REalloys DLA Contract Targets US Samarium and Gadolinium Metal Production

REalloys

REalloys DLA contract support will help scale domestic production of samarium and gadolinium metals, two rare earth materials with strategic value for defense and advanced manufacturing. The US Defense Logistics Agency awarded the contract to Terves, whose rare earth assets were acquired by REalloys in March 2025.

The REalloys DLA contract focuses on next-generation metallothermal processing for samarium and gadolinium. A core deliverable is the full plant design for a 300 t/yr modular facility that can reduce mixed samarium-europium-gadolinium feedstocks into high-purity metals.

The project matters because commercial-scale separated samarium and gadolinium metal production does not currently exist in the US. Domestic users therefore remain exposed to offshore supply at a time when rare earth supply chains are viewed as a strategic vulnerability.

Modular Metallothermal Processing Could Reduce Dependence on Offshore Supply

REalloys aims to advance both wet chemistry preparation and reduction-to-metal operations under the DLA-backed program. The goal is to establish a commercial-scale domestic route for producing rare earth metals from SEG feedstocks.

The company said its process differs from conventional rare earth production, which often relies on large solvent extraction circuits. A modular approach could offer a more flexible processing model if it can prove quality, cost, throughput, and repeatability at scale.

REalloys has also filed a provisional patent covering direct reduction of SEG feedstocks and direct recycling of all byproducts. The company said this zero-waste configuration could reduce capital intensity and lower production costs by up to 50pc compared with traditional processing routes.

Defense Demand Raises Strategic Value of Rare Earth Metals

The REalloys DLA contract fits into a wider US effort to reduce rare earth supply-chain exposure. The DLA manages the US National Defense Stockpile and has identified rare earth supply chains as a strategic vulnerability amid geopolitical tensions.

Samarium and gadolinium are not the highest-volume rare earths, but they carry high strategic importance. Samarium is used in specialty permanent magnets, while gadolinium has applications across advanced materials, electronics, and defense-related technologies.

REalloys is also developing an integrated North American rare earth platform. Its strategy includes the Hoidas Lake project in Saskatchewan and downstream metallization operations in Ohio, linking upstream resource development with US-based metal production capability.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The REalloys DLA contract shows that rare earth security is moving beyond mining and separation into metallization. For defense supply chains, the critical question is whether North America can produce qualified rare earth metals at commercial scale, not simply recover oxides.

Europe Rare Earth Prices Hold Steady as China’s NdPr Market Softens

Rare Earth mining

Europe rare earth prices held broadly steady this week as tight heavy rare earth availability offset weakness in China’s neodymium and praseodymium market. Delivered European prices for light rare earths showed little movement, while prompt supply of restricted heavy rare earths remained extremely limited.

Europe rare earth prices are now being shaped by two different market structures. Light rare earths are tracking weaker Chinese sentiment more closely, but European demand remains modest and supply is sufficient. Heavy rare earths are trading under export-control pressure, with buyers outside China paying steep premiums for prompt material.

Europe rare earth prices therefore show a widening split between ordinary demand softness and strategic scarcity. The market is not moving as one rare earth complex. It is separating by licensing access, material origin, availability and end-use urgency.

Light Rare Earths Stay Flat Despite Chinese Market Drop

European delivered neodymium oxide prices remained steady at $115-130/kg cif Europe. Neodymium metal also held at $145-160/kg cif.

Praseodymium oxide stayed unchanged at $115-130/kg cif Europe, while praseodymium-neodymium oxide held at $110-115/kg cif. The stability came despite a sharp decline in China’s NdPr complex.

Chinese traders have been destocking ahead of the 1-5 May Labour Day holiday, expecting weaker domestic end-user demand. Several oxide producers suspended spot offers to assess market direction.

European prices did not follow the Chinese decline because regional spot demand remains limited. Delivered European prices are already below Chinese values on average, supported by sufficient supply from multiple sources.

Cerium oxide moved slightly higher, with the top end of the range rising to $2.55/kg cif Europe. Demand is being supported by increased use of cerium-based rare earth magnets and higher freight costs for material circulating outside China.

This light rare earth stability suggests that Europe is not facing immediate NdPr scarcity. However, buyers remain cautious because Chinese price movements still influence sentiment and replacement-cost expectations.

Heavy Rare Earths Remain Tight Under Export Controls

Heavy rare earth availability remains the main pressure point in Europe. Delivered prices for dysprosium oxide were unchanged at $1,000-1,200/kg cif Europe, while terbium oxide held at $3,800-4,500/kg cif.

Spot liquidity has been thin since the start of the year. Prompt availability outside China remains very tight, especially for buyers without export licences.

China’s export controls continue to reshape heavy rare earth pricing. End-users that cannot access licensed Chinese supply are still willing to pay steep premiums to secure material for magnets, defence systems, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

Japanese buying interest has added more pressure since Japan became subject to stricter export controls in January. This has increased competition for limited non-China prompt supply.

The same pattern is visible in gadolinium and yttrium. Gadolinium oxide remained at $700-1,200/kg cif Europe, while yttrium oxide held at $800-1,200/kg cif Europe.

These markets are no longer priced only by Chinese domestic fundamentals. They are being priced by export-control access, available inventories and the cost of avoiding production disruption.

For European buyers, the practical issue is security of supply. Even if Chinese domestic prices soften, restricted material outside China can remain expensive because availability is controlled by licensing and logistics.

