Lynas Rare Earths achieves commercial production of samarium oxide in Malaysia

13 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 26

Lynas began producing samarium oxide at its Kuantan facility last month, marking the first separated heavy rare earth output outside China in decades, following a $96 million preliminary Pentagon deal.
The new supply helps address shortages caused by China’s export cutoff, supporting U.S. and allied defense industries that rely on samarium for heat-resistant magnets in jet fighters and missiles.
Lynas plans a larger Malaysian facility by 2028, while U.S.-backed MP Materials and other Western firms expand refining capacity to meet a 2027 U.S. deadline for non-Chinese rare earths in defense supply chains.

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