Neo Rare Earth Recycling Deal Strengthens Circular Magnet Supply Chain

Neo performance materials

Neo rare earth recycling plans with Cyclic Materials will support a more circular supply chain for rare earth magnets in Europe and North America. The agreement allows Neo Performance Materials to feed recovered rare earth elements into its alloy and magnet manufacturing operations.

Neo rare earth recycling also aligns with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to increase rare earth processing and recycling capacity. This is important because Europe needs more secure access to magnet materials used in EVs, wind turbines, robotics, automation, defence systems, and advanced electronics.

Cyclic Materials recovers rare earth elements from magnet production scrap and end-of-life magnet-bearing materials. Under the agreement, Neo will supply magnet production scrap from its European operations to Cyclic, which will recycle the material into mixed rare earth oxide.

Recycled Rare Earth Oxides Support Neo’s Magnet Platform

Neo will receive mixed rare earth oxides and related products from Cyclic. These materials will come from end-of-life magnets and third-party magnet manufacturing scrap, creating a secondary feedstock stream for Neo’s downstream operations.

This structure matters because rare earth magnet supply chains remain highly exposed to China-dominated processing and refining capacity. Recycling does not eliminate the need for primary rare earth mining, but it can improve resilience, reduce waste, and support traceable supply for strategic customers.

Neo operates a 2,000 t/yr magnet production facility in Estonia and plans to expand it to 5,000 t/yr. A reliable recycled feedstock channel could become more valuable as European magnet production scales and customers demand stronger ESG and supply-chain security credentials.

Cyclic Expands North American Rare Earth Recycling Capacity

Cyclic is building a rare earth recycling campus in South Carolina with initial processing capacity of 2,000 t/yr of magnets. The site is expected to produce 600 t/yr of mixed rare earth oxide, with expansion plans to reach 6,000 t/yr of magnet processing and 1,800 t/yr of MREO output.

The company also has an agreement with Vacuumschmelze to recycle production scrap from the German group’s Sumter, South Carolina, magnet facility. This shows that rare earth recycling is moving from pilot concepts toward integrated industrial supply agreements.

The Neo-Cyclic partnership connects European magnet manufacturing, North American recycling capacity, and recycled rare earth oxide supply. That model could become increasingly important as governments push for domestic and allied rare earth value chains outside China.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Rare earth recycling is becoming a strategic complement to mining and separation, not a side activity. The key advantage will go to companies that can connect scrap collection, oxide recovery, alloying, and magnet production into one qualified supply chain.

Belfast Magnet Recycling Grant Strengthens the UK Rare Earth Supply Chain

IonicRE

The Belfast magnet recycling grant gives the UK a stronger position in the rare earth supply chain. Ionic Technologies will receive £12mn from the UK government for a commercial magnet recycling facility in Belfast. The plant will produce high-purity separated magnet rare earth oxides. As a result, the Belfast magnet recycling grant supports both industrial policy and strategic materials security.

This project matters because rare earth recycling is becoming more important in western supply chains. Governments want more local processing capacity for magnet materials. They also want lower dependence on imported rare earth products. Therefore, the Belfast magnet recycling grant reflects a wider push for resilient critical minerals infrastructure.

The planned facility will have capacity of 400 t/yr of separated magnet rare earth oxides. Product purity is expected to exceed 99.5pc. Ionic Technologies will use its long-loop recycling process at the site. Consequently, the project is positioned as a commercial recycling platform, not a pilot concept.

UK Rare Earth Supply Chain Gains a New Industrial Anchor

The UK rare earth supply chain has lacked enough domestic downstream processing capacity. This grant helps address that gap with targeted capital support. IonicRE said the funding will serve as a cornerstone of the project’s investment structure. Therefore, the government is helping reduce financing risk at a critical stage.

The policy context also matters. The grant comes through the UK’s Drive35 programme. That programme supports industrialisation linked to zero-emission vehicle technologies. As a result, the Belfast plant is tied not only to recycling, but also to future transport manufacturing needs.

This alignment could improve long-term project relevance. Magnet rare earth oxides are essential for advanced motors and electrified systems. Stronger domestic recycling can support cleaner industrial growth. Meanwhile, it can reduce exposure to volatile external supply chains.

Rare Earth Recycling Facility Fits a Wider Western Funding Trend

This rare earth recycling facility also fits a broader western investment pattern. IonicRE has already moved to develop vertically integrated rare earth oxide recycling in Missouri. That shows the company is building across more than one jurisdiction. Consequently, Belfast may become part of a larger transatlantic recycling strategy.

The market significance extends beyond its initial size. A 400 t/yr facility will not transform global rare earth balances alone. However, it can prove commercial viability and support regional supply security. Therefore, smaller strategic plants can still matter greatly in critical materials markets.

