IonicRE Rare Earth Oxide Supply to AML Advances US Defence Magnet Chain

Ionic Rare Earth

IonicRE rare earth oxide supply to Advanced Magnet Lab marks a small but strategic step in building a non-China supply route for defence-grade permanent magnets. The Australian rare earths miner, refiner and recycler has started shipping high-purity rare earth oxides from its Belfast recycling facility to the US magnet producer.

IonicRE rare earth oxide supply currently involves kilogram-scale volumes of neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium oxides. The material has 99.5-99.9% purity and will be used by AML to produce high-grade sintered neodymium-iron-boron magnets for US defence customers.

IonicRE rare earth oxide supply is important because magnet qualification starts with small, tightly controlled shipments. These early volumes help validate chemistry, process compatibility and performance before larger commercial deliveries begin.

The companies are already discussing a second sale of neodymium and dysprosium. They have also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for longer-term cooperation, with future commercial volumes likely to reach tonnes in 2027.

Belfast Recycling Turns Magnet Scrap Into Strategic Feedstock

IonicRE’s Belfast facility currently has 10 t/yr of rare earth recycling capacity. While modest, it gives western magnet producers a practical source of recycled rare earth oxides from end-of-life and industrial magnet scrap.

The supply chain includes used NdFeB magnet feedstock from German manufacturer Vacuumschmelze and scrap handler European Metal Recycling. IonicRE also has offtake relationships with automotive companies including Ford, Bentley and Wrightbus.

This structure matters because rare earth recycling can shorten supply chains and improve traceability. It also reduces dependence on newly mined material at a time when rare earth separation and magnet production remain highly concentrated in China.

The company’s planned additional Belfast facility received £12mn from the UK government in January. That plant is expected to produce 400 t/yr of light rare earths neodymium-praseodymium, as well as heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium, by the first half of 2028.

Dysprosium is particularly important for defence magnets because it helps maintain magnetic performance under heat and stress. That makes recycled heavy rare earth recovery strategically valuable, even at relatively small volumes.

AML Link Connects Recycling to Defence Magnet Production

AML will use IonicRE’s oxides to produce high-grade sintered NdFeB magnets for defence applications. This connects recycled rare earth feedstock directly to one of the most sensitive parts of the US critical minerals supply chain.

The US is trying to secure rare earth permanent magnet supply outside China after Beijing imposed export controls on rare earth permanent magnets in April 2025. China controls about 90% of the supply chain, leaving US defence and industrial users exposed to licensing risk.

IonicRE brings a wider rare earth platform to the partnership. The company owns 60% of Uganda’s Makuutu rare earth project, holds a 50% stake in a Brazilian rare earth refining joint venture with Viridis, and has signed an MoU with US Strategic Metals for a Missouri recycling facility.

That portfolio gives IonicRE several possible feedstock and processing routes. But the AML shipment is important because it moves from strategy into physical supply.

The key challenge now is scale. Kilogram shipments can support qualification, but defence and industrial magnet markets will need repeatable tonne-scale supply, consistent purity and reliable delivery.

If IonicRE and AML can move from pilot volumes to commercial supply, the partnership could become a useful building block in the US rare earth magnet chain. It would also show how recycling can complement mining and refining in reducing China exposure.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This shipment is small in volume but large in strategic meaning. Non-China rare earth supply chains will be built through qualification steps like this, where recycled oxides prove they can become defence-grade magnets.

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.

Huahong Rare Earth Output Rises as NdFeB Scrap Recycling Supports Magnet Demand

Huahong Rare Earth

Huahong rare earth output increased sharply in 2025 as stronger demand from new energy vehicles, industrial automation and energy-saving motors lifted China’s rare earth recycling and magnet supply chain. Zhejiang Huahong Technology produced 8,794t of rare earth oxides during the year, up 71% from 2024.

Huahong rare earth output growth was also supported by tighter rare earth supply conditions in China. Stricter government controls on mining, processing and production capacity helped lift prices and encouraged stronger output from qualified oxide and magnet producers.

Huahong rare earth output is strategically important because the company recovers rare earth oxides from neodymium-iron-boron scrap. This recycling route gives China another feedstock source for magnet production at a time when primary supply, mining quotas and scrap availability remain sensitive.

Sales of rare earth oxides rose by 57% to 9,165t in 2025, while inventories increased by 7% to 359t. The figures show that downstream demand remained strong enough to absorb most of the company’s higher oxide output.

