Brazil Rare Earth Project Advances as Mosaic and Rainbow Target Phosphogypsum Recovery

Brazil, Mosaic rare earth

Brazil rare earth project development is gaining momentum after Mosaic and Rainbow Rare Earths agreed to advance a new rare earth elements facility in Uberaba, Brazil. The proposed project would recover rare earths from phosphogypsum, turning an industrial by-product from fertilizer production into a potential source of strategic magnet materials.

The companies plan to negotiate a definitive agreement for a jointly owned project company. The venture would build a processing facility in Uberaba, located in Minas Gerais state, subject to feasibility study results. Construction is currently scheduled for 2027.

The Brazil rare earth project is strategically important because it links fertilizer value chains with critical mineral supply. Mosaic brings access to phosphate-related material streams, while Rainbow Rare Earths brings technology and project experience in recovering rare earth elements from phosphogypsum.

Phosphogypsum Recovery Could Add New Supply Outside Traditional Mining

The proposed facility would process about 2.7 million tonnes per year of phosphogypsum, according to the economic assessment. This feedstock route is different from conventional rare earth mining because it focuses on recovering value from existing industrial material rather than opening a new primary mine.

The facility is expected to produce around 1,900 tonnes per year of separated neodymium and praseodymium oxide. These materials are essential for high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, industrial motors, and advanced electronics.

The project would also produce about 600 tonnes per year of samarium, europium, and gadolinium-rich products. These medium and heavy rare earth elements are important because supply chains for heavier rare earths remain more concentrated and strategically sensitive.

Brazil Strengthens Its Position in Critical Minerals Supply Chains

The Brazil rare earth project could strengthen the country’s role in global critical minerals supply. Brazil already has major mining, fertilizer, and industrial raw material assets, and phosphogypsum recovery could create a new pathway into separated rare earth products.

For Mosaic, the agreement could unlock additional value from phosphate operations and support a broader circular economy model. For Rainbow Rare Earths, the Uberaba project expands its phosphogypsum recovery strategy beyond its Phalaborwa project in South Africa.

The project also reflects a wider market shift. Rare earth supply chains are no longer focused only on mining ore. Processing technology, secondary recovery, industrial waste valorisation, and separated oxide capacity are becoming central to supply security.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project matters because it treats fertilizer waste as a strategic mineral resource. If the feasibility study supports commercial development, Brazil could become a more relevant player in rare earth separation and magnet material supply.