The result is a rare earth market where light rare earths may soften with Chinese demand, while heavy rare earths retain a strategic premium. That premium is likely to persist as long as export controls limit access to dysprosium, terbium, gadolinium and yttrium.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Europe’s rare earth market is becoming increasingly divided between price-led light rare earths and security-led heavy rare earths. China’s NdPr weakness matters, but export-control pressure on dysprosium, terbium, gadolinium and yttrium is now the stronger strategic signal.

Solvay Viridis Rare Earth Supply Deal Strengthens Europe’s Magnet Materials Chain

Solvay

Solvay Viridis rare earth supply agreement will give the Belgian chemicals producer a new long-term feedstock source for its La Rochelle processing plant in France. The deal will begin in 2028 and cover material from Viridis Mining and Minerals’ Colossus project in Brazil.

Solvay Viridis rare earth supply is strategically important because the feedstock includes neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, all critical to high-performance permanent magnets. The agreement also covers samarium, gadolinium and yttrium.

Solvay Viridis rare earth supply strengthens Europe’s effort to build a more complete rare earth value chain outside China. Solvay will process the Brazilian feedstock into high-purity rare earth oxides at La Rochelle.

The deal links upstream resources in Brazil with European separation and downstream magnet customers, creating a more diversified industrial route for strategic materials.

Colossus Feedstock Supports European Rare Earth Processing

Viridis is developing the Colossus ionic adsorption clay project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The project has a measured and indicated resource of 329mn t grading 659ppm magnetic rare earth oxide.

Ionic adsorption clay deposits are strategically important because they can contain valuable heavy rare earths alongside light rare earths. Dysprosium and terbium are particularly important for high-temperature permanent magnet applications.

Solvay’s La Rochelle plant gives Europe an established processing base for converting these materials into high-purity oxides. That processing stage remains one of the biggest bottlenecks outside China.

The inclusion of samarium, gadolinium and yttrium also broadens the commercial value of the supply agreement. These elements serve applications across magnets, aerospace, electronics, energy and advanced materials.

For Viridis, the agreement provides a downstream route into a major European processor. For Solvay, it strengthens feedstock diversification and reduces reliance on a narrower group of suppliers.

La Rochelle Builds Links to Magnet Manufacturing

Solvay inaugurated the La Rochelle facility in April 2025 with the goal of supplying 30% of European rare earth demand by 2030. Securing feedstock is essential if the plant is to reach that scale.

The company has already built a downstream customer relationship with US magnet producer Noveon Magnetics. Solvay agreed in November 2025 to begin supplying Noveon with rare earth oxides from 2026.

This creates a clearer value chain from mineral resource to separated oxide and then to permanent magnet production. That integration is critical for customers seeking reliable non-China materials.

Europe’s rare earth strategy increasingly depends on exactly this type of linkage. Mining projects alone cannot solve supply risk unless they connect with separation, metallization, alloying and magnet manufacturing.

The Viridis agreement therefore strengthens La Rochelle’s role as a processing hub. If Colossus advances successfully, Brazilian feedstock could become an important part of Europe’s diversified magnet materials supply.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Solvay-Viridis deal shows that Europe’s rare earth strategy is moving from processing capacity toward feedstock security. La Rochelle’s long-term competitiveness will depend on securing diverse sources of NdPr and heavy rare earths that can consistently feed magnet customers.

Samarium Oxide Export Prices Fall as Lynas Output Pressures Chinese Offers

Lynas

Samarium oxide export prices fell as Chinese suppliers lowered offers in response to Lynas’ first samarium oxide production at its Malaysian refinery. The 99.5% samarium oxide export range dropped to $6-8/kg fob China after reaching a record $11-14.50/kg in late February.

The price decline reflected a shift in market sentiment rather than a full easing of supply constraints. Chinese export permits remain difficult to obtain, especially for shipments to Japan, but Lynas start-up introduced a credible non-China supply route for downstream users.

Samarium oxide export prices had surged earlier because of China’s tighter export control framework for medium and heavy rare earths. The emergence of Lynas output has now weakened the pricing leverage of some Chinese sellers, even though China still dominates global samarium supply.

Lynas Start-Up Adds Non-China Supply for SmCo Magnet Producers

Lynas produced first samarium oxide at its Malaysian refinery on 19 March, adding another separated heavy rare earth product to its portfolio. The company is the only commercial producer of separated samarium, terbium and dysprosium outside China.

The Australian producer is expected by market participants to raise samarium output to about 1,100 t/yr. That volume could be enough to cover a meaningful share of downstream demand in Japan, where samarium-cobalt magnet manufacturing is concentrated outside China.

Samarium-cobalt magnets are used in high-temperature and high-reliability applications across aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics and advanced industrial systems. The material’s strategic value is higher than its market size suggests because SmCo magnets are difficult to replace in demanding environments.

Lynas also plans to expand its product line to include gadolinium, yttrium and lutetium over the next two years. This would further strengthen non-China supply options for selected medium and heavy rare earth oxides.

China Export Controls Still Shape Samarium Market Risk

China continues to control more than 90% of global samarium oxide supply, with global production estimated at about 4,900t in 2025. Output is expected to rise to around 5,000t in 2026 as Lynas adds volume and Chinese production remains steady.

Beijing’s export restrictions remain the main structural risk. China has placed samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, terbium, yttrium, lutetium and scandium under tighter export controls from 4 April, adding uncertainty for buyers outside China.