NdFeB Scrap Recycling Gains Value Under Tighter Rare Earth Supply

Huahong operates three production bases for NdFeB scrap recycling: Ji’an Xintai, Jishui Jincheng and Jiangxi Wanhong. Together, these sites have 12,000 t/yr of rare earth oxide capacity using neodymium-iron-boron scrap as feedstock.

This recycling capacity matters because magnet scrap is becoming a strategic rare earth resource. NdFeB magnets contain neodymium, praseodymium and, in higher-performance grades, heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium.

Recovering these materials from scrap can reduce dependence on mined feedstock and improve supply efficiency. It also supports China’s circular rare earth strategy, especially as demand from electric vehicles, robotics and industrial motors rises.

Market participants said some oxide plants are facing shutdowns or output restrictions because their capacity exceeds government standards. Tighter mining quotas, limited spot availability and higher NdFeB scrap costs have also created pressure in the oxide market.

These conditions favour producers with approved capacity and secure scrap channels. Huahong’s stronger oxide output suggests that recycled feedstock is becoming more important in balancing China’s rare earth supply chain.

The company’s revenue rose by 41% to 7.83bn yuan in 2025, while profit increased by 157% to 204mn yuan. The profit growth shows how higher rare earth prices and stronger magnet demand improved margins across the business.

High-Performance Magnet Demand Drives Capacity Expansion

Huahong’s rare earth magnetic materials output rose by 27% to 15,791t in 2025. Sales increased by 19% to 14,035t, while inventories rose by 29% to 1,042t.

The growth reflects rising demand for high-performance magnets in new energy vehicles, industrial robots, automation systems and energy-saving motors. These sectors require magnets with stronger magnetic performance, thermal stability and reliability.

China produced 16.6mn new energy vehicles in 2025, up 29% from a year earlier. NEV sales rose by 28% to 16.5mn units, supporting demand for high-performance NdFeB magnets used in traction motors, pumps, sensors, braking systems and other vehicle components.

Huahong said high-performance NdFeB magnetic materials accounted for around 42% of China’s total magnet output last year. That share is likely to remain important as vehicles become more electrified, automated and motor-intensive.

Industrial robots also supported magnet demand. Global industrial robot output exceeded 600,000 units in 2025, with compound annual growth above 10%. Robotics growth increases demand for compact, efficient and high-torque motor systems.

Huahong plans to start trial operations at the first phase of its Baotou facility in May-June 2026. The first phase will add 10,000 t/yr of high-performance magnet capacity.

Once the first phase comes on line, Huahong’s total high-performance magnet capacity will reach 20,000 t/yr. This positions the company more deeply in the downstream magnet chain, not only in rare earth oxide recycling.

The expansion shows how China’s rare earth industry is moving toward integrated recycling, oxide production and magnet manufacturing. Companies with access to scrap feedstock and downstream magnet capacity may be better positioned as rare earth supply becomes more regulated.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Huahong’s growth shows that rare earth recycling is no longer a secondary supply story. As NEV and robotics demand rises, NdFeB scrap recovery is becoming a strategic feedstock route for China’s high-performance magnet industry.

USAR Rare Earth Separation Plant Starts Operations in Colorado

US rare earths

USAR rare earth separation capacity has taken another step forward after USA Rare Earth commissioned its hydrometallurgical demonstration plant in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The facility will produce separated heavy rare earth oxides, with initial output scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

USAR rare earth separation will target strategically important materials including dysprosium, terbium and yttrium. These elements are critical to high-performance magnets, aerospace, defence, electronics and other advanced manufacturing applications.

USAR rare earth separation is especially significant because heavy rare earth processing remains one of the most concentrated stages of the global supply chain. Developing domestic separation capability could reduce US dependence on overseas processing.

The Wheat Ridge facility will also test multiple feedstock routes, allowing USAR to process mined material alongside recycled magnet waste.

Three Feedstocks Test a Flexible Heavy Rare Earth Supply Model

The Wheat Ridge plant is designed to process three flowsheets in parallel. These include ore from USAR's Round Top project in Texas, material from the Serra Verde Pela Ema mine in Brazil and magnet swarf from manufacturing operations.

This diversified feedstock strategy is strategically important. A separation facility capable of handling both primary resources and recycled material can reduce dependence on a single mine or supply route.

Round Top provides a potential domestic US feedstock source, while Serra Verde gives USAR exposure to Brazilian heavy rare earth resources.