The Belfast magnet recycling grant also signals a policy shift in how governments support rare earth projects. Instead of focusing only on mining, they are backing recycling and downstream processing. That approach may create faster, more practical gains in supply chain resilience. As a result, recycling is becoming a serious industrial policy tool.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This grant is important because it supports processing capability, not just raw material ambition. The UK is backing a practical route into rare earth security through recycling and purification. If Belfast succeeds, it could become a model for how smaller western projects build strategic value.

Cyclic Lime Rare Earth Recycling Partnership Targets Electric Scooter Motor Magnets

Cyclic Materials

Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling partnership launched as Canadian recycler Cyclic Materials contracted with electric scooter company Lime to recover rare earth elements from decommissioned motors. The Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling collaboration will process magnets from Lime's retired electric bike and scooter fleet across US and Canadian operations, establishing a circular economy model for critical materials recovery from urban mobility infrastructure.

Hydrometallurgical Processing Creates Closed-Loop Supply Chain

Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling operations will utilize Cyclic's dual-facility processing network spanning Mesa, Arizona, and Kingston, Ontario. The Kingston facility employs hydrometallurgical processes to produce mixed rare earth oxide from recovered magnet materials. Mesa represents Cyclic's first US processing location, expanding the company's geographic reach for North American rare earth recycling operations.

Meanwhile, the partnership targets Lime's substantial fleet of over 270,000 electric bikes and scooters operating across 280 cities globally. This scale provides consistent feedstock volumes for rare earth recovery operations while addressing end-of-life disposal challenges for electric mobility devices. The collaboration demonstrates practical applications of circular economy principles in urban transportation sectors.

Scaling Operations Address Growing E-Mobility Waste Streams

However, Cyclic and Lime plan operational commencement within weeks, with activity scaling throughout 2025 as fleet retirement cycles mature. The timing aligns with growing volumes of first-generation electric scooters and bikes reaching end-of-life status after several years of intensive urban deployment. This natural replacement cycle creates predictable feedstock availability for recycling operations.

Therefore, the partnership addresses critical material recovery from permanent magnets containing neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium essential for motor performance. These rare earth elements maintain high value and strategic importance for electric vehicle and renewable energy applications. Recovery operations reduce dependence on primary mining while supporting domestic rare earth supply chain resilience.

Urban Mobility Recycling Model Demonstrates Industry Leadership

Furthermore, Lime's commitment to rare earth recycling complements existing battery recycling partnerships with companies like Redwood Materials. This comprehensive approach to component recycling establishes industry best practices for sustainable electric mobility operations. The integrated recycling strategy addresses both battery and motor component end-of-life management across Lime's global fleet.

As a result, the Cyclic partnership positions Lime as a leader in sustainable urban mobility practices while creating valuable secondary rare earth supply sources. The collaboration demonstrates how service-based mobility companies can contribute to critical materials circularity while managing operational costs through material recovery value. This model could influence broader electric vehicle and mobility industry recycling practices.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Cyclic-Lime partnership represents an innovative approach to rare earth recycling that leverages the predictable replacement cycles of commercial electric mobility fleets to create sustainable feedstock streams for critical materials recovery. This collaboration demonstrates how urban mobility companies can transition from being solely consumers of critical materials to active participants in circular supply chains, potentially serving as a model for broader transportation electrification sectors.

MMC ReElement Rare-Earth Recycling Deal Strengthens Allied Supply Chains

MMC, ReElement

MMC ReElement rare-earth recycling plans mark another step in Japan’s effort to build resilient rare earth supply chains outside China. Mitsubishi Materials will invest in Indiana-based ReElement Technologies through preferred shares and collaborate on recycling rare earths from secondary sources.

The partnership will combine Mitsubishi Materials pretreatment and metal recovery capabilities with ReElement’s chromatography-based separation and purification technology. The companies aim to recover rare earths from home appliances, automotive parts and electronic scrap.

MMC ReElement rare-earth recycling is strategically important because recycling can reduce dependence on primary mining and imported separated rare earth products. It also gives Japan and North America another route to support domestic and allied manufacturing.

Chromatography Technology Targets High-Purity Rare Earth Recovery

ReElement’s technology uses proprietary chromatography-based processes to separate and purify rare earths. The company says the process can recover rare earths at purity above 99.5% and yield above 95%.

This matters because rare earth recycling is not simply a scrap collection business. The real challenge is separating complex mixed materials into high-purity products that can meet downstream specifications.

Mitsubishi Materials plans to apply the technology in North America and Japan. By integrating pretreatment, metal recovery, separation and purification, the companies could create a more complete recycling route for rare earth-bearing waste streams.

Japan and North America Build Circular Rare Earth Capacity

MMC ReElement rare-earth recycling cooperation fits a broader push to secure magnet and advanced materials supply chains. Rare earths recovered from appliances, automotive parts and electronic scrap could support manufacturing sectors that use motors, sensors, electronics and high-performance components.

