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Search our knowledge base or browse categories below to find answers to common questions about the platform.

Quick Start Essentials

New to PCMP? Start here. These are the most common questions from prospective members evaluating our platform.

We offer two tiers:
  • Professional ($250/seat/month): mineral prices & forecasts, corporate directory access, weekly market briefings, email support
  • Alliance ($500/seat/month): Everything in Professional + B2B Mineral Marketplace access, verified directory profile, post & respond to B2B opportunities (confidential & secure), priority support, team management. Volume discount: $250/seat/month after the first 5 members
All new members receive a 14-day free trial. Sign up and explore the platform before your first billing cycle begins.
All PCMP prices are calculated using a weighted average methodology, sourced directly from global producers of rare earth and mineral products. Data inputs include product specifications, minimum order quantities, production and factory output, and the latest pricing information from each producer.
  • Weighting Factors: Each producer's data is weighted by production volume, market share, and a data recency score, so that larger, more current data points have greater influence on the final price.
  • Expert Review: Our analysts review AI-processed results to identify and remove anomalies before publication. Hard data is used throughout — not subjective judgement calls.
Each price point reflects this consistent, rules-based process applied uniformly across all minerals covered on the platform.
No, we don't offer single-commodity subscriptions. Here's why:
  • Interconnected Markets: Critical minerals are deeply linked. Lithium prices affect nickel substitution decisions. Cobalt shortages drive manganese demand. REE market dynamics impact the entire supply chain.
  • Strategic Value: Our members tell us that cross-commodity insights are often more valuable than single-mineral tracking. Seeing the full landscape helps identify risks and opportunities.
  • Platform Design: Tools like the Impact Matrix, corporate directory, and Mineral Marketplace only make sense with comprehensive coverage.
That said, you can customise your dashboard to focus on your minerals of interest, set alerts only for those commodities, and filter exports to specific minerals. You're paying for full access but can personalise your view.
All tiers include:
  • Pricing Dashboard: Real-time and historical price data for all minerals with interactive charts
  • Corporate Directory: 6,000+ verified companies with financial metrics, supply chain roles
  • Supply Chain: Map participants across global jurisdictions for critical minerals
  • Impact Matrix: See which minerals are used in which applications (EVs, semiconductors, defence, etc.) with Dual-Use classification
  • News Feed: Curated critical minerals industry news
Professional & Alliance add:
  • Price Forecasts: Projections to 2050 with scenario analysis
  • Advanced Filters: Search by region, grade, certification
  • Export Tools: Download data as CSV, Excel, PDF
  • Mineral Marketplace (view only): Browse active buy/sell/partnership notices posted by Alliance members
Alliance also includes:
  • Mineral Marketplace (full access): Post buy/sell/partnership notices, connect with verified buyers/sellers, respond to opportunities
  • Secure Messaging: Encrypted negotiations with supply chain partners (AES-256 encryption)
  • API Access: Programmatic data integration
  • Team Management: Multi-user access with role-based permissions
Global supply chain coverage with expanding delivery network:

Core Markets:
  • Australia: Comprehensive coverage of mines, explorers, processors (our home market)
  • North America: US, Canada, Mexico (IRA-compliant sourcing focus)
  • Europe: EU member states, UK, Norway (CRM Act tracking)
  • Asia-Pacific: Major consumption centres including China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia
  • South America: Chile, Argentina, Brazil (lithium triangle emphasis)
  • Africa: Key producing regions including DRC, South Africa, Southern Africa corridor
Pricing Coverage:
We track FOB pricing from major export hubs and delivered (CIF) pricing to key consumption centres globally. Our shipping calculator covers major ports across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, with additional routes being added regularly as demand grows.

Expanding Network:
We continuously add new origin ports and destination routes based on member demand and emerging supply chain corridors.
Yes — all new members receive a 14-day free trial. During your trial you have full access to your chosen membership tier, so you can evaluate the platform's data, tools, and workflows before your first billing cycle begins.

PCMP is the only platform purpose-built for critical minerals with an integrated B2B marketplace. While Bloomberg, Refinitiv, Fastmarkets, Argus, S&P Global, and Benchmark Minerals excel at market data and benchmarks, they don't combine critical-mineral-only coverage with tools to actually find and transact with counterparties.