Magnet swarf adds a recycling pathway. Manufacturing waste can contain valuable neodymium, dysprosium, terbium and other rare earths that can be returned to the supply chain instead of being discarded.

The combination creates the basis for a more circular rare earth system connecting mining, recycling and downstream separation.

The plant's automation and real-time process monitoring should also generate technical data required for commercial scale-up. In rare earth processing, consistent purity, recovery and process control are essential before technology can move into large-scale production.

Federal Funding Supports USAR's Integrated Rare Earth Strategy

USAR has secured access to as much as $1.6bn in US government funding, providing significant financial support for its wider rare earth strategy.

The company is attempting to build an integrated supply chain extending beyond mining into separation, metals, alloys and permanent magnets.

Its planned acquisition of Serra Verde would further strengthen that structure by adding an operating Brazilian heavy rare earth resource. The transaction remains subject to regulatory scrutiny in Brazil.

Heavy rare earths are especially important because dysprosium and terbium are used to improve the temperature resistance of NdFeB permanent magnets.

These magnets are critical to electric motors, defence systems, robotics, aerospace and other high-performance applications.

For the US, securing access to ore alone is therefore insufficient. Separation capacity is essential because mixed rare earth feedstock must be converted into individual high-purity oxides before downstream metallisation and magnet production.

The Colorado demonstration plant gives USAR an opportunity to prove that capability across several feedstock types before moving toward larger-scale production.

The Metalnomist Commentary

USAR's Colorado plant targets one of the hardest bottlenecks in the non-China rare earth chain: heavy rare earth separation. Its ability to process both mined feedstock and magnet waste could become strategically valuable if the technology proves scalable.

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.

USA Rare Earth France Investment Targets Integrated European Magnet Supply Chain

USA Rare Earth

USA Rare Earth France investment plans will deploy more than $203mn by 2030 to expand rare earth separation, metal, alloy and magnet manufacturing capacity. The move strengthens France’s position in Europe’s effort to build a complete rare earth value chain outside China.

USA Rare Earth France investment builds on the company’s acquisition of UK-based Less Common Metals and its planned investment in French rare earth specialist Carester. Together, the projects connect oxide separation with rare earth metals, alloys, recycling and eventual magnet manufacturing.

USA Rare Earth France investment is strategically important because Europe still has major gaps between rare earth feedstock and finished permanent magnets. Building these intermediate processing stages is essential for automotive, defence, aerospace and industrial customers seeking diversified supply.

French government incentives, debt guarantees and potential direct equity investment in USAR’s European subsidiary could support the expansion. This shows how public capital is increasingly being used to make non-China rare earth processing commercially viable.

Lacq Links Rare Earth Oxides With Metals and Alloys

USAR acquired Less Common Metals for $125mn in September and plans to develop a 3,750 t/yr rare earth metal and alloy facility at Lacq in southwestern France.

The location is strategically important because the LCM facility will be co-located with Carester’s 1,600 t/yr Ceramag rare earth oxide plant. Ceramag is scheduled to start commissioning in late 2026.

Co-location can shorten the supply chain between separated oxides and metal or alloy production. This reduces logistics complexity and helps create a more integrated industrial cluster.

Rare earth metals and alloys are critical intermediate products. Separated neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium oxides must undergo further conversion before they can enter high-performance NdFeB magnet manufacturing.

This metallisation stage remains one of the largest bottlenecks outside China. Building oxide, metal and alloy capacity in the same region could therefore give Europe a stronger base for permanent magnet production.

Recycling and Automotive Offtake Strengthen Commercial Case

Carester adds both recycling capability and long-term customer demand to the platform. Its Caremag project is designed to recycle 2,000 t/yr of permanent magnets and refine 5,000 t/yr of mining concentrate.

That combination gives the project access to both secondary and primary feedstock. Recycling can improve supply resilience, while mined concentrate provides additional volume for larger-scale production.

Carester also has a 10-year supply agreement with Stellantis covering more than 3,400t of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium oxides. This gives the European rare earth chain a direct connection to automotive demand.

USAR and InfraVia Capital Partners are also considering minority investments in Carester. Under the current term sheet, each could hold a 12.5% equity interest.

This structure combines technology, industrial customers, private capital and government support. That mix is increasingly necessary because rare earth projects face high capital costs, difficult qualification requirements and competition from established Chinese producers.