Japan is particularly exposed because it is China’s largest buyer of samarium products, accounting for more than 85% of Chinese shipments. Japanese buyers have reported difficulties securing export permits for samarium products since late October, following a sharp deterioration in China-Japan relations.

The price correction therefore does not mean the market has fully normalised. Samarium oxide export prices are now being pulled in two directions: Lynas is weakening China’s supply monopoly, while Chinese licensing controls continue to restrict trade flows into key magnet markets.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Lynas’ samarium start-up shows how even modest non-China output can change rare earth pricing psychology. However, China’s export licensing power remains decisive, especially for Japan’s SmCo magnet industry.

Lynas to Begin Heavy Rare Earth Production in Malaysia by 2025

Lynas Rare Earths

Lynas Rare Earths, an Australia-listed mining company, is set to commence the production of two separated heavy rare earth (HRE) products at its Malaysian facility by 2025. This will involve the production of separated dysprosium and terbium at one of Lynas Malaysia's solvent extraction circuits. The facility is designed to separate up to 1,500 tons per year of a mixed heavy rare earth compound, which includes samarium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, dysprosium, and terbium (SEGH).

The HRE project has completed its initial engineering phase, and detailed engineering design is currently underway. Commissioning and ramp-up are expected by mid-2025. Post-separation, Lynas' HRE product range will expand to include five products: dysprosium, terbium, unseparated samarium/europium/gadolinium, holmium concentrate, and unseparated SEGH.

Dysprosium and terbium are critical for producing high-performance rare earth magnets, which are essential components in consumer electronics, electric vehicle engines, and other automotive applications.

Lynas is also advancing pre-construction activities for its planned rare earth processing facility in the United States. Both its Malaysian and US facilities are designed to accept third-party feedstocks once they commence operations.

According to Amanda Lacaze, Lynas' Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, the production of heavy rare earths will help accelerate the company's commitment to processing all elements sourced from the firm's Mount Weld ore site in Australia.

Supply Chain Context

In response to the rapid evolution of the clean energy sector and the need to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies, many national governments are working to build or diversify more resilient and sustainable rare earth supply chains. China, the world's largest supplier of medium and heavy rare earths, has been enforcing stricter export control policies for rare earth extraction and separation technology.

Progress on rare earth projects outside China has been limited, especially in the HRE market, due to constraints such as exploration techniques, ore resource shortages, production costs, capital pressures, and environmental considerations. US-based rare earth producer MP Materials aims to develop an HRE production facility within the next few years. The company began producing neodymium-praseodymium oxide in the third quarter of last year and plans to commence commercial production of finished magnets by late 2025.

Australian mineral producer Iluka Resources plans to achieve an output capacity of up to 23,000 tons per year of rare earth oxide, including 5,500 tons per year of neodymium-praseodymium oxide and 725 tons per year of dysprosium and terbium oxide from its refinery in Australia.

Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion accelerates China’s NdPr supply

China's Rare Earth

Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion will lift China’s NdPr output and alloy capacity. The Baotou-based producer secured approval for an 8,000 t/yr metals and alloys project. As a result, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion will strengthen upstream feed for magnets, EVs and wind turbines.

Capacity plan boosts NdPr, La-Ce and ferro-gadolinium

Zhongxin Antai will add 3,700 t/yr of praseodymium-neodymium metal and 3,300 t/yr of lanthanum-cerium metal. It will also install 1,000 t/yr of ferro-gadolinium alloy capacity. After commissioning within 24 months, total plant capacity will reach 15,000 t/yr. Therefore, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion directly targets fast-growing magnet demand.

NRE integration aligns supply with downstream growth

Parent company Northern Rare Earth owns 40pc of Zhongxin Antai and drives integration. NRE plans 2025 output of 45,000t NdPr and Nd metals and 74,000t magnetic materials. It also targets 30,000t polishing powders and 2,000t hydrogen-storage materials. Meanwhile, NRE’s 2024 metals and magnets production rose by double digits.

China’s Baotou cluster anchors rare earths processing for global supply chains. The project reinforces reliable NdFeB magnet feedstock amid robotics and EV growth. However, rapid expansions require disciplined ramp-ups to protect pricing and margins. Overall, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion positions NRE to capture premium demand.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This approval tightens NRE’s mine-to-magnet grip and raises non-Chinese buyers’ reliance on Baotou metals. Watch execution risk around ramp timing and alloy qualification. Pricing power will hinge on global magnet restocking and policy moves outside China.

upply to VAC supports US magnet manufacturing

Ucore rare earth

Ucore rare earth supply to VAC will underpin a new US magnet manufacturing hub in South Carolina. The Ucore rare earth supply to VAC centres on separated oxides from Ucore’s Louisiana and Ontario facilities for eVAC’s Sumter County plant. As a result, the Ucore rare earth supply to VAC strengthens a non-Chinese supply chain for critical magnet materials.

Building a North American rare earth magnet value chain

Ucore will supply neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, samarium and gadolinium oxides to VAC and its subsidiary eVAC. These separated rare earth oxides will feed eVAC’s new permanent magnet facility in Sumter County, South Carolina. The plant targets high-performance magnet demand from EVs, wind turbines and defense systems.

The deal leverages Ucore’s planned Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex and its Commercial Demonstration Facility in Ontario. These assets aim to become key separation hubs for non-Chinese mixed rare earth concentrates. VAC, a leading German magnet producer, gains secure North American feedstock close to downstream customers.

