Shares of Critical Metals Corp surged nearly 10% in premarket trading on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland intensified. By 5:00 a.m. EST, the stock was trading near $19.40, up from Friday’s close of $17.65. The rally comes as the rare earths mining company faces both heightened political risks and anticipated corporate developments that could reshape its strategic outlook.
Trump’s Greenland Push Sparks Fresh Rare Earth Supply Chain Speculation
The timing of Critical Metals’ premarket rally is significant, as markets opened amid escalating political tensions over Greenland’s future. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose additional 10% tariffs starting February 1 on eight European nations, including Denmark, unless the United States secures an agreement to purchase Greenland.
These tariffs would increase to 25% by June 1, according to Reuters. Trump has repeatedly insisted on U.S. ownership of the autonomous Danish territory, citing security concerns and the island’s strategic mineral deposits, though both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have firmly stated the island is not for sale.
New York-based Critical Metals is positioning its Tanbreez project in southern Greenland as a crucial component of the Western rare earths supply chain. These metals are essential for magnets used in electric motors and certain defense technologies.
Last week, the company announced a non-binding term sheet with Saudi Arabia’s Tariq Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Brothers to form a 50/50 joint venture. The proposed arrangement would refine 25% of Tanbreez’s projected output in Saudi Arabia before shipping the material to the United States for further processing.
Upcoming Update May Shape the Near-Term CRML Story
Investors are now marking their calendars for 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, January 22, when Critical Metals management will hold a webcast and conference call to deliver a business update. Traders are eager for concrete information on financing arrangements, permitting progress, and the sequencing of tasks required to advance Tanbreez from development to production.
Details on how the Saudi processing agreement fits into the company’s broader offtake strategy are expected to draw close attention from market participants.
However, significant risks remain on the horizon. The Saudi deal is still only a term sheet rather than a finalized agreement, and project financing could potentially delay operations or dilute existing shareholders if capital markets deteriorate. A Form 144 filing on January 14 revealed that insiders are planning to sell restricted stock, according to the company’s regulatory filings.
The stock’s early premarket gains occurred during extended-hours trading, when reduced liquidity often leads to more volatile price swings than during regular market sessions. With a market capitalization of $2.08 billion and a 52-week range of $1.23 to $32.15, Critical Metals has already posted a year-to-date return of over 154% as of January 16.