Lynas to expand heavy rare earths separation facility in Malaysia

Lynas Rare Earths has announced it will establish a new heavy rare earth (HRE) separation facility at Lynas Malaysia to meet strong market demand for a reliable outside-China source of heavy rare earth oxides. The new HRE facility will have processing capacity to separate up to 5000 tonnes per annum of HRE feedstock and will build on Lynas’s existing ability to produce HRE oxides in commercial quantities, a capability that the company says is unique outside of China.

Feedstock for the HRE facility will come from Lynas’s Mt Weld rare earths deposit in Western Australia, which contains both light and heavy rare earths, and from other sources to be developed, such as ionic clay rare earth deposits in Malaysia.

Together with its light rare earth products, Lynas Malaysia currently produces separated dysprosium and terbium oxide. This new facility will increase HRE production capacity and provide customers with an expanded suite of separated HRE products needed for modern manufacturing.

Lynas says its in-house expertise, laboratories and production facilities enable it to cost-effectively complete the project at a cost of approximately AU$180 million (MYR500 million). The project will be self-funded following the equity raising successfully completed in September 2025.

The timeline for construction of the new facility is subject to regulatory approvals. Lynas is currently in discussions with a range of offtake partners to secure offtake of the expanded range of HRE products at fair prices.

The phased construction of the facility will deliver priority products first, with first production of samarium from Mt Weld feedstock forecast for April 2026. Processing capacity will be progressively added with the capacity for the initial suite of separated HREs forecast to be available within two years. The initial flowsheet includes separated samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), yttrium (Y) and lutetium (Lu). Investment in further flowsheet enhancements to produce additional HRE products, in particular europium (Eu), holmium (Ho), ytterbium (Yb) and erbium (Er), will be considered based on commercial agreements that provide an appropriate return on the additional investment.

‘’The new heavy rare earths processing facility at Lynas Malaysia is a key element of our Towards 2030 growth strategy and contributes to the strength of our multi-product offering,” said Lynas Rare Earths CEO and Managing Director Amanda Lacaze. “Market demand for heavy rare earths is high and Lynas can be selective in where, and at what price, we sell heavy rare earth oxides.

“Lynas has already concluded contracts for current Dy and Tb production on favourable terms that reflect the strategic value and the immediate availability of these materials. Lynas will prioritise market segments where pricing is more favourable, such as the electronics industry.”

“Lynas is part of a current functioning and reliable outside-China supply chain,” she added. “Lynas is the only outside China producer able to supply both light and heavy rare earth products. In 2025, we have proven our ability to separate the two in-demand heavy rare earth oxides, Dy and Tb, alongside our proven ability to produce LRE at scale.”

Image: Lynas rare earths plant in Malaysia. Credit: Lynas Rare Earths Ltd.