Cyclic US REE Recycling Expansion Deepens North American Magnet Supply Ambitions

Cyclic

Cyclic US REE recycling expansion is accelerating as the company moves to build a second US facility in South Carolina. The new McBee site will process 600 metric tonnes per year of mixed rare-earth oxides, with expansion planned to 1,800 t/yr. Operations are expected to begin in 2028. As a result, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion is becoming a more serious part of the North American magnet supply chain.

This project matters because rare earth recycling is moving from pilot scale toward industrial relevance. Cyclic is investing more than $82mn in the McBee facility. The company is also building on a larger spoke-hub strategy rather than a single isolated plant. Therefore, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion reflects a broader effort to localize critical rare earth processing in North America.

The location also adds strategic value. McBee sits close to Vacuumschmelze’s magnet manufacturing site in Sumter, South Carolina. Cyclic already has a 10-year exclusive agreement with VAC to recycle magnet production byproducts. Consequently, the new plant links recycling capacity directly to downstream magnet manufacturing demand.

North American Rare Earth Recycling Is Moving Toward Industrial Scale

North American rare earth recycling is gaining more industrial depth through this investment. Cyclic said the McBee facility will operate as a combined spoke-and-hub. It will also become the company’s largest hub to date. That means the project is designed for system scale, not just regional collection.

The company is also supporting this buildout with stronger capital backing. Cyclic recently closed a $75mn equity funding round, bringing total equity funding above $162mn. That financial support gives the company more room to scale processing infrastructure. As a result, North American rare earth recycling is attracting more serious investor confidence.

The broader network already shows how this model is developing. Cyclic operates its first hub in Ontario and has invested in a large Arizona facility for end-of-life rare-earth permanent magnets. These sites support a cross-border recycling chain rather than a single-country model. Therefore, the company is positioning itself as a multi-node recycler in a strategically sensitive market.

Magnet Recycling Supply Chain Gains a Stronger US Processing Base

The magnet recycling supply chain stands to benefit most from the McBee project. The facility will process mixed rare-earth oxides, which are critical intermediate materials in the rare earth value chain. Stronger domestic processing capacity can reduce dependence on longer and more fragile overseas routes. Consequently, the new site could improve both resilience and lead times.

The VAC relationship makes that especially important. Recycling magnet production byproducts creates a more closed-loop industrial model. That can improve feedstock security while supporting lower-waste manufacturing. Meanwhile, it gives Cyclic a direct commercial pathway rather than relying only on spot material flows.

The international dimension also remains important. Cyclic already has an agreement to supply Solvay’s La Rochelle plant for further separation and purification from its Ontario hub output. That means the company is building a chain that connects North American recycling with allied refining capacity. Therefore, Cyclic US REE recycling expansion supports both regional resilience and transatlantic processing cooperation.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project matters because rare earth strategy now depends as much on recycling systems as on mining. Cyclic is building a supply chain model that connects scrap, oxides, and magnets more directly. If McBee ramps successfully, it could become a meaningful benchmark for western rare earth circularity.

Cyclic Materials Invests $20mn in REE Recycling Facility

Cyclic Materials

Canada-based recycler expands rare earth recovery efforts with new Arizona plant to boost North American REE supply chain

Building a U.S. Rare Earth Recycling Hub

Cyclic Materials has committed $20mn to a new REE recycling facility in Mesa, Arizona. The investment marks a pivotal step in scaling rare earth element (REE) recovery from end-of-life components. The new plant will target waste streams from vehicles, electronics, and industrial devices. It will help process 155,000 metric tonnes annually across the U.S. Southwest.

Rare Earth Supply Chain Independence

The Mesa facility reinforces the company’s REE recycling strategy. Cyclic Materials aims to reduce reliance on foreign rare earth supplies, especially from China. CEO Ahmad Ghahreman emphasized the importance of circular supply chains for stable and sustainable access to critical materials. The company recovers REEs from EV motors, MRI equipment, wind turbines, and data centers.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Outlook

Cyclic Materials collaborates with major players like Solvay, Vattenfall, Synetiq, and Vacuumschmelze. These partnerships enhance its ability to extract permanent magnets from complex components. As a result, the project supports the U.S. ambition to localize clean tech materials and reduce REE import dependency.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Cyclic Materials’ $20mn investment signifies a long-term bet on REE recycling amid rising global demand for magnets used in EVs and wind energy. With strategic partnerships and domestic processing, this move strengthens North America's critical minerals security while aligning with decarbonization and supply chain goals.