The companies may also establish a joint venture to scale the model. That would move the relationship beyond financial investment and into deeper industrial collaboration.

For Mitsubishi Materials, the agreement supports its resource circulation strategy. For ReElement, the investment adds a major Japanese industrial partner with experience in metals processing and recycling.

The Metalnomist Commentary

MMC ReElement rare-earth recycling shows that supply security is moving from mining projects into urban mining and advanced separation. The strongest model will combine scrap access, pretreatment know-how and high-purity separation technology into one scalable value chain.

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.

Shenghe Rare Earth Expansion Targets Higher Capacity and Overseas Resources

Shenghe Resources

Shenghe rare earth expansion plans for 2026-28 show the Chinese producer moving to strengthen its position across rare earth processing, recycling, overseas mining and heavy mineral supply. The company aims to raise revenue, expand capacity and secure more seaborne resource reserves over the next three years.

Shenghe rare earth expansion will be supported by stronger market conditions. The company expects 2025 profits of 790mn-910mn yuan, sharply higher than a year earlier, helped by higher rare earth prices and increased sales volumes.

Shenghe rare earth expansion also reflects China’s broader strategy to deepen control across rare earth value chains. The company already operates across oxide separation, metal processing and scrap recycling, while also extending into polishing powders, catalysts and magnetic materials.

Rare Earth Capacity Growth Anchors the 2026-28 Plan

Shenghe aims to lift rare earth oxide output capacity to more than 30,000 t/yr. It also plans to keep operating rates above 95% across its rare earth processing and recycling businesses.

The company plans to raise rare earth scrap recycling capacity to 15,000 t/yr during 2026-28. This is strategically important because recycling can improve feedstock security and reduce dependence on primary mined supply.

The Ngualla rare earth project in Tanzania is central to Shenghe’s overseas growth plan. Shenghe acquired the project in 2025, gaining access to 4.62mn t of rare earth oxide resources and 887,000t of rare earth oxide reserves.

Construction at Ngualla is targeted for completion in 2027, with commercial production expected in 2028. If delivered, the project could strengthen Shenghe’s access to non-domestic rare earth concentrate and support its long-term processing growth.

Heavy Minerals Add Zircon and Titanium Growth Platform

Shenghe is also expanding beyond rare earths into zircon-titanium heavy minerals. The company aims to increase zircon-titanium heavy mineral capacity to more than 1.5mn t/yr and raise domestic beneficiation plant utilisation above 80%.

Revenue from zirconium and titanium businesses is targeted to exceed 30% of total revenue. This gives Shenghe a broader industrial minerals platform linked to ceramics, refractories, titanium feedstocks, zirconium chemicals and mineral sands processing.

The company is advancing overseas heavy mineral projects in Tanzania and Madagascar. It plans to expand Nyati capacity to 300,000 t/yr in 2026 and 500,000 t/yr in 2028, while the Jiacheng plant in Madagascar is expected to produce its first heavy mineral concentrate in 2027 and reach 1mn t/yr by 2028.

Shenghe also plans to invest at least 3bn yuan over the next three years in overseas resources, domestic rare earth deep-processing, and zirconium and titanium businesses. This underlines its ambition to become a more integrated rare earth and heavy minerals supplier.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Shenghe’s plan shows that China’s rare earth leaders are no longer focused only on separation capacity. The next stage is securing overseas ores, scaling recycling, and building downstream materials exposure before global supply chains diversify further.

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.

Heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy from VAC targets China-independent magnet supply

Vacuumschmelze

Heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy from VAC marks a major shift in Western magnet strategy. German producer Vacuumschmelze has launched VACODYM 902 TP, a neodymium-iron-boron grade that avoids dysprosium and terbium. As a result, the heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy offers high performance while reducing exposure to increasingly volatile heavy rare earth markets.

VACODYM 902 TP extends VAC’s family of reduced-HRE NdFeB grades. The new heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy achieves a remanence of at least 1.40 Tesla and a coercivity of at least 1,190 kA/m. These metrics place it firmly in the high-performance segment for traction motors and industrial drives. Therefore, OEMs gain an alternative to conventional NdFeB magnets that rely on dysprosium and terbium to maintain coercivity at elevated temperatures.

Western buyers have sought heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy solutions for several years. Dysprosium and terbium production still concentrates overwhelmingly in China, which creates structural supply risk. Meanwhile, policymakers and OEMs push for magnet designs that reduce heavy rare earth intensity without sacrificing performance. VAC’s new grade directly responds to this pressure and is fully produced within Western supply chains.