Feedstock security through diversified offtake agreements

Ucore has been assembling a diversified pipeline of rare earth feedstock ahead of Louisiana SMC commissioning. It previously signed an agreement with Australia’s Metallium to potentially secure mixed rare earth concentrate. Ucore also has a non-binding offtake with US developer Critical Metals for 10,000 t/yr of rare earth concentrate.

These arrangements reduce single-source risk and improve resilience against geopolitical disruptions. Meanwhile, VAC’s US investment aligns with government efforts to localise permanent magnet production for EV and defense supply chains. Both parties now have nine months to finalise long-term commercial terms, including volumes, pricing structures and potential take-or-pay elements.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This Ucore–VAC alignment is a textbook example of how midstream separation and downstream magnet capacity are finally linking up in North America. The success of Louisiana SMC and eVAC’s Sumter County plant will be a key test of whether non-Chinese rare earth supply chains can scale fast enough to meet accelerating magnet demand.

IonicRE Rare Earth Recycling Deal Targets Ex-China Magnet Supply Gap

Ionic rare earths

IonicRE rare earth recycling plans have gained a technology boost after the Australian rare earths miner, refiner and recycler signed a licensing agreement with US refiner Nth Cycle. The deal gives Ionic Rare Earths access to electro-extraction technology for its US and global recycling operations.

IonicRE rare earth recycling will focus on recovering rare earth oxides from neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet dust. These oxides can then be reused in the production of new rare earth magnets.

IonicRE rare earth recycling is strategically important because magnet supply chains outside China remain weak in midstream processing and recycling. The agreement helps address that gap by adding technology that can convert magnet waste into reusable rare earth oxide products.

Nth Cycle’s technology can break down NdFeB magnet dust into rare earth oxides. This supports circular supply chains for materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, defence systems and advanced electronics.

NdFeB Magnet Dust Becomes a Strategic Feedstock

NdFeB magnet recycling is becoming more important as demand for rare earth permanent magnets grows. Magnet production generates upstream and downstream dust, and that material contains valuable neodymium, praseodymium and heavy rare earth elements.

IonicRE already has proprietary technology for recycling REPM metal dust. Nth Cycle’s electro-extraction process adds another capability and fills a specific midstream gap in the ex-China recycling chain.

The technology could be used at IonicRE’s Belfast recycling facility in Northern Ireland. It may also support the company’s 50:50 joint venture with Viridis at a planned recycling facility in Brazil.

The US is another important target. IonicRE already supplies technology to US Strategic Metals’ Missouri recycling facility, which is expected to recover neodymium-praseodymium oxide and heavy rare earths including dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and holmium.

This matters because recycling can reduce dependence on mined supply and improve traceability. It can also create shorter, more secure material loops for magnet makers and industrial users.

Recycling Adds Depth to Ex-China Rare Earth Supply

IonicRE remains a small player in the global rare earth chain, but its strategy connects mining, refining and recycling. The company owns 60% of the Makuutu rare earth project in Uganda, which contains 617mn t of ore grading 630ppm total rare earth oxide.

The recycling technology agreement adds another route to supply. Rather than relying only on new mined material, IonicRE can target waste streams from magnet production and end-use supply chains.

This is important because China still dominates rare earth refining. China accounted for 91% of global rare earth refining in 2024, leaving western and allied supply chains exposed to processing concentration.

Recycling will not replace primary rare earth mining. But it can provide incremental supply, improve resilience and help build processing expertise outside China.

The real value lies in integration. Recovered rare earth oxides must be refined, qualified, converted into metals or alloys, and returned to magnet production.

IonicRE’s agreement with Nth Cycle therefore supports a wider strategic goal. It helps build the technical infrastructure needed for a circular rare earth magnet supply chain outside China.

The Metalnomist Commentary

IonicRE’s licensing deal shows that rare earth recycling is moving from sustainability language into supply-chain strategy. The key opportunity is not only recovering magnet waste, but turning it into qualified oxide feedstock that can support non-China magnet production.

Aclara Rare Earth Oxides Plan Links Brazil Mining to US Separation

aclara

Aclara rare earth oxides production plans have been reaffirmed for the Carina project in Brazil, strengthening the company’s role in the emerging Americas rare earth supply chain. The Brazilian rare earth producer expects to produce more than 4,300 t/yr of rare earth oxides from 2028.

Aclara rare earth oxides output is expected to average 4,378 t/yr contained in mixed rare earth concentrate. The planned product mix includes 1,191 t/yr of neodymium-praseodymium, 156 t/yr of dysprosium and 27 t/yr of terbium.

Aclara rare earth oxides are strategically important because NdPr, dysprosium and terbium are key inputs for high-performance permanent magnets. These magnets are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, defence systems and advanced industrial motors.

The Carina project is expected to have an 18-year mine life. Production costs are estimated at $29.20/kg of rare earth oxide produced, giving investors and customers a clearer basis for assessing the project’s long-term competitiveness.

Carina Project Adds Heavy Rare Earths to the Americas Supply Base

The Carina project’s value is not limited to light rare earths. Its mixed rare earth concentrate also contains several heavy rare earth elements that are difficult to secure outside China-linked supply chains.

Aclara expects annual output to include 173 t of samarium, 176 t of gadolinium, 10 t of lutetium and 1,160 t of yttrium. These materials add strategic depth to the project because heavy rare earth supply remains highly concentrated and increasingly sensitive to export controls.