The strategic goal is larger than any single plant. France is becoming a hub where separation, recycling, metallisation, alloying and magnet production could increasingly operate within one regional ecosystem.

The Metalnomist Commentary

USAR’s French expansion shows that rare earth diversification is moving toward industrial clustering rather than isolated projects. Europe’s real breakthrough will come when recycled and mined feedstock can move continuously from oxide to metal, alloy and qualified magnet inside the region.

Vulcan US magnet plant signals new era for recycled rare earth magnets

Vulcan Elements

The Vulcan US magnet plant will anchor a new recycled rare earth magnet supply chain in North America. The project targets 10,000 metric tonnes per year of magnet production, focused on recycling magnets and electronic waste. As a result, the Vulcan US magnet plant directly supports US reshoring efforts in rare earth magnets for defence and clean energy.

Vulcan US magnet plant built on public–private financing

The Vulcan US magnet plant will rely on a blended finance structure combining US government and private capital. Vulcan secured a $620mn direct loan from the Department of Defense and $50mn in equity from the US Department of Commerce, alongside $550mn in private funding. This mix underlines Washington’s view of rare earth magnets as critical defence infrastructure rather than a pure commodity business.

Vulcan’s structure also gives federal agencies upside exposure. The Defense Department will receive warrants in both Vulcan and its processing partner ReElement Technologies, while Commerce takes a direct equity stake in Vulcan. Therefore the capital stack aligns national security objectives with commercial returns, a pattern increasingly common across US critical minerals projects.

Recycling and diversified feedstock at the heart of the model

Vulcan partners with ReElement Technologies to convert end-of-life magnets, electronic waste and mined concentrates into high-purity rare earth oxides. This model leans on urban mining and recycling to reduce dependence on imported primary rare earths. In parallel, supply agreements with Energy Fuels and ReElement provide neodymium-praseodymium and dysprosium oxides, plus broader light and heavy rare earth oxides.

The plant’s design aims squarely at high-performance permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence platforms. By combining recycled material with mined concentrates, the project improves resilience against export controls and price volatility. If the Vulcan US magnet plant ramps as planned, it could become a key node in a closed-loop rare earth ecosystem in the US.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Vulcan’s entry shows how the magnet segment is becoming the strategic front line of rare earth industrial policy. Government-backed recycling-centric capacity may set a benchmark for future US projects, especially as defence supply chain audits tighten. The real test will be scaling efficiently while meeting strict magnet performance specs for automotive and defence customers.

HyProMag Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Plant Opens in Germany

HyProMag

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling has moved into commercial-scale production in Germany after the company opened a new recycling and manufacturing plant in Pforzheim. The facility strengthens Europe’s effort to build a circular rare earth magnet supply chain outside China.

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling will focus on neodymium-iron-boron magnets and alloys. The plant will start with 100 t/yr of production capacity, with plans to increase output to 350 t/yr.

HyProMag rare earth magnet recycling is strategically important because NdFeB magnets are critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, electronics, defence systems and industrial motors. Europe needs more local magnet capacity as China continues to dominate rare earth processing and magnet production.

The plant is permitted for production of up to 750 t/yr. HyProMag and parent company Mkango Resources are evaluating a scale-up to that level over the next three years.

HPMS Technology Targets Magnet Scrap Recovery

The Pforzheim plant will use Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap technology, known as HPMS. The process was developed at the University of Birmingham and is designed to recover rare earth magnets from scrap streams more efficiently.

This technology matters because magnet recycling can reduce dependence on mined rare earth feedstock and conventional separation routes. It can also shorten supply chains by recovering material already embedded in end-of-life products and industrial scrap.

Recycled NdFeB magnets can support European manufacturers that need secure and traceable supply. Automotive, wind power, electronics and defence customers increasingly want material with clearer origin and lower supply-chain risk.

The initial 100 t/yr capacity is modest compared with China’s magnet industry. However, the strategic value lies in proving that commercial-scale recycling and magnet manufacturing can operate inside Europe.

The planned expansion to 350 t/yr, and potentially 750 t/yr, would make the site more meaningful for regional supply. It would also help Europe develop technical expertise in magnet scrap collection, processing, alloying and remanufacturing.

EU Critical Raw Materials Strategy Gains Recycling Base

HyProMag’s German plant fits directly into Europe’s critical raw materials strategy. The EU wants to reduce dependence on imported rare earth materials by supporting domestic mining, separation, recycling and manufacturing capacity.