Export controls and price spikes intensify heavy rare earth risk

China’s export controls on certain rare earths have tightened heavy rare earth availability for Atlantic buyers since April. Spot prices for dysprosium and terbium outside China surged immediately after the controls. European terbium oxide prices rose by 268pc between 1 April and early September, reaching $3,300-3,800/kg cif Europe. As a result, magnet makers now face severe raw material cost volatility and procurement uncertainty.

This environment accelerates the search for alternatives to heavy rare earth dependent NdFeB grades. VAC explicitly cites volatile raw material costs and market uncertainty as major supply chain challenges. Therefore, its new alloy is positioned as a “geopolitically independent alternative” to traditional heavy rare earth based solutions. The goal is clear: decouple magnet performance from a small, politically sensitive set of Chinese-controlled metals.

Other Western players are also moving to build ex-China heavy rare earth capacity. Lynas has started small-scale dysprosium and terbium oxide production in Malaysia. US producer Energy Fuels has produced pilot-scale dysprosium and plans larger-scale dysprosium and terbium output in Utah by late 2026. MP Materials supplies a heavy rare earth concentrate, SEG+, containing dysprosium and terbium for downstream processors.

Western magnet supply chains pivot toward diversified feedstocks

VAC’s launch of a heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy fits a broader diversification trend. Western magnet producers and their customers want designs that either use fewer heavy rare earths or none at all. This shift complements efforts to develop new mining, separation and recycling capacity outside China. It also supports OEM strategies to meet ESG targets and reduce geopolitical risk in EV and wind supply chains.

VAC emphasises the importance of resilient, regionally anchored magnet value chains. Its new alloy, fully produced in the West, supports that objective. However, performance in real-world motor and generator platforms will ultimately determine adoption. Automotive and industrial customers will test VACODYM 902 TP against existing HRE-containing grades on efficiency, temperature stability and cost.

If performance proves comparable, heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy families could gain rapid traction. That would gradually reduce Western dependence on Chinese dysprosium and terbium, even as new ex-China projects ramp up. In parallel, recycling and alternative motor topologies may further ease heavy rare earth demand over the next decade.

The Metalnomist Commentary

VAC’s move shows how magnet technology, not only mining, will shape the next phase of the rare earth race. A commercially viable heavy rare earth free NdFeB alloy gives Western OEMs a real lever to hedge against Chinese export controls and price spikes. Market participants should watch qualification timelines closely, because large-scale adoption could materially shift dysprosium and terbium demand forecasts.

IonicRE USSM Magnet Recycling Partnership Targets High-Purity Rare Earth Oxides

IonicRE

The IonicRE USSM magnet recycling partnership aims to produce high-purity rare earth oxides from recycled magnets in the US. The IonicRE USSM magnet recycling partnership will recover NdPr and multiple heavy rare earths from end-of-life materials. This IonicRE USSM magnet recycling partnership strengthens circular supply chains for critical minerals used in electric vehicles and advanced electronics.

Technology-driven rare earth recovery in Missouri

US Strategic Metals will operate a Missouri recycling facility that focuses on rare earth extraction from discarded magnets. The plant will recover neodymium–praseodymium oxide plus heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium. It will also produce samarium, gadolinium and holmium oxides, which are vital for high-performance permanent magnets.

Ionic Rare Earths will provide the core recycling technology through its UK arm, Ionic Technologies. This technology will allow USSM to produce separated rare earth oxides with purities above 99.5pc. As a result, the project targets magnet-grade products that can directly serve automotive, wind and electronics manufacturers.

Building a rare earth circular economy across three continents

IonicRE already holds a 60pc stake in the Makuutu rare earths project in Uganda. That asset provides a potential primary feedstock base for future value chains. Meanwhile, its joint venture in Brazil with Viridis Mining and Minerals adds refinery and magnet recycling capacity.

Together, these projects position IonicRE across mining, refining and recycling in Africa, South America and now North America. This diversified footprint reduces reliance on single-country supply for key elements like NdPr, dysprosium and terbium. Therefore, the new US partnership helps align resource security with circular economy goals in the rare earth sector.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This deal underlines how magnet recycling is moving from pilot scale to commercially relevant volumes in North America. By combining IonicRE’s technology with USSM’s facility, the partnership could become a template for regional rare earth circularity. The broader footprint across Uganda, Brazil and the US also shows how mid-tier players can stitch together multi-continent supply chains outside China.

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.

China’s Recycled Rare Earth Output Drops in 2024 on Supply and Margin Pressures

China’s Recycled Rare Earth

Rare Earth Oxide Output Falls Despite Long-Term Growth

China’s recycled rare earth oxide (REO) output declined in 2024, primarily due to limited NdFeB magnet scrap supply and weaker plant margins. Ji’an Xintai Technology’s chairman, Liu Weihua, reported that REO output from NdFeB magnet scrap totaled 34,147 tonnes, down 14% from 2023 but up 2% from 2022.

