Sydney, July 22 (Argus) - Australian rare earth miner and refiner Lynas said today that its total rare earth oxide (TREO) production for the period from April to June increased by 8% year-on-year.
Lynas stated that the company increased the TREO production at its Mount Weld mine and Kalgoorlie rare earth processing facility in Western Australia, as well as at the refining plant in Kuantan, Malaysia.
However, Lynas added that due to problems at the Mount Weld water recycling plant and the quality issues of the concentrate, the company's production of light rare earth praseodymium-neodymium, which is used in neodymium iron boron rare earth magnets, electric vehicle motors, and wind turbines, decreased by 11% year-on-year during the period from April to June. Praseodymium-neodymium is used for enhancing the high-temperature performance of neodymium iron boron magnets and in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
The company stated that the water recycling plant problem has been resolved, allowing the plant to operate at full capacity from July to September. The company also stated that due to Lynas adjusting its operating standards for fixed crushers, the quality of the concentrate will also improve this quarter.
Lynas increased the production of heavy rare earth dysprosium and terbium to 19 tons, mainly used as a high-temperature performance enhancer for neodymium iron boron magnets, and achieved its first production from April to June 2025.
Meanwhile, the average realized price of rare earth oxides increased by 63% year-on-year to A$98.20 per kilogram (US$68.70 per kilogram), despite a 4% increase in sales volume, but sales revenue increased by 70%.
The company stated that the higher average realized price was supported by the increase in the price of praseodymium-neodymium, the increase in the sales of heavy rare earths, and the premium of Lynas products over the market index.
The company produced the first batch of samarium oxide in March. Currently, the company is conducting qualification tests with customers and is expected to issue the first batch of orders from July to September. Samarium is a light rare earth used in samarium cobalt rare earth magnets for electronic and aerospace applications.
Lynas has raised its cost expectation for the heavy rare earth business in Malaysia from A$1.8 billion to A$2.94 billion due to higher purity requirements from customers and higher costs of purchasing equipment outside China. The company expects to produce heavy rare earth gadolinium in July to September 2027, yttrium in January to March 2028, and ultimately lutetium.