Mkango Resources adds another layer to this strategy. The Canadian company owns a rare earths project in Malawi and a proposed rare earths separation plant in Poland.

Both projects have been selected as strategic projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. This gives Mkango a broader position across upstream rare earth resources, midstream separation and downstream magnet recycling.

The German plant therefore is not just a standalone recycling facility. It could become part of a wider European rare earth value chain connecting African feedstock, European separation and recycled magnet production.

For Europe, this model is important. Mining alone will not solve rare earth dependence if separation, metal making, alloying and magnet manufacturing remain concentrated elsewhere.

HyProMag’s Pforzheim facility helps address one of the most difficult parts of the chain: turning rare earth scrap into usable magnet products. If the company scales successfully, it could support a more resilient European magnet ecosystem.

The Metalnomist Commentary

HyProMag’s plant shows that Europe’s rare earth strategy is moving from policy ambition into industrial execution. The key test will be whether recycling capacity can scale fast enough to supply real magnet demand in EVs, wind power and defence.

MP Apple recycled rare earth magnets deal anchors U.S. circular supply chain

Apple

MP Apple recycled rare earth magnets move from pilot to scale. The $500mn long-term deal commits Apple to 100% recycled magnets made in the U.S. MP will process post-industrial and end-of-life magnets at Mountain Pass. Magnet shipments start in 2027 and scale across Apple devices.

Partnership scope and buildout

The Fort Worth plant will make recycled rare earth magnets for Apple devices. MP will install a dedicated recycling line at Mountain Pass. The project follows a five-year pilot between the companies. Meanwhile, DOD funding supports 10,000 t per year magnet capacity. Together, these steps anchor a domestic magnet ecosystem.

Supply-chain impact and circularity

The MP Apple recycled rare earth magnets deal strengthens U.S. resilience. It lowers exposure to export controls and shipping risks. As a result, Apple gains traceable inputs and lower Scope 3 risk. The approach valorizes post-industrial scrap and end-of-life returns. It can reduce NdPr demand for virgin mining.

Market timing favors localized magnet ramp. EVs, electronics, and wind keep magnet demand strong. However, execution depends on stable scrap flows and yields. No volume terms were disclosed, adding planning uncertainty. Therefore, early offtake scheduling will be critical.

MP Apple recycled rare earth magnets will ship from 2027. Production will scale to hundreds of millions of devices. Meanwhile, Apple can showcase circular content at volume. The domestic hub could attract new industrial customers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This partnership hard-wires circularity into a strategic U.S. magnet base. Watch scrap collection logistics, recovery rates, and alloy performance at scale. Policy support and OEM offtakes will determine the speed of the ramp.

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.

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

USA Rare Earth

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

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

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

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

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

The Metalnomist Commentary

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

Phoenix Tailings Rare Earth Refining Expansion Secures $500mn US Defense Loan

Phoenix Tailings Rare Earth

Phoenix Tailings rare earth refining expansion has secured a conditional $500mn loan from the US Department of Defense, providing major financial backing for new domestic separation and metallization capacity.

Phoenix Tailings rare earth refining plans could receive around $1bn in combined government and private capital. The funding will support expansion at existing facilities and development of a new US rare earth separation and metallization plant.

Phoenix Tailings rare earth refining is strategically important because the company operates downstream of mining, targeting the processing stages where the US remains most dependent on overseas supply. These include rare earth separation, metal production and alloying.

The company must still satisfy financial, technical, legal and other conditions before drawing the DOD loan.

Freedom Facility Targets the Critical Separation-to-Metal Gap

Phoenix Tailings currently operates metallization facilities in Burlington, Massachusetts, and Exeter, New Hampshire.

The Exeter plant opened in October 2025 with capacity to produce 200 t/yr of light and heavy rare earth metals. The site has potential to expand to 1,000 t/yr.

Initial production includes neodymium-praseodymium metal and dysprosium-iron alloy. Phoenix plans to broaden output into dysprosium, terbium, samarium, yttrium and gadolinium, alongside strategic metals including germanium and gallium.

This product mix gives the company exposure to permanent magnets, defence systems, aerospace, electronics and other advanced manufacturing markets.

The planned Freedom facility will extend the model further by combining rare earth separation with metallization. Initial operations are targeted for 2028.

