USAR acquires Less Common Metals to accelerate mine-to-magnet strategy

USA Rare Earth

USAR acquires Less Common Metals in a $125mn deal that reshapes non-Chinese rare earth supply chains. The USAR acquires Less Common Metals transaction combines upstream resources, metal production and magnet alloys into one integrated platform. As a result, USAR acquires Less Common Metals to strengthen Western access to critical rare earth magnet materials.

USAR acquires Less Common Metals to secure rare earth metals and alloys

USAR acquires Less Common Metals through a mix of $100mn cash and 6.74mn USAR shares. The acquisition brings LCM’s Cheshire plant, which produces light and heavy rare earth metals and strip cast magnet alloys. LCM supplies samarium, samarium–cobalt, neodymium praseodymium, terbium, yttrium and gadolinium for permanent magnet applications. This portfolio anchors USAR’s move into high-value magnet metals rather than only rare earth oxides. LCM is the only large-scale producer of such metals and alloys outside China, making its assets strategically important. Therefore the deal immediately boosts Western capacity along the magnet value chain. USAR plans to expand LCM’s UK production footprint to meet rising demand from defense, automotive and industrial customers.

Building an integrated mine-to-magnet platform in the US and UK

USAR will integrate LCM’s know-how into its Stillwater, Oklahoma, facility to support a planned 5,000 t/yr magnet plant. This integration creates a tighter loop from rare earth metal production into finished magnet manufacturing. At the same time, USAR’s Round Top rare earth deposit in Texas will underpin long-term feed for metals and alloys. The company also highlights its ability to process recycled rare earth oxides, adding a circular element to the supply chain. Together, these assets form a closed-loop mine-to-magnet model spanning mining, metals, alloys and recycling. LCM’s established customer relationships across US and European magnet makers, as well as defense and automotive supply chains, provide immediate market access. As a result, the combined group can offer Western buyers secure, non-Chinese supply options for critical rare earth magnet materials.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This acquisition underscores how quickly mine-to-magnet integration is becoming a strategic priority in the rare earth sector. If USAR executes on its expansion plans, it will sit at the center of a transatlantic magnet supply chain that reduces reliance on Chinese metal and alloy producers. For policymakers and OEMs, the deal offers a concrete example of how capital, geology and processing know-how must align to de-risk critical materials.

USAR neodymium magnets for pipeline cleaning secure new oil and gas use

USA Rare Earth

USAR neodymium magnets for pipeline cleaning will equip Enduro’s inspection “pigs” across large pipelines. The USAR neodymium magnets for pipeline cleaning will collect ferrous debris, detect defects, and aid tracking. This USAR neodymium magnets for pipeline cleaning agreement expands the company’s industrial footprint beyond defense and data centers.

What the deal covers

USAR will supply sintered neodymium-iron-boron magnets to Enduro Pipeline Services. These magnets enhance pigging runs and reduce downtime. As a result, operators improve flow assurance and integrity management. USAR plans initial production in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in early 2026. The partners did not disclose volumes or pricing.

Why it matters for critical minerals and midstream reliability

The partnership supports domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing. Therefore, it strengthens US supply chain resilience. Pipeline maintenance benefits from stronger magnetic capture of scale and wireline debris. In turn, fewer corrosion hotspots reach failure. Meanwhile, Enduro gains a US-made component for regulated inspections. The magnets also suit oil, gas, CO₂, and ammonia service lines.

Growing end-market demand underpins USAR’s expansion strategy. The company targets energy, aerospace, construction, and data infrastructure. Consequently, magnet demand remains diversified beyond automotive traction motors. USAR’s Stillwater plant will anchor future scaling. Localized sourcing can help mitigate tariff and export control risks.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Domestic magnet capacity creeping into midstream tools is strategic. It ties critical minerals policy to real reliability gains. Watch for follow-on offtakes with integrity service firms as specs prove out.

USAR and PolarStar to Produce Neo Magnets in U.S. for Strategic Industries

USA Rare Earth

Rare Earth Partnership Targets Domestic Magnet Manufacturing and Supply Chain Security

USAR and PolarStar to produce neo magnets in U.S., marking a significant step toward restoring American capacity in rare earth magnet manufacturing. USA Rare Earth (USAR) has signed an agreement with Minnesota-based PolarStar Magnetics to produce neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets for defense, EVs, robotics, wind energy, and other high-tech applications. The collaboration is focused on delivering DFARS-compliant magnets that meet stringent requirements for U.S. aerospace and military supply chains.

PolarStar will conduct early-stage magnet testing at USAR’s Innovation Lab in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where prototyping began in Q2 2025. The Stillwater plant, designed for 5,000 tonnes/year of sintered neo magnet production, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in the first half of 2026. This facility will become the first vertically integrated rare earth magnet plant of its kind in the U.S., sourcing materials domestically and supporting onshore value chains across electric mobility, appliances, and clean energy sectors.

Vertical Integration Supported by Round Top Rare Earth Deposit

USAR also holds mining rights to the Round Top Mountain deposit in West Texas, which contains 15 of the 17 rare earth elements alongside gallium, lithium, and other critical minerals. This upstream control gives the company a unique position to support mine-to-magnet production in the U.S., reducing dependency on Chinese supply chains. As USAR and PolarStar produce neo magnets in U.S., they strengthen national supply chain resilience and advance U.S. industrial policy objectives for critical materials independence.