Our unique advantages:

Comprehensive Data Coverage

  • 60 critical minerals tracked using both transaction-based and assessed pricing, giving visibility across liquid and illiquid markets
  • Pricing data directly connected to a verified directory of 6,000+ active supply chain participants
  • Impact Matrix with Dual-Use classification for trade compliance and sustainability data for sustainable sourcing
  • Price forecasts to 2050 with scenario analysis for long-term planning and feasibility studies

Integrated B2B Marketplace

  • Alliance members can post buy/sell/partnership notices and connect directly with verified companies
  • Secure encrypted messaging (AES-256 encryption) for private negotiations
  • Clear volume without triggering public market volatility or price slippage

Strategic Market Position

  • Deep Australian project coverage with detailed visibility on mines, explorers, and processors in our home market
  • Accessible price point ($250-500 per seat/month) vs. large enterprise data contracts
  • Purpose-built for organisations seeking non-China supply chains and regulatory alignment
PCMP serves diverse users across the critical minerals value chain:
  • Mining Companies & Explorers: Track competitor pricing, identify offtake partners, monitor demand signals from end-users
  • OEMs & Battery Manufacturers: Secure supply, benchmark supplier pricing, explore alternative sources (especially non-China)
  • Traders & Brokers: Real-time pricing for deal-making, Mineral Marketplace for matching buyers/sellers, API for systems integration
  • Investors & Analysts: Valuation models, supply/demand forecasts, sustainability screening, production pipeline tracking
  • Government & Policy: Strategic stockpile planning, track compliance (IRA, CRM Act), monitor supply chain resilience
  • Consultants: Client reports, due diligence research, market entry analysis, risk assessments
  • Refiners & Processors: Feedstock sourcing, price hedging intelligence, identifying toll processing opportunities
Not ideal for: Retail investors seeking trading signals, academic researchers (we offer separate institutional licences), companies focused solely on base metals (copper, iron ore, aluminium).
We offer flexible billing to suit your organisation:
  • Month-to-month: Cancel anytime with zero penalty. Access continues until the end of your current billing period.
  • Annual: Commit for 12 months and receive discounted pricing. Cancellations before the annual term ends are not eligible for refund of remaining months.
What happens when you cancel:
  • Your account access ends at the conclusion of your current billing period
  • You keep any data you've already exported
  • API access terminates immediately
  • Mineral Marketplace posts remain visible but you can't post new notices
  • Secure messages remain accessible for 90 days (export if needed)
Reactivation: You can resubscribe at any time to regain full access. Note that your saved preferences, watchlists, and dashboard configuration are not guaranteed to be retained after cancellation.
1

Getting Started

Click the "Become Member" button in the top navigation to view membership tiers. Select either Professional ($250/seat/month) or Alliance ($500/seat/month). After selecting your tier, you'll complete registration and receive immediate access to the platform.
You can register with any email address, including personal email providers (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). However, accounts registered with a corporate or business domain email are prioritised for verification and may receive expedited access.
Absolutely. You can change your membership tier at any time through your Account Settings. Upgrades take effect immediately with pro-rated billing. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle. Note that downgrading from Alliance to Professional will remove Mineral Marketplace access and team member seats.
We accept:
  • Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
All payments are processed in AUD. International members can pay in USD, EUR, or GBP with automatic currency conversion.
2

Membership & Access

Professional Membership ($250/seat/month) is designed for individual analysts, consultants, and traders. It includes:
  • mineral prices & forecasts
  • Corporate directory access
  • Weekly market briefings
  • Mineral Marketplace (view only — browse active notices)
  • Email support
Alliance Membership ($500/seat/month) is an institutional tier for teams. It includes everything in Professional plus:
  • Multi-user capability (volume pricing: $250/seat/month for seats 6+)
  • B2B Mineral Marketplace full access (post, respond, and negotiate)
  • Verified corporate listing in directory
  • Priority support
  • Team management dashboard
3