The facility is designed to accept multiple feedstocks, including mined concentrates, recycled material and secondary resources. This flexibility could reduce dependence on any single upstream source.

That is particularly important for heavy rare earths, where global separation and metal production remain highly concentrated.

Federal and Private Capital Accelerate US Processing Buildout

The $500mn DOD loan follows additional federal backing for Phoenix Tailings.

The Department of Energy recently selected the company as one of two recipients under a $134mn programme supporting demonstration-scale rare earth processing from domestic industrial waste.

Phoenix Tailings also raised $116.6mn in Series B financing earlier this year from investors including Olive Tree Capital, Nomura and Traxys.

Its investor base also includes companies with potential downstream demand exposure, such as BMW i Ventures, Yamaha Motor Ventures and Sumitomo-linked Presidio.

This combination of public financing, private capital and strategic investors gives Phoenix a stronger route toward commercial scale.

The industrial significance goes beyond adding another rare earth project. The US already has emerging mining and oxide separation capacity, but metallization and heavy rare earth processing remain major bottlenecks.

Phoenix is targeting precisely those intermediate stages between separated oxides and finished magnets.

If the company reaches its expansion targets, it could become an important domestic supplier of NdPr, dysprosium, terbium and other strategic metals required for US magnet and defence manufacturing.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Phoenix Tailings is targeting one of the weakest links in the US rare earth chain: converting diverse feedstocks into separated materials and usable metals. The $500mn DOD loan shows that Washington increasingly views metallization capacity as strategic infrastructure, not simply another mining investment.

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.

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 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.

Heraeus Remloy Magnet Recycling Sale Strengthens Mkango’s European Rare Earth Platform

Heraeus

Heraeus Remloy magnet recycling is set to move under Mkango Resources after Germany-headquartered Heraeus agreed to sell its rare earth magnet recycling unit to the Canadian company. The deal gives Mkango direct access to a German platform for producing neodymium-iron-boron alloy powders.

Heraeus Remloy magnet recycling is strategically important because NdFeB powders can be used by customers to manufacture new permanent magnets. These magnets are critical for electric motors, wind turbines, robotics, electronics, defence systems and advanced industrial equipment.

Heraeus Remloy magnet recycling operates from Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt. The facility can produce 600 t/yr of rare earth magnetic powders, with potential to ramp up to 1,200 t/yr.

The transaction is expected to close in summer 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Financial details were not disclosed.

Bitterfeld Facility Adds NdFeB Powder Capacity

Heraeus Remloy was developed as an in-house startup within Heraeus. Its focus on NdFeB alloy powders places it in a valuable part of the magnet recycling chain.

This matters because recycling rare earth magnets is not only about collecting scrap. The material must be processed into usable feedstock that magnet makers can qualify and reuse.

The Bitterfeld plant gives Mkango an operational base in Germany, one of Europe’s core advanced manufacturing markets. That location could support customers seeking regional rare earth magnet materials with stronger supply-chain traceability.

The facility’s 600 t/yr current capacity is modest in global terms, but meaningful for Europe’s early-stage magnet recycling industry. The option to ramp up to 1,200 t/yr adds future flexibility if demand strengthens.

For Mkango, the acquisition can deepen its downstream rare earth position. Instead of focusing only on mining or separation, the company gains a route into recycled magnet powder production.

Europe’s Magnet Recycling Chain Gains Strategic Relevance

The deal comes as Europe tries to reduce dependence on China-dominated rare earth and magnet supply chains. Recycling is becoming one of the fastest practical routes to add regional material availability.

NdFeB magnets contain neodymium and praseodymium, and some high-performance applications also use dysprosium or terbium. Recovering these materials from magnet scrap can reduce pressure on primary supply and improve circularity.

Permanent magnet recycling also supports European industrial policy. Automotive, wind power, automation and defence manufacturers increasingly need secure, traceable and lower-risk sources of magnet materials.

However, recycled powders still need customer qualification. Magnet producers require consistent chemistry, particle characteristics and performance before they can use recycled feedstock at scale.

Mkango’s challenge will be to turn the Bitterfeld asset into a reliable commercial platform. If it can expand production and secure customers, the acquisition could strengthen Europe’s rare earth recycling ecosystem.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Mkango’s purchase of Heraeus Remloy shows that rare earth recycling is moving from concept to industrial asset consolidation. Europe’s magnet security will depend on practical facilities like Bitterfeld that can convert scrap into qualified, reusable magnetic materials.