Korea Zinc, Alta partner on REE recycling to scale magnet recovery in 2027

Korea Zinc

Korea Zinc, Alta partner on REE recycling to build a new pathway for rare earth supply. The venture will recover rare earth elements from end-of-life permanent magnets. As a result, it targets domestic production of rare earth oxides starting in 2027.

Korea Zinc, Alta partner on REE recycling with an initial capacity of 100 metric tonnes per year. The partners plan to combine Korea Zinc’s metals processing and recycling capabilities with Alta’s mineral separation platform. Meanwhile, the focus on spent magnets aligns with rising demand for NdPr and heavy rare earths in EVs and wind power.

Why end-of-life magnets matter for rare earth supply chains

End-of-life magnets offer a concentrated feedstock compared with many primary ores. The material also bypasses long lead times tied to mine permitting and separation plants. Therefore, magnet recycling can shorten supply chains and reduce exposure to export controls.

Domestic rare earth oxides can support downstream steps like metal-making and magnet manufacturing. However, consistent scrap collection and sorting remains the hard part. As a result, partnerships often succeed or fail based on feedstock access and quality control.

Korea Zinc’s US footprint strengthens the execution case

Korea Zinc already operates US recycling assets through its Pedal Point subsidiary. Those facilities handle electronic waste and related complex streams. Meanwhile, the company has also announced a major US smelter investment in Tennessee, signaling a broader push into local non-ferrous processing.

The Alta partnership fits this strategy by adding rare earths to the recycling value chain. Therefore, the venture could become a platform for scaling beyond the initial 100 t/yr. However, ramp-up will depend on separation yields, impurity management, and customer qualification.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This deal highlights how recycling is becoming the fastest route to non-Chinese rare earth availability. However, success will hinge on building a reliable magnet collection network. The winners will be the teams that control feedstock and produce consistent oxide quality.

Jaguar Land Rover Backs Cyclic Materials in Rare Earth Recycling Expansion

Cyclic Materials

Cyclic Materials Secures Investment to Boost Rare Earth Processing in US and Europe

Canadian rare earth recycling start-up Cyclic Materials has secured a $2 million investment from InMotion Ventures, the investment arm of Jaguar Land Rover. This funding will support the launch of the company's first commercial rare earth element (REE) processing facilities in the United States and Europe. The investment extends Cyclic Materials’ Series B round to $55 million.

Expanding Rare Earth Recycling to Secure Supply Chains

Cyclic Materials is advancing its MagCycle and REEPure technologies to extract REEs from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, MRI machines, and data center waste. With less than 1% of REEs currently being recycled, increasing domestic processing capacity is crucial to reducing reliance on China, which dominates global REE processing. China’s export restrictions on rare earth technologies have heightened concerns about supply chain resilience.

Growing Investment in Critical Minerals Recycling

In September 2023, Cyclic Materials raised $53 million from key investors, including Microsoft, Hitachi, BMW i Ventures, ArcTern, and Fifth Wall. With InMotion Ventures' latest contribution, the company has raised over $85 million in equity financing. This funding will accelerate Cyclic Materials' North American and European expansion, refine its recycling processes, and enhance production capabilities.

Jaguar Land Rover’s investment aligns with its 2030 electrification strategy, which involves securing critical raw materials for battery repair, re-use, and recycling. The company is strengthening its upstream supply chain to support the transition to luxury electric vehicles.

Cyclic Materials has also partnered with Solvay, Vattenfall, Synetiq, and Vacuumschmelze to advance rare earth magnet recycling. The company operates Hub 100, a commercial demonstration facility in Kingston, Ontario, with an 8,000 t/yr MagCycle capacity and a 100 t/yr REEPure hydrometallurgical facility producing recycled mixed rare earth oxides (rMREO), nickel, and cobalt hydroxides.

Geomega to Complete Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Plant in Quebec

Geomega Resources

Advancing Sustainable Rare Earth Supply Through Recycling

Geomega Resources is on track to complete its rare earth magnet recycling plant in Quebec by the end of 2025. The Canadian rare earth elements (REEs) technology provider aims to produce recycled rare earth oxides from a variety of waste feedstocks, including neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, bauxite residue, and sulphide tailings. This initiative supports the growing demand for sustainable and secure rare earth supply chains.