Dysprosium and terbium are especially important for magnet performance. They improve heat resistance and magnetic stability in demanding applications such as EV traction motors, wind turbine generators and defence electronics.

The project therefore fits a wider western effort to build alternative rare earth supply chains. Brazil offers mineral potential, while the US provides downstream policy support and processing infrastructure incentives.

Construction at Carina is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026. Initial output is expected in the second half of 2028, followed by ramp-up in 2029.

Louisiana Separation Plan Builds Downstream Magnet Chain

Aclara plans to send material from Carina to Louisiana for separation and processing. The US site will produce rare earth metals and alloys, moving the project beyond mine supply into downstream magnet material preparation.

This structure matters because rare earth security depends on more than mining. Mixed rare earth concentrate must be separated, refined, converted into metals and alloyed before it can support permanent magnet production.

The Louisiana processing route could therefore create a more integrated Brazil-US rare earth chain. It links Brazilian ionic clay-style rare earth resources with US separation, metal and alloy capacity.

Public-sector support strengthens the project’s strategic profile. The US International Development Finance Corporation provided $5mn for Carina’s development, while Louisiana granted $46mn in tax incentives to accelerate the separation project.

For western magnet manufacturers, Aclara’s model offers potential supply diversification. The company could provide NdPr, dysprosium and terbium units into a market where downstream users are actively seeking non-China material.

However, execution remains critical. The project must move through construction, commissioning, ramp-up and qualification before it can become a reliable supply source for magnet makers and strategic customers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Aclara’s plan shows that rare earth competitiveness now depends on linking mine output with separation and metal conversion. The Brazil-Louisiana route could become strategically important if it delivers heavy rare earth volumes into the Americas magnet supply chain.

Lynas Heavy Rare Earths Production Breaks China's Market Monopoly

Lynas Rare Earths

Lynas heavy rare earths production achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first non-Chinese producer of separated dysprosium. The Australian mineral company's Lynas heavy rare earths facility in Malaysia successfully produced separated dysprosium, marking a significant breakthrough in global supply chain diversification for critical minerals essential to advanced manufacturing and defense applications.

Malaysian Plant Establishes Alternative Supply Chain

Lynas heavy rare earths processing capabilities expanded significantly during the first quarter of 2025. The company constructed dysprosium and terbium processing circuits at its Malaysian facility, with capacity to separate up to 1,500 tonnes per year of heavy rare earths. These new circuits position Lynas to challenge China's dominance in the separated heavy rare earths market.

Meanwhile, Lynas plans to commence separated terbium production next month at the same facility. The processing circuits will eventually enable production of separated dysprosium, terbium, and holmium concentrate. Additionally, the facility will produce unseparated samarium/europium/gadolinium and unseparated mixed heavy rare earths, creating a comprehensive product portfolio.

Strategic Timing Amid Chinese Export Restrictions

However, the breakthrough comes at a critical juncture for global rare earths markets. Chinese suppliers recently limited offers for rare earth minerals, including dysprosium and terbium, following government export control tightening. This timing underscores the strategic importance of establishing alternative supply sources outside China's control.

Therefore, Lynas' production achievement addresses growing concerns about supply chain vulnerability in critical minerals. The company's Q1 2025 total rare earth oxide production reached 1,911 tonnes, including 1,509 tonnes of NdPr oxide. Production declined 46% year-on-year due to improvement and maintenance works across Malaysian and Western Australian operations.

US Partnership Strengthens Supply Chain Resilience

Furthermore, Lynas continues developing another rare earths processing plant in Texas with US government support. The American facility will produce both separated heavy and light rare earths, further reducing Western dependence on Chinese supplies. This dual-facility strategy creates redundancy and geographic diversification for critical mineral processing.

As a result, Lynas positions itself as a cornerstone of Western rare earths supply chain security. The company's expansion into heavy rare earths processing represents a strategic shift from its traditional focus on light rare earths production, addressing military and high-tech manufacturing requirements.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Lynas' achievement in producing separated heavy rare earths outside China represents a watershed moment for global supply chain resilience in critical minerals. The timing coincides perfectly with Chinese export restrictions, demonstrating the urgent need for alternative suppliers in materials essential to clean energy, defense, and advanced technology sectors.

Energy Fuels to Scale Rare Earth Oxide Production in the U.S.

Energy Fuels

Energy Fuels rare earth production

Energy Fuels rare earth production is poised for a major expansion as the company announces technical readiness to process six key rare earth oxides at scale in Utah. This development comes as China tightens export controls on critical materials, heightening U.S. urgency to secure alternative supply chains.

Energy Fuels can now process monazite ore into separated neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide at its White Mesa Mill. The facility is also prepared to produce samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, terbium, lutetium, and yttrium within 12 months, pending government support.

White Mesa Mill to Anchor Domestic Supply Chain

The White Mesa Mill has the permits and expertise to handle radioactive monazite ore and extract uranium and rare earths. Energy Fuels currently processes 10,000 t/yr of monazite, producing 1,000 t/yr of NdPr oxide.

The company plans to increase capacity to 60,000 t/yr in the coming years to meet domestic demand. This facility will serve as the backbone of a non-Chinese supply chain for rare earth oxides crucial to defense and clean tech.

Long-Term Ore Supply Secured Through Global Expansion

Since 2021, Energy Fuels has sourced monazite from Chemours’ mines in Florida and Georgia. In 2023–2024, it secured three major heavy mineral sands (HMS) properties in the Southern Hemisphere to ensure long-term supply.