Pricing & Data

Prices are displayed in USD by default, as this is the standard currency for global commodity trading. Historical data is preserved in the original currency to maintain accuracy.
Our prices are independent assessments calculated using a weighted average of data collected directly from producers. This includes producers' latest price sheets, contract terms, and volume discounts — giving our assessments real-world commercial grounding. Each price point is clearly labelled with its delivery terms (FOB, CIF, ex-works) and applicable grade specifications.
Standard grades for all minerals are included in your membership. For custom grades or specialty products, Alliance members can submit requests through the platform. Our analysts will provide custom pricing within 24–48 hours based on market intelligence and comparable grades.
These are standard Incoterms that define delivery responsibilities:
  • Ex-Works (EXW): Price at the mine gate or processing facility. Buyer arranges all transport and insurance.
  • Free on Board (FOB): Price includes delivery to the shipping port. Seller handles export customs. Buyer pays for ocean freight and insurance.
  • Cost, Insurance, Freight (CIF): Price includes delivery to destination port, including ocean freight and insurance. Buyer handles import customs and final delivery.
Our platform displays all three pricing types where available, allowing you to compare delivered costs across different supply scenarios.
Our primary data is sourced directly from global producers of rare earth and mineral products. This includes product specifications, purity levels, grade classifications, minimum order quantities, production and factory output, and the latest pricing information. Our global reach ensures we capture a true representation of the international market and mitigate regional price biases.
  • Direct Producer Sourcing: We engage with a diverse range of producers worldwide to collect primary, first-hand commercial data.
We track 2,000+ unique products and services across 40,000+ entities in 160 countries. Of these, over 6,000 entities are active in the critical minerals supply chain and available to members through our Corporate Directory.
4

Mineral Marketplace & B2B Features

Posted notices are visible to all verified Alliance members on the platform. Professional members can view notices but cannot post or respond. If you post as your company (recommended), your company name and verified status badge are displayed. If you choose anonymous posting, only your notice type (buy/sell/partnership) and mineral details are shown without company identification.
Yes. When creating a notice, you can choose to "Post As: Anonymous" instead of posting as your company. Anonymous notices still display the notice type, mineral, volume, and timeline, but your company identity remains hidden. However, when someone expresses interest, you'll be prompted to reveal your identity to proceed with negotiations. This allows initial price discovery without immediately disclosing your position.
Click the "Express Interest" button on any notice. You'll be prompted to write a message (minimum 20 characters) explaining your interest. This message is delivered instantly and directly to the notice poster. They'll see your company name, verified status, and message. If they're interested in proceeding, they can accept your connection request, which enables secure messaging between your organisations.
The Mineral Marketplace supports four notice types:
  • Seeking Supply (Buy): You need to purchase minerals or secure offtake
  • Offering Supply (Sell): You have inventory to clear or production to sell
  • Strategic Partnership: Joint ventures, toll processing, or long-term agreements
  • Price Discovery: Seeking market pricing feedback without commitment
Each notice requires: headline (10+ characters), mineral selection, volume/timeline, and detailed description (20+ characters).
Alliance members can post up to 10 active notices at any time. Notices remain active for 30 days by default, but you can deactivate them earlier once a deal is closed. False or misleading information will result in immediate account suspension per our terms of service. We monitor for spam, duplicate postings, and bad-faith negotiations. Quality matters more than quantity.
Go to "My Notices" in your dashboard. Click the three-dot menu on any notice to Edit or Deactivate. Editing updates the notice immediately (timestamp reflects last edit). Deactivation removes the notice from public view but preserves it in your history. You can reactivate deactivated notices within 90 days. Notices older than 90 days are permanently archived.
You receive an instant notification via email and in-platform alert. Their message appears in your "Notice Responses" tab. You can:
  • Accept: Creates a connection enabling secure messaging
  • Decline: Politely declines without further action
  • Request More Info: Ask follow-up questions before accepting
Once connected, you can negotiate privately via encrypted messages. Neither your conversations nor final deal terms are visible to other platform members.
All messages between connected parties are end-to-end encrypted using AES-256 encryption. Messages are stored encrypted on our secure servers. We cannot read your messages. You can attach documents (PDFs, spreadsheets) up to 25MB per message. Message history is retained for 12 months, after which it's permanently deleted unless you export your conversations. Conversations are only accessible to the two connected parties.
Yes. We take platform integrity seriously. If a member violates our platform policies (fraud, harassment, misleading information, spam), you can report them by contacting us. All reports are reviewed promptly, typically within 24 hours. Serious violations result in immediate suspension pending investigation.
6

