US Accelerates Rare Earth Industry Growth to Counter China

The United States is expected to accelerate the development of its domestic rare earth industry. The goal is to become less reliant on China for rare earth supplies as the value of these elements rises across a range of sectors.

According to industry sources on the 4th, rare earths refer to 17 elements, comprising yttrium and scandium, in addition to the 15 elements of the lanthanide family in the periodic table’s 3B group. Recently, they have been essential in advanced industries that use semiconductors, superconductors, high-performance batteries, displays, hybrid cars, and electric motors.

Demand for rare earths is also gradually increasing within the United States. As a result, the US is moving to significantly increase domestic production to reduce dependence on China, the world’s number one producer of rare earths.

In particular, American companies are accelerating the production of rare earths and applied products. For example, the USA Rare Earth plans to use sustainable ion exchange technology to extract rare earths in an environmentally friendly manner. The ultimate goal is to produce up to 4,800 tons of magnets annually.

MP Materials, the world’s largest rare earth producer excluding China, is mining, refining, separating, and purifying rare earths at California’s Mountain Pass mine and processing facility. It is committed to producing up to 1,000 tons of rare earth magnets by 2025.

Energy Fuels, which produces natural uranium ore, is expanding its business by producing advanced rare earth element materials, including mixed REE carbonates. It is building a rare earth element separation facility in the White Mesa area of Utah and plans to start operations in the first half of this year. This facility is expected to produce up to 15,000 tons of rare earth oxides annually.

Phoenix Tailings is producing neodymium and plans to expand production to dysprosium, terbium, and iron-dysprosium alloys. It obtains an oxide concentrate containing rare earths and then extracts the desired final product through separation technology in its core process. It aims to produce more than 3,000 tons of finished rare earth metal products annually by 2026.