However, the company notes these assets are subject to permitting and development uncertainties. Until 2028, Energy Fuels will rely on third-party monazite, as high shipping costs hinder additional imports due to material radioactivity.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Energy Fuels' move to domestically scale rare earth oxide production is a milestone in reshoring critical mineral supply chains. If fully realized, it could significantly reduce U.S. dependence on China while supporting clean energy and defense sectors.

Lynas Rare Earths Permit Extension Secures Malaysia Refinery Through 2036

Lynas Rare Earths

Lynas rare earths permit approval in Malaysia gives the Australian producer long-term operating certainty for one of the most important non-Chinese rare earth refining assets. Malaysia’s Department of Atomic Energy extended the company’s refinery operating permit for a decade to 2036, supporting continued light and heavy rare earth oxide production.

The Lynas rare earths permit extension strengthens confidence across the company’s supply chain. Lynas processes rare earth carbonates from Western Australia at its Malaysian plant, making the site a key link between Australian mining and downstream oxide production.

The decision comes as governments and manufacturers seek more secure rare earth supply outside China. For magnet makers, defense contractors, EV suppliers, and industrial technology companies, stable refining capacity is just as important as mine output.

Heavy Rare Earth Separation Becomes the Strategic Growth Area

Lynas expanded its Malaysian refinery in 2025 by building a 1,500 t/yr heavy rare earth separation circuit. The company began producing separated dysprosium and terbium at the site in May and June 2025, respectively.

This is strategically important because dysprosium and terbium are critical inputs for high-performance permanent magnets. These magnets support electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, aerospace systems, defense equipment, and advanced electronics.

The Lynas rare earths permit extension allows the company to continue scaling this capability. Lynas plans to build a 5,000 t/yr heavy rare earth separation plant at the Malaysian site in phases over the next two years, deepening its role in the global rare earth value chain.

Malaysian Expansion Supports Wider Rare Earth Product Diversification

Lynas increased saleable rare earth oxide output by 19pc year on year to 6,375t in July-December 2025. This production growth highlights the importance of the Malaysian refinery as demand for separated oxides continues to rise.

The company also plans to broaden its product line. Lynas aims to produce separated samarium from April 2026, before expanding into gadolinium, yttrium, and lutetium by 2028. These additions would give the refinery a wider specialty rare earth platform.

Lynas is also working to support Malaysia’s broader rare earth sector. Its cooperation with Menteri Besar, the investment agency for Kelantan state, signals that Malaysia wants to play a larger role in rare earth processing and industrial development.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Lynas permit extension is more than a regulatory approval; it is a supply-chain stability event. Western rare earth strategies depend on long-life refining assets, and Malaysia is now positioned as a critical node in heavy rare earth separation.

China Imposes Export Controls on Heavy Rare Earths in Retaliation to US Tariffs

China Rare Earths

New Legislation Strengthens Dual-Use Item Export Control Scheme

In a move likely aimed at countering US President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs, China has extended its export control measures to cover several medium and heavy rare earths. The new controls, announced on April 4, target elements such as samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. These minerals are critical in various high-tech and defense applications, and their export restrictions will likely have significant geopolitical and market implications.

China’s Dual-Use Export Control Scheme

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce emphasized that the materials affected by these new controls possess "dual-use" properties, which means they can be used for both civilian and military applications. Export controls on such items are considered a standard international practice. This move aligns with China’s enhanced dual-use item management scheme, which was bolstered by new legislation passed in October 2023. The new regulations require exporters to submit detailed documents confirming the end-user and the intended use of the items. Should the end-user or the intended use change, exporters are required to halt the shipment immediately.

While the export control scheme is part of a broader effort to regulate strategic materials, it has been widely viewed as a retaliatory response to the US’s 34% reciprocal tariffs, announced on April 2. In recent years, China has also placed export controls on other critical minerals like gallium, germanium, and graphite, in response to escalating tensions with the US and Western nations.

Strategic Implications and Market Reactions

China is a dominant player in the global rare earth market, accounting for over 90% of global supplies. The country’s total shipments of rare earths dropped by 3% in January-February 2024, compared to the same period the previous year, according to customs data. The US, recognizing its dependence on China for these materials, has taken steps to boost domestic production and diversify its supply sources, including funding initiatives in countries like Greenland, which has significant rare earth reserves.

Most market participants previously expected China to hold back on using rare earths as a "last card" in the trade war due to the strategic importance of these materials in many high-tech applications. However, China’s decision to implement these export controls highlights its readiness to leverage its position in the rare earth market. This policy shift is expected to further strain the rare earth supply chain and could result in higher prices for materials such as antimony and bismuth, which have already seen price surges following previous export restrictions.

US Critical Materials and INL Partner on Rare Earth Pilot Plant

US Critical Materials

Advancing Domestic Rare Earth Processing Capacity

US Critical Materials has joined forces with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop a pilot plant that will process rare earth elements (REEs) from Montana’s Sheep Creek deposit. The facility will handle 1–2 metric tonnes of ore per day, enabling the demonstration of advanced mineral processing and separation technologies. The partnership aims to strengthen the United States’ ability to produce critical minerals domestically, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

INL, serving as the US Department of Energy’s primary Separation Sciences R&D hub, will provide technical expertise to optimize recovery processes. Although no operational timeline has been announced, the project marks a significant step toward establishing a vertically integrated REE supply chain within the country.