Corporate Directory

Our directory contains over 6,000 companies actively participating in the critical minerals supply chain across 160 countries. This includes:
  • 1,200+ Mining & Exploration companies
  • 800+ Refiners & Processors
  • 2,100+ Buyers & End Users (OEMs, battery manufacturers)
  • 900+ Traders & Logistics
  • 1,000+ Investors & Financial Institutions
The directory is updated daily as new companies enter the market or existing companies change roles.
We use a three-tier verification system:
  • Tier 1 (Basic): Company exists in corporate registries, has valid business number
  • Tier 2 (Verified): Cross-referenced against multiple data sources, confirmed active in minerals sector
  • Tier 3 (Alliance Member): Paying member with confirmed corporate email and identity verification
Each company profile displays verification badges. Only Alliance members receive the green "Verified Member" badge, which indicates they've passed our enhanced KYC process.
If your company is already in the directory, you can claim your profile by signing up for an Alliance membership. This allows you to:
  • Edit company description and contact details
  • Upload your company logo
  • Add product/service offerings
  • Display certifications (ISO, fair trade, etc.)
  • Receive enquiries through the platform
If your company is not yet listed, contact our support with your company details. New listings are reviewed within 3-5 business days.
Company profiles include:
  • Basic Info: Name, ticker symbol, headquarters location, website
  • Products & Services: Minerals traded, processing capabilities, applications served
  • Geographic Footprint: Operating countries, mine locations, facilities
  • Supply Chain Role: Producer, explorer, buyer, trader, investor, logistics
Alliance members can enhance their profiles with custom content, case studies, and downloadable resources.
Professional members can export up to 100 companies per month as CSV or Excel files. Alliance members have unlimited exports. Exported data includes all public profile information plus your custom notes. Exports comply with data protection regulations and exclude personal contact details of individual employees unless you have an active connection with that company.
Carbon risk ratings assess exposure to transition risks from climate policy:
  • Low: Minimal exposure to carbon pricing, clean energy transition underway
  • Low-Moderate: Some fossil fuel usage, decarbonisation plans in place
  • Moderate: Significant carbon-intensive operations, unclear transition strategy
  • Moderate-High: Heavy reliance on fossil fuels, limited clean alternatives
  • High: Primarily fossil fuel-based operations, high stranded asset risk
Ratings are updated quarterly based on company disclosures, facility audits, and energy mix data.
9

Security & Privacy

For enterprise customers interested in our security certifications, compliance documentation, and audit reports, please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
Public Profile Data (company name, products, country) is visible to all members. Contact Details (email, phone) are only visible to:
  • Your direct team members (Alliance tier)
  • Companies you've accepted connection requests from
Financial Data (revenue, market cap) sourced from public filings is visible to Professional and Alliance members. You control privacy settings for optional fields like "About Us" text and uploaded documents.
No. We never sell member data to third parties. Limited sharing occurs only for:
  • Service Providers: Payment processors (Stripe), email service, hosting (AWS) - all under strict DPAs
  • Legal Requirements: Court orders, subpoenas, law enforcement requests where legally obligated
  • Business Transfers: In the event of merger/acquisition, with advance notice to members
We do not use member data for advertising or marketing by third parties. Analytics are anonymised and aggregated.
Yes. Go to Account Settings → Delete Account. This will:
  • Cancel your subscription (no prorated refunds for monthly plans)
  • Remove your personal information within 30 days
  • Anonymise your Mineral Marketplace posts and messages
  • Revoke API access immediately
Important: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Export any data you wish to retain before deleting. Historical financial transactions are retained per regulatory requirements but disconnected from your profile.
10

Technical Support

Standard Support (all tiers): Email support Monday-Friday, 9:00-17:00 AWST (Australian Western Standard Time). Response time: 24-48 hours.

Priority Support (Alliance tier): Extended hours Monday-Friday, 7:00-20:00 AWST with 4-hour response time. Phone support available during business hours. Weekend emergency support for critical issues.