The partnership is expected to evolve into a multi-year supply agreement, enhancing domestic rare earth value chains across sectors including defense, EVs, wind turbines, and advanced manufacturing.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The USAR–PolarStar deal reflects a broader U.S. strategy to onshore critical magnet supply chains amid rising geopolitical tensions. Vertical integration from Round Top to Stillwater offers a rare model of strategic autonomy in rare earths—a potential template for allied nations.

USA Rare Earth Partners with StudBuddy to Boost US Neo Magnet Supply

USA Rare Earth

USAR to supply 20t/year of sintered neodymium magnets from Stillwater facility

USA Rare Earth (USAR) has partnered with StudBuddy to produce neodymium magnets in the US, aiming to strengthen the domestic rare earth supply chain. Under a potential multiyear agreement, USAR will deliver approximately 20 metric tonnes per year of finished sintered neodymium magnets.

New Oklahoma facility supports vertical integration strategy

USAR is building a 310,000 ft² neodymium magnet manufacturing plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, as part of its vertically integrated production strategy. In March, the company launched its Advanced Innovation Lab on-site and will begin prototyping magnets in the second quarter. The facility positions the US to reduce reliance on imported magnets, especially from China.

StudBuddy, a manufacturer committed to domestic sourcing, expressed its support for the partnership. "We have done all we can, despite increased costs and supply challenges, to source components from and produce our products in the US," said Weston Bernsen, Vice President of StudBuddy.

US magnet independence aligns with critical mineral policy

The USAR-StudBuddy collaboration reinforces broader national efforts to restore critical mineral manufacturing capacity. Neodymium magnets are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense systems. Domestic production not only secures supply but supports job creation and technology innovation in the clean tech sector.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership marks a pivotal step in reshoring magnet manufacturing. By investing in a vertically integrated facility, USAR is addressing one of America's most vulnerable critical mineral dependencies with a long-term solution.

USA Rare Earth Signs Deal to Supply Magnets for Data Centers

USA Rare Earth

Rare Earth Magnets Enter Data Center Cooling Supply Chains

USA Rare Earth (USAR) has signed an agreement with Moog Electric Motion Solutions to supply rare earth magnets for data center cooling systems. The deal focuses on Moog’s precision coolant pumps, which are critical to managing the rising energy intensity of large-scale data centers.

While financial terms and volumes remain undisclosed, the memorandum highlights the growing importance of heat-resistant neodymium magnets in meeting global digital infrastructure needs. According to Moog, advanced magnet technology is essential to sustain efficient cooling under heavy workloads.

Strategic Path Toward Domestic Magnet Production

USA Rare Earth plans to begin neodymium magnet production in 2026 with a target of 5,000 tonnes annually. The Stillwater, Oklahoma plant under development will be the first large-scale U.S. facility for sintered neodymium magnets, reducing reliance on overseas suppliers.

USAR already holds offtake agreements with both U.S. and South Korean companies, positioning itself as a strategic partner in global supply chains. The deal with Moog demonstrates early market traction for its planned capacity, especially in the fast-expanding data center sector.

The Metalnomist Commentary

USA Rare Earth’s agreement with Moog reflects a convergence of two critical industries: digital infrastructure and rare earth supply security. With data centers driving unprecedented energy demand, advanced magnets for cooling solutions will become a core enabler of operational stability. The success of USAR’s Oklahoma plant will not only support U.S. energy transition goals but also challenge China’s long-held dominance in rare earth magnet production.

USA Rare Earth to build REE plant in France alongside Caremag feedstock hub

LCM

USA Rare Earth to build REE plant in France as Europe accelerates rare earth localisation. USA Rare Earth to build REE plant in France with a 3,750 t/yr rare earth metal and alloy facility in Lacq. Therefore, the project links oxide production and downstream alloying in one industrial cluster.

USA Rare Earth to build REE plant in France through its Less Common Metals Europe subsidiary. The site will sit next to Carester’s 1,600 t/yr Caremag rare earth oxide facility. Meanwhile, Caremag targets commissioning in late 2026, which can anchor early material qualification.

France will support the investment through its green industry investment tax credit, known as C31V. The scheme can cover up to 45% of eligible equipment and up to €130mn for real estate. As a result, the policy reduces capital risk for processing assets that often struggle with long payback cycles.

Lacq cluster ties recycled magnets to European alloy output

Co-location matters because rare earth supply chains fail at handoffs, not only at mines. Pairing an oxide plant with an alloy facility can shorten qualification loops for magnets. Therefore, buyers can test chemistry, traceability, and performance with fewer logistics breaks.

Caremag will produce rare earth oxides from recycled permanent magnets and heavy rare earth concentrates. It is designed to process 2,000 t/yr of magnets and 5,000 t/yr of concentrates. Meanwhile, planned output includes 800 t/yr of neodymium-praseodymium and 590 t/yr of dysprosium and terbium.

The strategic logic is de-risking, not just capacity building

USAR’s move builds on its September 2025 acquisition of Less Common Metals for $125mn. That deal also supports USAR’s plan to build a 5,000 t/yr magnet plant in the US. However, the France facility focuses on metals and alloys, which are critical midstream steps before magnet manufacturing.

Europe’s industrial policy increasingly rewards projects that convert feedstock into usable materials for energy transition hardware. C31V explicitly backs batteries, solar, wind, heat pumps, and the critical raw materials behind them. Therefore, Lacq positions itself as a credible node for OEM sourcing and compliance reporting.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project looks like supply-chain choreography, not a standalone plant announcement. However, success will depend on qualification speed and stable oxide availability from Caremag. If both ramp as planned, Europe gains a tighter path from scrap to alloy-ready material.