Strategic Importance of Sheep Creek’s Mineral Profile

The Sheep Creek deposit contains a high-grade mix of critical minerals, including neodymium, praseodymium, niobium, and heavy rare earths such as gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and yttrium, along with gallium. These materials are essential for applications ranging from permanent magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines to advanced defense systems and high-performance electronics.

By leveraging domestic feedstock, the pilot plant will support US efforts to secure stable supplies of these strategically vital resources. This aligns with national priorities to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly given the concentration of global REE processing in China.

Building a Foundation for Scaled Production

The 1–2 t/d pilot plant is designed as a proof-of-concept facility that could pave the way for commercial-scale operations. If successful, the technologies validated here could be deployed across multiple REE-rich sites in the US, further decentralizing global supply and enhancing industrial resilience.

The collaboration also signals growing federal interest in funding and partnering on projects that align with defense, energy transition, and manufacturing needs. By working with INL, US Critical Materials gains access to specialized infrastructure and expertise that could accelerate commercialization.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership highlights the strategic urgency of building a domestic rare earth supply chain. By combining US Critical Materials’ high-grade feedstock with INL’s separation expertise, the pilot plant could become a model for future US-based REE production. The next challenge will be scaling capacity while ensuring cost competitiveness against established global producers.

Lynas samarium oxide output marks another step in building separated heavy rare earth capacity

Lynas samarium oxide

outside China. Australian producer Lynas Rare Earths has achieved first production of samarium oxide at its Malaysian refinery, adding a third separated heavy rare earth material to its commercial product line.

The milestone expands Lynas’ separated heavy rare earth portfolio beyond terbium and dysprosium. The company said it is now the only commercial producer of separated samarium, terbium, and dysprosium outside China.

Lynas samarium oxide output is strategically important because heavy rare earth separation remains one of the most concentrated parts of the global critical minerals chain. China still dominates processing, refining, and separation capacity for many rare earth elements used in magnets, defense systems, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.

Heavy Rare Earth Expansion Moves Lynas Up the Value Chain

Lynas is using its Malaysian refinery to move beyond light rare earths and build a broader separated oxide platform. The company plans to add gadolinium, yttrium, and lutetium over the next two years.

The company may also expand into europium, holmium, ytterbium, and erbium if customer agreements justify the required investment. That approach shows how rare earth separation capacity is being shaped by offtake contracts, not only by resource availability.

Lynas samarium oxide output also improves its strategic value to customers seeking non-China supply. Samarium is used in high-performance magnet applications, including samarium-cobalt magnets, which retain magnetic strength under high temperatures and demanding operating conditions.

US and Japan Offtakes Support Rare Earth Supply Security

Lynas’ product expansion is backed by major offtake commitments from the US and Japan. The company recently signed a binding letter of intent with the US Department of Defence for a $96 million light and heavy rare earth oxide supply deal.

The company has also agreed to sell at least 50pc of its heavy rare earth output to Japan Australia Rare Earths until 2038. These agreements underline Japan’s and the US’ efforts to secure rare earth supply chains for defense, energy, electronics, and advanced industrial uses.

Pricing also supports Lynas’ expansion strategy. Japan Australia Rare Earths and the US Department of Defence have both agreed to buy Lynas’ neodymium-praseodymium oxide at a floor price of at least $110/kg. Lynas’ average realised rare earth sales price rose to A$68.40/kg in July-December 2025, from A$44.60/kg a year earlier.

Lynas produced 6,375t of rare earth oxide in July-December 2025, including 3,407t of neodymium-praseodymium oxide. Output rose by 19pc on the year despite a month of lost production caused by severe power shortages at its Western Australia operations.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Lynas samarium oxide output shows that rare earth security depends on separation capability, not just mining. The next competitive frontier will be reliable, contract-backed production of specific heavy rare earth oxides outside China.

ReElement expands rare earth capabilities

ReElement

ReElement expands rare earth capabilities with trial shipments of 99.99% oxides. ReElement expands rare earth capabilities to support US defense and advanced manufacturing. The program strengthens domestic separation capacity and reduces import reliance.

Trial shipments and product focus

ReElement has begun trial deliveries to qualified defense and commercial partners. The shipments include high-purity rare earth oxides for critical applications. The company targets yttrium, gadolinium, samarium, terbium, gallium, and germanium. These materials enable magnets, sensors, RF devices, and aerospace systems. As a result, US supply chains gain resilience and traceability.

Capacity roadmap and tolling model

ReElement currently operates in Noblesville, Indiana. It is expanding to produce up to 200 t/yr at 99.5–99.999% purity. Meanwhile, the 400,000 ft² Marion facility targets early 2026 start-up. Initial capacity could reach 4,400 t/yr, with scalable growth. Indexed pricing aims to compete with Asian refiners across elements. A tolling model offers discounts until customer capital is amortized. Therefore, buyers can secure bankable costs during program ramp-up. ReElement expands rare earth capabilities while aligning outputs with defense standards.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Trial shipments mark a credible step from lab to market. If Marion ramps as planned, US midstream capacity meaningfully improves. Watch feedstock availability, long-term offtakes, and purity yields to gauge execution risk.

Ramaco rare earth mine breaks ground, reshaping US supply

Rare Earth

Groundbreaking, scale, and 2027 timeline

Ramaco rare earth mine launches with an 11 July groundbreaking in Wyoming. Ramaco said it will be the first US rare earth mine in 70 years. It is also Wyoming’s first new coal mine in over 50 years. Production starts in 2027, with two years of optimization to steady state.