Construction of the demonstration plant began in February 2024, with an expected timeline of two years. Originally, the project was scheduled for completion within six months after securing $1.2mn in a 2019 private placement. However, delays extended the timeline, partly due to permitting and development challenges. Geomega has already submitted its environmental permit request and awaits regulatory approval to proceed with commissioning after construction.

In 2019, chief executive Kiril Mugerman estimated operating costs at $3/kg for rare earths, with capital expenditure of $2.6mn to process 1.5 tonnes per day of magnet waste. Once operational, the facility is expected to contribute meaningfully to the recycling of critical materials, reducing dependence on primary mining and addressing environmental concerns related to waste disposal.

Strengthening the North American Rare Earth Ecosystem

The Quebec recycling plant aligns with broader North American efforts to secure rare earth supply chains amid global market concentration. By converting industrial waste into high-purity rare earth oxides, Geomega can help diversify sourcing away from dominant producers and improve regional self-sufficiency. This capability is increasingly vital as industries such as electric vehicles, wind energy, and electronics require stable and sustainable REE supplies.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Geomega’s Quebec project represents a critical step toward a circular economy for rare earths in North America. By recycling high-value magnets and other waste sources, the company not only reduces environmental impacts but also enhances supply chain resilience. If successful, this facility could become a model for scaling rare earth recycling across the region.

NioCorp Makes Strides in Rare Earth Recycling

NioCorp

NioCorp Developments, a critical minerals developer, has achieved a significant milestone in its rare earth element (REE) extraction efforts. The company successfully extracted REEs from end-of-life permanent rare earth magnets, utilizing a hydrometallurgical process that will be implemented at its Elk Creek project in Nebraska.

The company's pilot plant in Canada, in collaboration with a third-party partner, processed demagnetized and ground-up permanent magnets into separated rare earth oxides. While specific production volumes were not disclosed, the successful extraction process demonstrates the feasibility of recycling rare earth magnets.

NioCorp is now exploring the potential of a recycling program to complement the REE production at Elk Creek. By recovering valuable REEs from recycled magnets, the company aims to enhance its supply chain sustainability and reduce reliance on primary mining.

However, it's important to note that a comprehensive economic analysis for REE extraction at Elk Creek is still pending. The company will need to assess the financial viability of this venture before proceeding with construction and production.

While the primary focus of the Elk Creek project remains on niobium, scandium, and titanium production, the successful REE extraction from recycled magnets opens up new opportunities for NioCorp and contributes to the growing importance of sustainable rare earth sourcing.

Phoenix Tailings Raises $76M to Launch First US Standalone Rare Earth Metals Plant

Phoenix Tailings

Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant to meet US defense demand

US-based startup Phoenix Tailings has raised $76 million in Series B funding to build a rare earth metals plant in New Hampshire. The Exeter facility will be the first standalone US rare earth refinery capable of producing finished metals directly from diverse feedstocks. Once fully operational, the site will have a 500t/yr production capacity—matching the entire annual demand of the US defense sector.

Exeter facility to refine key rare earth elements for magnet manufacturers

Initial output from the Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant will start this summer at 200t/yr, ramping up to 500t/yr in time. The facility will produce neodymium-praseodymium, ferro-dysprosium, dysprosium, and terbium—all essential for permanent magnets used in defense, electric vehicles, and medical devices. It will process feedstocks from mines, coal ash, recycling streams, and other industrial byproducts, offering flexible sourcing.

Global investors back strategic US supply chain expansion

The oversubscribed $76 million Series B round was led by Envisioning Partners of Korea and included Escape Velocity, Builders Vision, Yamaha Motor Ventures, M Power, and Sumitomo’s Presidio Ventures. This strong international investor support highlights the growing urgency to establish domestic rare earth supply chains. Phoenix Tailings already runs a 40t/yr commercial facility and sources concentrates from allied nations.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant represents a major step in reshoring critical mineral processing to the US. Its feedstock flexibility and defense-aligned production profile could reduce dependence on China’s REE dominance. This deal also shows that global capital is actively fueling secure and resilient rare earth value chains.