美国加码稀土投资！商务部与五角大楼联手扶持本土磁体巨头

Core Points - The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense have committed to providing financial support and potential equity investment to Vulcan Elements, a domestic rare earth magnet manufacturer [1] - Vulcan Elements will receive $50 million from the CHIPS Act to purchase equipment for producing permanent magnets, which are essential for fighter jets, wind turbines, and other critical products [1] - The company will also secure a direct loan of $620 million from the Department of Defense and $550 million in private capital to build a magnet factory with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons [1] - The partnership with ReElement Technologies will involve an $80 million direct loan for expanding recycling and processing capabilities, with matching private capital [1] - This initiative is part of a broader effort by the U.S. federal government to invest directly in the permanent magnet supply chain, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign sources [1] Financial Arrangements - The funding from the CHIPS Act is described as a non-binding preliminary agreement, leaving the specifics of the arrangements unclear [2] - The Department of Defense confirmed that the conditional loans are sourced from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which authorizes $100 billion in loans for critical mineral production and related projects [2] Strategic Implications - The agreements aim to support the development of advanced rare earth element separation, metallization, and magnet manufacturing capabilities within the U.S. [3] - The U.S. Secretary of Commerce has previously converted part of the CHIPS Act funding into equity investments in struggling domestic chip manufacturers, indicating a potential similar approach with Vulcan Elements [3] - The Department of Defense will also receive warrants for future equity purchases in Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies, although the specific value of these warrants has not been disclosed [3]