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Australian rare earths giant Lynas Rare Earths has announced a groundbreaking achievement, positioning itself as the world's only commercial producer of separated heavy rare earth products outside of China.

The company stated on Friday, May 16, that its new facility in Malaysia has successfully produced dysprosium oxide, marking the first time that customers outside of China have access to a non-Chinese source for this vital heavy rare earth element. Dysprosium is a key component in high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and various electronic devices.

Lynas further revealed its plans to expand its production capabilities, with the expectation of commencing the production of another crucial heavy rare earth element, terbium, in June. Terbium shares similar applications with dysprosium.

Heavy rare earth metals are a group of 17 metals which are a part of rare earth metals like lithium and copper. These metals are in heavy demand currently owing to the increased demand in EV and renewable energy industry.

The company anticipates that the pricing of its heavy rare earth products will reflect the strong demand for materials sourced outside of China. This demand is partly driven by Beijing's recent ban on the export of processing technology for rare earths, a move seen as an effort to maintain its control over the industry. Additionally, China has faced accusations of using state-imposed quotas to regulate the supply of these critical minerals, further incentivizing the development of alternative sources.

Recognizing the strategic importance of securing a stable and diversified supply of rare earths, the United States government has taken steps to support the growth of non-Chinese producers. In a significant move, the US government has awarded Lynas a substantial US$258 million contract to facilitate the construction of a new rare earth processing facility in Texas. This investment underscores the urgency among Western nations to reduce their reliance on China for these essential materials.

Lynas currently operates the Mt Weld rare earths mine in Western Australia, a world-class resource known for its high-grade deposits. The mined material is then processed at its state-of-the-art facility in Malaysia, which has now achieved the milestone of producing separated heavy rare earth oxides. This integrated operation, spanning from mining to processing, provides Lynas with a significant advantage in the global market.

Amanda Lacaze, the chief executive officer of Lynas, hailed this achievement as a "significant step for supply chain resilience," emphasizing that it "provides customers with the option of sourcing product from an outside China supplier" for the first time. This development is particularly noteworthy given the long-standing dominance of China in the global rare earths market, which has raised concerns about supply security and geopolitical leverage.