), ICD Group (Golf Tournament and Gala Dinner co-sponsor), and Donald McArthy Alloy Processors (Gala Dinner co-sponsor) account for three of the four highest-visibility placements. Titan International (NYSE: TWI), sponsoring the Luncheon, is the largest listed company among the sponsors. Exotech takes multiple Barista Coffee Break slots — recurring small-format sponsorship that indicates sustained marketing commitment rather than one-off budget. The collective profile points to a conference where commercial relationships, not just content, are the primary draw.
Registration and Coverage
Registration for the MMTA minor metals conference 2026 is open via metalevents.com. Member registration is priced at £1,300; non-member rates are higher. The conference runs 21–23 April 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver.
Critical Minerals News will be covering the MMTA minor metals conference across all three days, including a post-event takeaways article. For the full 2026 critical minerals conference calendar, see our Critical Minerals Events 2026 guide.
When and where is the MMTA minor metals conference 2026?
The MMTA minor metals conference 2026 takes place 21–23 April 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver, Canada. Pre-conference events including a Golf Tournament and Cocktail Party run on Monday 20 April.
Who is speaking at the MMTA minor metals conference 2026?
Confirmed speakers include Thomas Feldmann (5N Plus, Canada), Jan Giese (Tradium GmbH, Germany), Theo D. Ruas (Indium Corporation, USA), Grace Asimov (Fastmarkets, USA), Will Parry-Jones (Wolfram Advisory, UK), Dr Jinghui Wu (Ningbo Chuangrun New Materials, China), and David S. Abraham (Boise State University, USA). Stephen Hall, MMTA Chair and MD of Advanced Alloy Services, delivers the opening welcome address.
What topics are covered at the MMTA minor metals conference 2026?
Sessions cover trade tariffs and geopolitics in minor metals, indium and gallium supply dynamics, antimony market disruption following China’s 2024 export controls, tungsten supply concentration, high-purity metal production, and critical materials in automotive. An afternoon panel addresses the strategic intersection of minor metals with trade, technology, and defence.
How do I register for the MMTA conference in Vancouver?
Registration is available at metalevents.com. Member registration is priced at £1,300; non-member rates are higher. Contact Metal Events Ltd for group or non-member enquiries.
What other critical minerals conferences are taking place in 2026?
A full calendar of 2026 critical minerals events — including Fastmarkets Global Lithium, Battery & Critical Materials (Las Vegas, June) and Raw Materials Week (Brussels, November) — is available on our Critical Minerals Events 2026 page at /critical-minerals-events/.