This total includes 26,504t of praseodymium-neodymium oxide, along with smaller quantities of gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and holmium oxides. By comparison, China produced 39,662t of REO from scrap in 2023, indicating a clear year-over-year contraction in recycled supply.

Scrap Availability and Profitability Hit Recycling Plants

Liu noted that larger magnet manufacturers are producing less NdFeB scrap due to technology upgrades. This shift, combined with traders' reluctance to sell at lower prices, has constrained the scrap supply chain.

Meanwhile, rare earth recycling plants have seen shrinking profit margins amid firm scrap prices and falling REO market prices. To cope, many rough magnet manufacturers have started in-house recycling to improve resource efficiency and profitability.

China currently operates about 40 recycling plants for NdFeB scrap, with Jiangxi province accounting for 64% of the nation’s recycled REO output. Shandong and Jiangsu followed with 15% and 11%, respectively, consolidating over 86% of China's total recycling capacity.

China Maintains Global Dominance in Rare Earth Supply

Global REO output in 2024 reached 454,000 tonnes, with China contributing roughly 90% through its mining quotas, scrap recycling, and imports. Despite this year’s dip, China's REO recycling capacity surpassed 80,000t in 2024 and is expected to hit 100,000t in 2025.

As demand for NdFeB magnets surges globally, China’s long-term recycling potential remains strong, albeit challenged by short-term headwinds.

The Metalnomist Commentary

China’s temporary dip in recycled rare earth output reflects deeper structural tensions between supply control and market sustainability. The push for high-tech efficiency is narrowing scrap availability, but rising global magnet demand ensures that China's recycling sector will remain a pillar of strategic resource security.

Noveon Solvay rare earth oxides deal starts 2026 as magnet supply chains tighten

Noveon

The Noveon Solvay rare earth oxides deal strengthens Western magnet supply chains. Noveon Magnetics signed an agreement with Solvay for critical rare earth oxides. The Noveon Solvay rare earth oxides deal starts in 2026 and covers NdPr, dysprosium, and terbium oxides. Volume and pricing details were not disclosed.

This agreement targets high-value magnet inputs for EVs and industrial motors. NdPr anchors most permanent magnet demand, while heavy rare earths protect performance at heat. Meanwhile, buyers want non-China supply options with traceability. Therefore, long-term supply agreements are becoming a strategic asset.

Noveon scales magnet capacity and targets South Korea production

Noveon already produces about 2,000 tonnes per year of magnets. The company says it can scale to 10,000 tonnes per year. It also plans a 2,000-tonne-per-year magnet facility in South Korea.

Customers signal strong industrial pull. Noveon supplies firms such as Nidec, General Motors, and ABB. As a result, secure oxide supply can support higher magnet output and stable delivery schedules.

Solvay builds recycling and separation to meet Europe’s 2030 targets

Solvay is expanding its European rare earth footprint through separation and recycling. The company operates a rare earth separation and recycling site in La Rochelle. It partners with Cyclic Materials to source recycled mixed rare earth oxides for that facility.

Solvay aims to meet 30% of Europe’s rare earth demand by 2030. The La Rochelle site can separate all rare earth elements. However, Europe still faces bottlenecks in feedstock, permitting, and financing. Therefore, the Noveon Solvay rare earth oxides deal also signals confidence in regional scale-up.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Heavy rare earth access will decide who wins high-temperature motor specifications. Meanwhile, recycling-linked oxides can reduce scope-three risk for EV supply chains. Therefore, buyers should lock multi-year contracts and qualify recycled streams early.

ReElement rare earth scaleup secures $22mn for US critical minerals

ReElement

ReElement rare earth scaleup takes a major step with $22mn in fresh funding. The US refiner will expand production of rare earth oxides, lithium carbonates and other defense critical minerals at its Indiana facilities. As a result, the ReElement rare earth scaleup directly supports Washington’s push for resilient, non Chinese critical mineral supply chains.

Funding package strengthens US rare earth separation capacity

The ReElement rare earth scaleup relies on a blended funding package from private and federal sources. Maxus Capital Group provided a $20mn equipment leasing facility to finance large scale processing equipment. This capital will expand production lines at ReElement’s Marion and Noblesville sites in Indiana.

In parallel, the US Department of Defense awarded ReElement an additional $2mn grant. The DoD support aims to strengthen domestic separation and purification of critical minerals for defense applications. Therefore, the ReElement rare earth scaleup aligns directly with US national security priorities and allied sourcing strategies.

The combined $22mn allows ReElement to move from pilot scale toward more meaningful commercial volumes. However, the company must still demonstrate consistent operations and competitive unit costs against established Asian processors. Successful ramp up would mark a significant milestone for US based rare earth refining.

