Ionic Rare Earths signs preliminary deal for US recycling plant

Reuters | November 10, 2025 | 6:10 am Critical Minerals Suppliers & Equipment Australia USA Rare Earth

Ionic Rare Earths unveils promising feasibility for UK recycling plant

Belfast-based commercial plant. ( Architect’s Impression courtesy of Ionic Rare Earths Limited.)

Ionic Rare Earths said on Monday it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with US Strategic Metals to build a recycling facility that will produce rare earth oxides, including those subject to export restrictions from China.

The Missouri recycling facility is expected to produce significant quantities of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) as well as heavy rare earths including dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium, and holmium, the companies said in a joint statement.

The agreement focuses on rapidly producing high-purity, separated magnet rare earth oxides, with potential expansion to include a wide range of magnet and heavy rare earths from a range of strategically sourced mixed rare earth carbonates, the statement said.

“Magnet recycling is the fastest and lowest-cost pathway to developing an ex-China rare earth supply chain in the United States,” Ionic Rare Earths managing director Tim Harrison said.

Ionic Rare Earths said it was looking to replicate the capability it has demonstrated at its Belfast recycling plant to provide a strategic supply of magnet and heavy rare earths into the US supply chain.

The MOU comes after the US and Australia signed a wide-ranging critical minerals agreement last month with an aim of countering China’s hold over the industry.

(By Melanie Burton; Editing by Jamie Freed)