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

LCM

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

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

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

Lacq cluster ties recycled magnets to European alloy output

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

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

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

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

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

The Metalnomist Commentary

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

Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership advances US rare earth refining

Ucore Rare Metals

The Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership aims to anchor feedstock for a new US rare earth refinery. The Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership focuses on supplying Ucore’s planned Alexandria, Louisiana facility with reliable REE concentrates. As a result, the Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership strengthens North American efforts to build a non-Chinese rare earth value chain.

Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership targets flexible feedstock and new technology

The partnership will develop a modular US refining solution for varied rare earth feedstocks. Ucore and Metallium plan to process conventional concentrates and alternative materials such as magnet scrap and industrial waste. Therefore, the refinery should produce separated rare earth oxides from both primary and recycled sources.

Metallium contributes both exploration assets and metal recovery technology development. Its portfolio in Western Australia and Quebec is prospective for niobium, rare earths and gold. Meanwhile, Metallium holds exclusive rights to Flash Joule Heating technology from Rice University. Ucore intends to integrate this technology into its refining flowsheet to lower energy use and improve recoveries.

This technology driven approach supports higher-margin, lower-footprint REE separation. It also positions the refinery to handle evolving waste streams from magnets and other advanced materials. Over time, this flexibility could become a key differentiator in a crowded rare earth processing market.

Alexandria refinery funding and upstream REE supply building

The Alexandria refinery already has important policy and upstream backing. In May, Ucore secured an $18.4mn funding agreement from the US Department of Defense. This support underlines the strategic importance of domestic rare earth processing for defence and advanced manufacturing.

In August, Ucore signed a non-binding letter with Critical Metals for long term concentrate offtake. The agreement covers 10,000 metric tonnes per year of rare earth concentrate. Together with the Ucore Metallium REE supply partnership, this gives Ucore multiple feedstock options. Therefore, the company reduces its dependence on any single mine or jurisdiction.

As the refinery advances, Ucore will need to demonstrate technical performance and commercial scale. However, the mix of DoD funding, multiple feedstock partners and novel processing technology offers a strong platform. It also aligns with broader US and allied policies to diversify rare earth supply chains away from China.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Ucore’s collaboration with Metallium shows how processing innovation and flexible feedstock strategies now sit at the heart of rare earth security. Flash Joule Heating plus magnet scrap recovery could help bridge the gap between limited Western mines and rising oxide demand. Market participants should watch pilot performance at Alexandria and how quickly Ucore converts non-binding offtakes into bankable contracts.

IonicRE and DNA Link Partner to Build Western Rare Earth Supply Chain

IonicRE

Belfast-to-Korea E-Waste Recycling Pipeline Targets Permanent Magnet Independence

Ionic Rare Earths (IonicRE) has entered into a non-binding agreement with South Korea-based DNA Link to establish a circular rare earth supply chain. The partnership will center around recycling electronic waste into high-value rare earth oxides for use in permanent magnet manufacturing.

Under the deal, DNA Link will supply swarf and end-of-life magnet waste to Ionic Technologies, IonicRE’s UK-based subsidiary. The Belfast facility currently processes 30 tonnes per year (t/yr) of waste material, yielding approximately 10 t/yr of rare earth oxides, primarily from neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium.

Rare Earth Oxides to Feed South Korean Magnet Facility

Once processed in Belfast, the rare earth oxides will be shipped to DNA Link’s upcoming permanent magnet facility in Yesan, South Korea. Slated to launch operations by late 2025, the plant will produce 1,000 t/yr of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets—a core material in electric motors, wind turbines, and electronics.

This vertically integrated approach aligns with growing geopolitical efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supply. Both companies aim to build similar permanent magnet manufacturing capabilities in the United States, expanding their reach across critical Western markets.

Strategic Collaboration Targets Closed-Loop Rare Earth Ecosystem

The deal emphasizes the growing urgency to secure sustainable and resilient rare earth supply chains outside of China. By focusing on recycled feedstock, IonicRE and DNA Link are promoting environmental responsibility while ensuring access to strategic minerals essential to the energy transition.

“This partnership embodies our shared vision of establishing a full rare earth supply chain within western countries,” said Jun Young Lee, CEO of DNA Link. “It offers alternative solutions to dependency on China.”

With rare earth magnets critical to defense, automotive, and clean energy sectors, this collaboration positions both firms to play a pivotal role in reshaping global supply chains.