Patented technology underpins ReElement rare earth scaleup

Advanced processing technology sits at the heart of the ReElement rare earth scaleup. The company uses a patented method to produce 99.5% pure rare earth oxides. These include neodymium, dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for high performance permanent magnets.

ReElement can treat diverse feedstocks, including ores, recycled magnets and manufacturing waste. This flexibility supports both primary mining projects and a growing magnet recycling ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Marion facility also produces lithium carbonate from lithium iron phosphate black mass. That capability links the ReElement rare earth scaleup to battery recycling, not just magnet supply chains.

By combining rare earth separation and lithium carbonate production, ReElement positions itself as a multi stream critical mineral refiner. Therefore, its growth trajectory will matter for magnet makers, EV battery supply chains and defense contractors alike. Investors will watch how quickly the company can qualify products with downstream customers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

ReElement’s progress shows how relatively modest capital injections can unlock strategic capacity in rare earths and battery materials. The mix of DoD backing and private leasing underscores growing comfort with asset light financing structures in critical minerals. Market participants should track offtake deals and product qualification, which will determine whether this scaleup becomes a true pillar of US magnet and battery raw material supply.

China Rare Earth Resources Expand as Maoniuping REO Estimate Nearly Doubles

China Natural Resources

China rare earth resources have received another major boost after the natural resources ministry confirmed 9.67 million tonnes of rare earth oxide resources at the Maoniuping mining area in Sichuan province. The updated estimate nearly doubles the 4.96 million tonnes of REO previously reported by China Rare Earth Group in September 2024.

The Maoniuping mine is operated by China Rare Earth Group, the country’s largest state-owned rare earth producer. The new resource verification strengthens China’s upstream position in a sector where it already dominates separation, refining, magnet materials, and downstream industrial applications.

China rare earth resources remain central to global supply chains for electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense systems, robotics, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. The larger Maoniuping resource base gives Beijing more long-term optionality as rare earth demand rises and geopolitical competition intensifies.

Maoniuping Reinforces China’s Rare Earth Industrial Advantage

The Maoniuping update is strategically important because China’s rare earth strength is not limited to mining. The country controls the most advanced and integrated rare earth processing system, from ore extraction to separated oxides, metals, alloys, and permanent magnets.

A larger confirmed REO resource base supports that industrial chain. It gives China Rare Earth Group a stronger reserve platform and reinforces Beijing’s ability to manage supply, pricing, and export policy across rare earth markets.

The timing also matters. China has pledged to launch a new round of mineral exploration actions over the next five years, aiming for breakthroughs in strategic resources. The Maoniuping result shows how exploration and state-backed consolidation are working together to protect China rare earth resources and industrial competitiveness.

Antimony Discovery Adds Weight to Strategic Mineral Policy

China also confirmed antimony resources equivalent to 51,455 tonnes of metal at the Waxigou mine in Gansu province. The project is held by Gansu Sanchang Mining and adds another resource point in a market already affected by tight supply and export controls.

Antimony has become more strategically visible because it is used in flame retardants, alloys, semiconductors, ammunition, and defense-related applications. China accounts for a dominant share of global refining capacity, making any new domestic resource confirmation important for both supply security and policy leverage.

Beijing has already placed antimony and rare earths under stricter dual-use export licensing controls. As a result, ex-China supply has tightened, prices have surged, and overseas buyers are reassessing dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral chains.

The Metalnomist Commentary

China’s latest rare earth and antimony confirmations show that Beijing is strengthening both the upstream and regulatory sides of critical mineral control. For the US, EU, Japan, and Korea, the message is clear: diversification must include mining, refining, recycling, and advanced material production, not just alternative offtake contracts.

ReElement Rare Earth Processing Award Strengthens US Mine-to-Magnet Strategy

ReElement

ReElement rare earth processing has gained fresh support from the US Department of Defense through a $2mn award to expand separation capacity in Marion, Indiana. The funding reflects Washington’s continued push to reduce reliance on Chinese-dominated rare earth supply chains and build domestic processing capacity for defense and commercial applications.

The two-year award will support processing of ores, recycled magnets, and manufacturing waste. This is important because the US rare earth supply chain needs more than new mines. It also needs refining, separation, recycling, and oxide production capacity that can feed permanent magnet manufacturing.

ReElement rare earth processing uses chromatography-based refining technology to produce high-purity rare earth oxides. These oxides are used in permanent magnets for defense systems, electric motors, electronics, and other advanced industrial applications.

Rare Earth Separation Remains the Critical Bottleneck

Rare earth separation is one of the most important weaknesses in the Western critical minerals supply chain. Mining projects can produce concentrates, but those materials must still be separated and refined into usable oxides before they can support magnet production.

The Department of Defense award targets that gap. By supporting ReElement rare earth processing in Indiana, the US is trying to expand the domestic industrial base around materials that are essential for missiles, aircraft, radar systems, robotics, electric vehicles, wind power, and precision electronics.

