First production is underway at Lynas Rare Earths’ (ASX:LYC) Malaysia Heavy Rare Earths Project, 274km northeast of Kuala Lumpur.
Lynas reveals the first samarium oxide batches were produced weeks ahead of the original April 2026 deadline. The company, which also makes dysprosium and terbium, is touted to be the “only commercial producer” of separated heavy rare earth oxides outside of mainland China.
A heavy rare earth separation facility expansion was launched in late 2025 as a part of Lynas’ Towards 2030 growth strategy.
Processing capacity will progressively increase with potential separated heavy rare earths forecasts expected to be made within two years. The initial flowsheet includes separated samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, terbium, yttrium, and lutetium.
“The addition of Samarium oxide means that we can provide an expanded suite of light and heavy rare earths that customers will use to produce high performance permanent magnets,” CEO and Managing Director Amanda Lacaze says.
Lynas claims that customers highly seek these minerals and use them in high performance magnets for electronics, aerospace, optics, catalysts, and medical applications.
There is also potential to produce europium, holmium, ytterbium, erbium, and other heavy rare earths products. Production depends on the financial viability and potential return on investment from commercial agreements.
Lynas Rare Earths is a rare earths mining company with assets mostly in Western Australia and Malaysia.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Lynas Rare Earths