Resource estimates indicate significant scale and magnetic-grade mix. The deposit contains 40% primary magnetic rare earth oxides. Key elements include neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. Three critical minerals—gallium, scandium, and germanium—are also present. Total contained minerals are estimated at 1.3–1.7 million metric tonnes.

Chemistry, processing, and supply-chain impact

Geology differentiates Brook Mine from other US rare earth projects. Unlike Mountain Pass, the deposit is sediment-hosted, not carbonatite. It shows higher relative concentrations of dysprosium, terbium, and gadolinium. This chemistry favors heavy magnet supply for high-temperature applications. Therefore, the Ramaco rare earth mine targets strategic downstream demand.

Commercialization plans emphasize processing pathways and market access. Ramaco plans a Carbon Ore Rare Earth Project integrating mine and extraction. Meanwhile, domestic sourcing supports defense, EV, and grid manufacturing goals. However, permitting, processing capacity, and offtake terms remain key risks. Investors should track pilot results, recoveries, and waste-handling strategies.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project could rebalance US magnet supply if recoveries scale as planned. Execution on separation, waste management, and offtake will define economics and credibility.

Utah low-cost REE producer plans could reshape NdPr supply

Energy Fuels

Utah low-cost REE producer ambitions are moving to the center of US industrial strategy. Utah low-cost REE producer plans now hinge on a major expansion at Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill. As a result, the US could gain a scaled NdPr oxide supplier with meaningful heavy rare earth output.

Energy Fuels estimates $410mn in capital spending for the Utah buildout. The company targets all-in costs of $29.40/kg of NdPr oxide using monazite feed from its Madagascar-linked Vara Mada project. However, costs rise to $59.80/kg if it processes 50,000t/yr of monazite from all sources.

White Mesa expansion targets scale and heavy rare earths

White Mesa currently produces up to 1,000t/yr of NdPr oxide. The expansion would lift capacity to more than 6,000t/yr of NdPr. Meanwhile, the plan adds 66t/yr of terbium and 240t/yr of dysprosium output.

The project also targets about 750t/yr of samarium, europium, and gadolinium concentrate. These streams matter for magnet alloys and specialty applications. Therefore, the economics improve if the plant maintains high recoveries and stable feed quality.

Feedstock strategy links Madagascar, Australia, and Brazil

Energy Fuels anchors its cost claim on monazite from Vara Mada. The company also points to monazite resources in Australia and Brazil to diversify feed. Meanwhile, multi-origin sourcing can improve resilience but complicates blending and qualification.

Regulatory approval is expected by 2027, with construction and commissioning planned by the first quarter of 2029. That timeline places the project behind near-term demand growth. However, long-cycle magnet supply chains often reward credible late-decade capacity.

The Metalnomist Commentary

A cost-competitive NdPr platform becomes strategic only if it scales reliably and secures consistent monazite supply. However, the real differentiator is terbium and dysprosium capability at commercial quality. If White Mesa executes, it could pressure non-Chinese NdPr pricing benchmarks.

China Rare Earth Export Restrictions Disrupt Global Supply and Spur Price Volatility

China Rare Earth

Tightening China rare earth export restrictions are reshaping global supply chains as Chinese exporters suspend offers and overseas buyers scramble to secure inventory. The new regulations, imposed in early April, target seven medium and heavy rare earth elements critical to advanced electronics and defense systems.

Export Uncertainty Freezes Market Activity

China's customs agency is conducting a 45-day investigation into the export of dysprosium, terbium, gadolinium, lutetium, samarium, and yttrium. As a result, many Chinese suppliers have halted offers entirely, citing uncertainty around permit approvals. While some export offers were made at a 20–30% premium over domestic prices, most exporters chose to prioritize long-term relationships rather than exploit short-term price spikes.

This uncertainty has triggered a rush by overseas buyers to secure rare earth materials from non-China inventories. However, spot market activity remains subdued due to elevated pricing and unclear timelines on permit outcomes.

South Korea Ramps Up Imports Amid U.S. Tensions

South Korean firms—including Samsung, LG, and Hynix—have been warned against re-exporting rare earth-containing products to U.S. military end-users. This has raised concerns of even stricter oversight by Beijing, particularly around transshipments that may indirectly support U.S. defense supply chains.

Despite the warnings, South Korea has dramatically increased its rare earth imports from China. In Q1 2025, dysprosium oxide imports reached 17 tonnes, up from just 1.2 tonnes a year earlier, making South Korea the top importer. Terbium oxide imports also climbed to 2.8 tonnes, positioning the country as China's second-largest buyer after Japan.

Strategic Stockpiling Reflects Long-Term Risk

The surge in South Korean purchases appears to exceed immediate demand, suggesting a strategic stockpiling effort ahead of further supply restrictions. Meanwhile, overseas suppliers with inventory outside China are raising prices to capitalize on the constrained supply environment.

In 2024, China exported 150 tonnes of dysprosium oxide and 91 tonnes of terbium oxide globally, with Japan and South Korea accounting for the majority. The shifting trade flows underscore the geopolitical sensitivity of the rare earth market and the risks posed by regulatory fragmentation.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The China rare earth export restrictions are a strategic inflection point for global rare earth supply chains. While buyers scramble to manage short-term disruptions, the long-term signal is clear: diversification, transparency, and geopolitical alignment are now essential in securing access to critical minerals.

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.