MP Materials soars on Saudi Arabia rare earth joint venture

Core Insights - MP Materials has formed a joint venture with the US Department of War and Saudi Arabia's Maaden to build a rare earth refinery, which is expected to enhance the global rare earth supply chain and align with US economic and national security interests [2][3][7] Company Overview - MP Materials is the only fully integrated producer of rare earth materials in the US, with operations centered around the Mountain Pass mine and processing facility in California, as well as a magnet production site in Texas [2][4] - The company plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand US rare earth refining and magnet manufacturing capacity, including the development of a second magnet manufacturing facility and enhancements to heavy rare earth separation capabilities at Mountain Pass [5] Joint Venture Details - The joint venture will allow MP and the DoW to hold a combined 49% stake, while Maaden will retain at least 51%. The DoW will finance the US contribution, and MP will provide technical expertise in rare earth separation and refining [9] - The refinery will process rare earth feedstock from Saudi Arabia and other regions, producing significant quantities of separated light and heavy rare earth oxides to support US and Saudi manufacturing and defense sectors [8] Strategic Implications - The joint venture is part of a broader public-private partnership aimed at reducing US reliance on China, which currently dominates the rare earth market with a 60% share of mine supply and nearly all processing capacity [4] - The collaboration is expected to deepen economic and security ties between the US and Saudi Arabia, leveraging the kingdom's energy resources and infrastructure [7][10]