Lynas, South Korean magnet maker sign deal for Malaysia factory

Reuters | July 6, 2026 | 4:52 pm Critical Minerals Top Companies Asia Australia Rare Earth

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Australia’s Lynas is the only major producer of separated rare earths outside China. (Image courtesy of Lynas Rare Earths.)

Lynas Rare Earths said on Tuesday it has signed a partnership deal with South Korea’s JS Link to develop a magnet factory in Malaysia.

The Australian rare-earths producer will also supply rare-earth materials to JS Link’s magnet factory in South Korea and the planned factory in Malaysia until January 2038.

The partnership follows a magnet manufacturing deal between the two companies last year.

Under the latest deal, JS Link will establish a magnet factory in Kuantan, Malaysia, with an operating capacity of 3,000 tonnes per annum of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent sintered magnets. Lynas said it will invest around A$50 million ($34.78 million) in JS Link shares to support the development of the facility.

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The produced magnets will supply automotive, wind energy and electronics manufacturing supply chains in key markets including Korea and Malaysia, Lynas added.

The company expects the Kuantan magnet factory to create up to 400 new jobs.

Meanwhile, Malaysia said on Monday it would review a $96 million rare-earths supply deal signed earlier this year between Lynas, the operator of one of the world’s largest rare earths processing plants located in the Southeast Asian country, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The four-year deal has faced protests, with some rights groups accusing Lynas of supplying materials for U.S.-made weapons used by Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has long been supportive of the Palestinian cause and does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.