The funding also covers recycled magnets and manufacturing waste, which could strengthen circular supply channels. Recycling cannot replace primary supply entirely, but it can reduce dependence on imported feedstock and improve resilience when geopolitical tensions disrupt traditional flows.

Defense Funding Supports the 2027 Mine-to-Magnet Initiative

The award is part of the Department of Defense’s 2027 mine-to-magnet initiative. That strategy aims to connect raw material sourcing, separation, oxide production, metal making, alloying, and magnet manufacturing inside a more secure domestic and allied supply chain.

The funding comes through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program. Since 2014, the program has invested more than $2.6bn across 207 projects to expand US industrial base capacity. This shows that rare earths are now treated as a defense-industrial issue, not only a mining or technology issue.

The delayed announcement also highlights the importance of continuity in critical minerals policy. Government shutdowns and budget delays can slow execution, but the strategic direction remains clear. The US wants more domestic capacity for rare earth processing, especially for materials tied to permanent magnets and national security.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The ReElement award is small in dollar terms but important in strategic direction. The US rare earth challenge will not be solved by mining alone; the real contest is in separation, refining, recycling, and magnet-ready material production.

HyProMag May Get $92mn for Rare Earth Magnet Recycling

HyProMag

HyProMag Expands Rare Earth Recycling with US Support

HyProMag may receive up to $92mn from the US Export-Import Bank to build a rare earth magnet recycling and production hub in Texas. The proposed financing, with a 10-year repayment term, would support the development of a Dallas-Fort Worth facility capable of processing 750 tonnes of recycled NdFeB magnets annually. The hub will also produce over 800 tonnes of NdFeB co-products.

The project is part of HyProMag’s broader effort to commercialize hydrogen processing of magnet scrap recycling technology across the UK, Germany, and the US. The Texas facility is expected to take five years to commission and operate for 40 years, positioning HyProMag as a key player in securing North American rare earth supply chains.

Strategic Positioning in Critical Raw Materials

HyProMag’s US expansion includes pre-processing facilities in South Carolina and Nevada, which will support the main Texas hub. This network is designed to create a domestic supply chain for recycled rare earth magnets, reducing reliance on primary extraction and overseas suppliers.

Investor Mkango Resources also links the project to its international portfolio, including Malawi’s Songwe Hill rare earths mine and Poland’s Pulawy separation project. Both projects are recognized under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, highlighting their strategic importance in diversifying global rare earth supply.

The Metalnomist Commentary

HyProMag’s planned Texas hub signals a decisive shift toward circular economy solutions in the rare earth sector. If secured, the $92mn financing would not only strengthen US supply chain independence but also reduce environmental impacts from mining. This move underscores growing geopolitical pressure to secure rare earth materials domestically.

EMR and Ionic Technologies Partner on Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Supply Chain

Ionic Technologies

UK Magnet Recycling Gains Momentum with EMR-Ionic Technologies Agreement

EMR and Ionic Technologies partner on rare earth magnet recycling, marking a key development in the UK’s circular economy for critical materials. EMR, a leading UK-based metals recycler, has signed a non-binding supply agreement with Ionic Technologies to deliver end-of-life magnets to its Belfast facility. These magnets will serve as feedstock for Ionic’s rare earth oxide (REO) extraction and separation process.

The Belfast demonstration plant, supported by a £1.7 million grant from the UK’s Advanced Propulsion Centre in 2022, can process 30 tonnes per year of waste magnets to yield up to 10 tonnes of high-purity REOs annually. These include critical materials like neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium—essential for electric motors, wind turbines, and defense systems. As EMR and Ionic Technologies partner on rare earth magnet recycling, the project aims to secure domestic REO supply and reduce reliance on Chinese imports.

This latest deal builds on Ionic Technologies’ earlier agreement with South Korea’s DNA Link, which could lead to future REO offtake arrangements. Ionic Technologies, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Ionic Rare Earths, is positioning itself at the forefront of rare earth recycling innovation in Europe. As demand for sustainable and secure REO sources accelerates, EMR and Ionic Technologies partner on rare earth magnet recycling to help meet future supply chain needs.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The EMR-Ionic partnership reflects the strategic pivot toward localised, sustainable sourcing of rare earths. With growing geopolitical tension around REO supply, vertically integrated recycling chains like this one could offer both economic and national security advantages.

China Rare Earth Export Controls Tighten Global Tech Flows

China Rare Earth

China rare earth export controls just tightened across mining, processing, magnets, and recycling. The China rare earth export controls require prior approval for technology transfers and technical services. As a result, the China rare earth export controls reshape risks for EVs, wind turbines, and defense supply chains.