We observe Australian public holidays.
Professional: 24 hours for email, technical issues prioritised
Alliance: 4 hours for all queries, 1 hour for critical issues

Critical issues include: platform outages, API failures, payment problems, security concerns. Non-critical issues include: feature requests, data questions, how-to queries. We measure and publish response time metrics quarterly.
Yes. Our research team can assist with:
  • Custom Reports: Bespoke analysis on specific minerals or markets
  • Historical Data Reconstruction: Pre-2015 pricing for select minerals
  • Trade Flow Analysis: Import/export patterns for specific routes
  • Company Deep Dives: Enhanced profiles with proprietary research
Alliance members receive 2 custom data requests per quarter included. Additional requests billed at $500-2,000 depending on complexity. Typical turnaround: 5-10 business days.
  • Email: support@perthcriticalminerals.com (all tiers)
  • Help Centre: Click "?" icon in platform for instant articles
  • Phone: +61 8 6555 0100 (Alliance tier, business hours)
Include your account email, detailed description of the issue, and any error messages or screenshots to help us resolve queries faster.
11

Account Management

Professional memberships are tied to an individual and generally cannot be transferred. However, if you're leaving your company, your employer can purchase a new Professional membership for your replacement.

Alliance memberships are corporate licenses. The company owns the subscription, so team members can be added/removed freely. If the subscription owner leaves, contact us to transfer admin rights to another employee.
Monthly subscriptions: Access continues until the end of your current billing period. No refunds for partial months.

Upon cancellation, you lose access to: forecasts, Mineral Marketplace, API, exports, and premium data. Downloaded data remains yours to keep. You can reactivate anytime by resubscribing.
We don't offer formal "pause" functionality, but you can:
  • Cancel and resubscribe when you're ready to return
For teams experiencing temporary budget constraints, contact us to discuss options. We may be able to offer short-term pricing relief on a case-by-case basis.
12

Minerals & Data Coverage

Our coverage includes:
  • Battery Metals (6): Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Manganese, Vanadium
  • Rare Earth Elements (17): All lanthanides plus Yttrium and Scandium
  • Technology Metals (12): Gallium, Germanium, Indium, Tellurium, Selenium, Silicon, and more
  • Strategic Metals (10): Tungsten, Antimony, Bismuth, Rhenium, Tantalum, Niobium, etc.
  • Platinum Group Metals (6): Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Osmium
  • Industrial Minerals (9): Fluorite, Barite, Magnesite, Phosphate rock, and more
Full list available at /minerals. Each mineral includes multiple grade/form specifications (e.g., lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide).
We focus exclusively on critical and strategic minerals defined by US, EU, and Australian government lists. These are minerals essential for clean energy, advanced technology, and national security but face supply chain vulnerabilities.

Major base metals (iron, copper, aluminium, zinc) are well-covered by existing platforms like Bloomberg, S&P Global Platts, and Metal Bulletin. Our niche is providing depth on smaller, less liquid markets where quality intelligence is scarce. That said, we track companies involved in base metals if they also produce critical minerals.
Yes! We regularly expand coverage based on member requests. Submit suggestions via Feedback → Feature Requests. We evaluate new minerals based on:
  • Strategic importance (government critical mineral lists)
  • Supply chain risk factors
  • Market liquidity and data availability
  • Member demand
Recent additions include: High-Purity Quartz (HPQ), Synthetic Graphite, and Magnesium. Planned 2026 additions: Arsenic (gallium arsenide applications), Hafnium (semiconductors), Beryllium.
Rare Earth Elements (REE): 17 chemically similar metals (lanthanides + Y, Sc) essential for magnets, catalysts, phosphors. Supply concentrated in China (60% of mining, 85% of refining).

Battery Metals: Materials used in rechargeable batteries. Includes lithium, cobalt, nickel (for lithium-ion), graphite (anodes), manganese, vanadium (flow batteries).

Strategic Minerals: Broader category defined by government lists (US, EU, Australia, Japan). Includes REE and battery metals plus materials critical for defence, aerospace, semiconductors, and clean energy but with supply chain risks.

Many minerals fit multiple categories. For instance, cobalt is both a battery metal and strategic mineral.
Our platform tracks substitution threats in mineral profiles:
  • Lithium: Sodium-ion batteries, solid-state technologies
  • Cobalt: LFP (lithium iron phosphate), nickel-rich chemistries
  • REE Magnets: Copper rotor motors, ferrite magnets
  • Indium (ITO): Silver nanowires, graphene for touchscreens
Forecasts incorporate substitution scenarios where technologies reach commercial scale.

Still have questions?

Our analysts are available to help you navigate the critical minerals landscape.

Contact our team