Wedoany.com Report-May 24, Lynas Rare Earths, an Australian company, has begun producing dysprosium oxide at its facility in Malaysia, marking a significant milestone as the first commercial-scale producer of heavy rare earth products outside China. The new heavy rare earth separation circuit at the Malaysian plant was commissioned in the March 2025 quarter, enabling the production of dysprosium in May and terbium in June, as forecasted in the company’s quarterly report.

This is the company’s first commercial-scale production of heavy rare earth products outside China.

During the commissioning phase, the facility finalized modifications to support the production of isolated dysprosium and terbium. A dedicated solvent extraction circuit was activated, producing a small amount of holmium concentrate while initiating dysprosium separation. This new circuit expands Lynas’ product portfolio by adding four heavy rare earth products: dysprosium, terbium, unseparated samarium/europium/gadolinium, and holmium concentrate. These materials, particularly dysprosium and terbium, are critical for high-performance magnets and electronic components, with strong global demand.

Amanda Lacaze, CEO and managing director of Lynas Rare Earths, stated: “Lynas is pleased to confirm first Dy production on our new production line at Lynas Malaysia. The production of this on spec Dy is a significant step for supply chain resilience and provides customers with the option of sourcing product from an outside China supplier. Lynas is now the world’s only commercial producer of separated Heavy Rare Earth products outside China.” She added: “Lynas is uniquely positioned to contribute to and benefit from efforts to diversify and rebuild supply chains, including opportunities for a sustained market restructure. We are engaged with customers in Japan, the US, and Europe regarding heavy rare earths supply. The development of our new heavy rare earths separation circuit reflects the unique skills and expertise of our people.”

The company is actively collaborating with customers in Japan, the United States, and Europe to meet the growing need for heavy rare earths, supporting efforts to diversify global supply chains. In November 2024, Lynas also launched its A$800 million ($525 million) rare earths processing facility in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, further strengthening its operational capacity. The Malaysian facility’s advancements enhance Lynas’ role in providing sustainable and resilient solutions for critical materials essential to advanced technologies.