What the rules cover

Beijing now restricts technology for mining, smelting and separation, and metal smelting. The rules also cover magnetic material manufacturing and secondary rare earth recycling. Authorities named samarium-cobalt, neodymium-iron-boron, and cerium magnet technologies. The measures include assembly, commissioning, maintenance, and upgrade services. Chinese entities also need approval before assisting foreign rare earth activities. Violations face penalties under the new regime.

Global impacts and industry response

The policy targets unauthorized tech transfer and national security risks. China previously limited exports of several medium and heavy rare earths. The latest move extends controls to know-how and services. Market participants expect stricter IP protection and slower overseas projects. Meanwhile, the US and allies keep building non-China supply chains. However, technology remains the key bottleneck outside China. China holds major reserves and advanced processing capabilities. That gap will challenge rapid diversification efforts.

China rare earth export controls may raise compliance costs for JVs. They could delay new NdFeB magnet lines outside China. Companies will likely pivot toward recycling and substitution. As a result, buyers may sign longer contracts with diversified suppliers. Governments may expand funding for separation and metals plants. Price volatility could rise if inventories tighten into 2026.

The Metalnomist Commentary

China just shifted leverage from material tons to proprietary process IP. Expect accelerated Western investments in separation, metalmaking, and magnet plants, plus stricter trade compliance. Winners will pair secure ore with in-house processing know-how and robust recycling.

Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project with $50mn EFA debt support

Colossus rare earth project

Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project as Export Finance Australia prepares a $50mn debt facility. Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project through a conditional support letter tied to due diligence and approvals. As a result, Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project alongside French, Canadian, and Brazilian state-backed financiers.

Export credit support widens funding options ahead of a 2026 FID

Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project at a critical point in its capital stack planning. EFA’s support is non-binding and depends on using some Australian goods and services. However, the signal matters because export credit agencies often anchor later debt syndication.

Viridis targets a final investment decision in the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, the project already drew interest from export agencies in Canada and France. Therefore, Colossus is building a multi-jurisdiction financing base before formal commitments lock in.

Colossus targets magnet rare earths from ionic clay deposits

Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project that plans to mine neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. These elements sit at the core of permanent magnets for EVs, wind turbines, and defense systems. As a result, Colossus aligns with global efforts to diversify rare earth supply chains.

Viridis also upgraded its Colossus ore reserve estimate in 2025. The company lifted the reserve figure from 98.5mn tonnes to 200mn tonnes. However, the market will still focus on recoveries, product quality, and consistent operating costs.

Downstream plans add strategic value beyond mining

Australia backs Viridis Brazilian rare earth project with a pathway into refining and recycling. Viridis plans a Brazilian rare earth refinery and a magnet recycling plant with Ionic Rare Earths. Meanwhile, Viridis intends to supply rare earth carbonates from Colossus into that refinery.

This integration could strengthen offtake discussions with magnet and alloy buyers. However, downstream execution adds complexity, including permitting, qualification, and technology scale-up. Therefore, investors will watch whether Viridis stages development to avoid bottlenecks.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Export-credit momentum helps, but Colossus still needs a bankable execution plan for ionic clay processing. However, the mine-to-refinery link can improve strategic relevance if product specs meet magnet supply requirements. The next inflection point will be binding debt terms and credible downstream timelines.

Baogang to Boost Rare Earth Concentrate Output Amid Growing Demand

Baogang

China’s Leading Steelmaker Targets 390,000t Rare Earth Output in 2025

Chinese steel giant Baogang Group plans to increase its rare earth concentrate output in 2025 to meet surging downstream demand. The company will raise its output to 390,000 tonnes, equivalent to 195,000 tonnes of 50% rare earth oxide (REO) content. This would mark a steady increase from 370,000 tonnes in 2024 and 320,000 tonnes in 2023.

Rare Earth Demand Drives Quota Expectations

Market participants expect China to raise its rare earth mining quotas by 8–10% in 2025. Growth in magnet production and other downstream applications has continued to drive demand for REO. Baogang operates the Bayan Obo mine, the world’s largest rare earth site, which holds 35 million tonnes of REO reserves. This mine represents 81% of China’s total rare earth resources.

Baogang supplies all of its rare earth concentrate to Northern Rare Earth (NRE), China’s largest light rare earth producer. NRE’s mining quota rose to 188,650 tonnes in 2024, accounting for 75% of the nation’s total light rare earth quota.

Revenues Under Pressure Despite Output Growth

Baogang earned ¥9.1 billion ($1.25 billion) from rare earth concentrate sales in 2023, making up nearly 13% of its total revenues. While 2024 revenue figures have yet to be released, NRE expects its 2024 net profits to fall sharply to ¥950 million–¥1.08 billion, down more than 54% year-on-year.

The decline stems from a combination of factors, including weak global economic conditions, excess supply, rising recycling capacity, and sluggish downstream demand. Competition has intensified in application markets, putting further pressure on rare earth prices and margins.