Uncommon earths processing happens in two primary levels. The primary entails extracting the uncommon earths from ores containing different minerals and concentrating them right into a combined uncommon earth focus or carbonate. The second is a extra complicated stage that separates the uncommon earths into particular person oxide compounds. From there the merchandise are was metals used to supply magnets.
Lynas Uncommon Earths
Lynas Uncommon Earths is the world’s largest provider of uncommon earths compounds outdoors China, from its Mount Weld mine in Australia. It has processing operations in Australia and Malaysia and is constructing a heavy uncommon earths processing plant in Texas, with the assistance of $288 million in US protection funding, anticipated to come back on-line in fiscal 2026. Will probably be in a position to course of third-party materials.
Solvay
Belgian chemical compounds maker Solvay is increasing uncommon earths processing at its La Rochelle operations in France, aiming to launch separation and manufacturing of uncommon earth oxides wanted for everlasting magnet manufacturing in 2025. Presently Solvay processes uncommon earths for different makes use of, comparable to for auto catalysts.
In March, Solvay signed a memorandum of understanding with French uncommon earths associate Carester to take a look at manufacturing alternatives for the everlasting magnets provide chain in Europe. It additionally has an settlement to purchase uncommon earth oxides from recycled materials from Canadian clear tech start-up Cyclic Supplies.
France-based Carester goals to recycle 2,000 metric tons of magnets and separate 5,000 tons of heavy uncommon earth concentrates from mining per 12 months from 2026.
Vacuumschmelze
Germany’s Vacuumschmelze, one of many largest everlasting magnet producers outdoors of China, has manufacturing operations in Germany, Slovakia, Finland, China and Malaysia. It was purchased by US personal fairness agency Ara Companions in October.
It was awarded US authorities funding of $111.6 million to construct a neodymium-iron-boron magnet plant in South Carolina. The plant is anticipated to be completed by late 2025.
The corporate has a magnet provide settlement with Basic Motors and provides the US Division of Protection.
Much less Frequent Metals
UK-based Much less Frequent Metals produces uncommon earth metals/alloys from its base in northern England and is a part of the European Supreemo venture to determine a European uncommon earths worth chain.
REEtec
REEtec in Norway, backed by Swedish miner LKAB, is constructing a business uncommon earth separation plant resulting from come into manufacturing in 2025. It’s in discussions with corporations to offer focus for the plant.
Iluka
Australian mineral sands producer Iluka Sources is constructing its Eneabba uncommon earths refinery within the nation’s northwest that can course of heavy uncommon earths from its personal mines and from third events like Northern Minerals. Commissioning is anticipated on the finish of 2026. Iluka has been awarded an A$1 billion ($660 million) mortgage from the Australian authorities for what can be Australia’s first absolutely built-in uncommon earths refinery.
Posco, Star Group
South Korea’s Posco Worldwide will present everlasting magnets produced by Star Group to German and US automakers from 2025, sourced from the US, Australia and Vietnam. Privately held Star Group is the only real producer of uncommon earth everlasting magnets in South Korea.
Japan
Japan has a nicely developed magnet market that provides its automotive and excessive tech industries. Among the many largest producers are Shin-Etsu Chemical, TDK Corp and Proterial.
VTRE
Vietnam uncommon earth processor VTRE, which had associate agreements with Australian uncommon earth builders Blackstone Minerals and Australian Strategic Supplies, suspended manufacturing late final 12 months after its chairman was arrested for violating mining rules.
Neo Efficiency Supplies
Toronto-listed Neo Efficiency Supplies produces uncommon earth oxides, magnetic powders and everlasting magnets. It has services world wide together with in China, the US, Germany, Canada, Thailand and the UK. It plans to launch a brand new everlasting magnet plant in Estonia subsequent 12 months.
Saskatchewan Analysis Council
Canada’s Saskatchewan Analysis Council acquired C$31 million ($22.57 million) in authorities funding to construct a uncommon earths processing plant. It has a provide settlement with Vietnam’s Hung Thinh Group (HTG) to import as much as 3,000 tons of uncommon earth carbonate per 12 months for 5 years starting in June 2025.
Ucore
Canada’s Ucore Uncommon Metals is constructing a heavy and lightweight uncommon earths separation facility in Louisiana set to come back on-line in late 2025.
Rainbow Uncommon Earths
Rainbow Uncommon Earths, backed by Dublin-based personal funding agency TechMet, has begun a uncommon earth oxide separation course of at a Okay-Applied sciences facility in Florida for uncommon earths carbonate that it goals to supply from its Phalaborwa venture in South Africa.
MP Supplies
MP Supplies is constructing a uncommon earth magnet manufacturing facility in Texas, helped with $58.5 million in authorities funding. It at the moment ships uncommon earth focus to China, though it began to supply some uncommon earth oxides at its California mine web site earlier this 12 months. The corporate expects to be producing completed magnets by late 2025 which it can provide to Basic Motors. It reported a wider than anticipated loss within the first quarter resulting from weak uncommon earth costs.
Power Fuels
Power Fuels, a US producer of uranium and uncommon earth parts, stated on June 10 it had began to supply business portions of separated uncommon earths at its Utah operations, the place it expects to supply as much as 1,000 tons of neodymium-praseodymium a 12 months.
FIEMG
Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais Federatio of Industries (FIEMG) is constructing a proof-of-concept magnet manufacturing facility set to open within the second half of this 12 months that can have capability to supply 100 tons of magnets a 12 months when at full capability.
($1 = 1.3737 Canadian {dollars}, 1.5147 Australian {dollars})
(By Melanie Burton, Fabio Teixeira, Yuka Obayashi, Eric Onstad, Francesco Guarascio and Ernest Scheyder; Enhancing by Sonali Paul)