Working towards a supply chain from Australia to the United States.
Australia-based ABx Group and Canadian critical minerals company Ucore Rare Metals have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a rare earth supply chain from Australia to North America. Under the MoU, the two parties will work towards a binding offtake agreement for rare earth carbonate from ABx’s Tasmanian rare earth project to be shipped to Ucore’s separation facility currently being constructed in Louisiana, United States. Ucore is set to obtain a so-called “first right of refusal” for 50% of ABx’s annual volume for a minimum period of five years. In addition, the companies will explore potential investment opportunities for Ucore in the Tasmanian project.
Ucore has signed multiple supply deals recently to fuel its ambitions to establish a North American value chain for rare earths and supply its Louisiana facilities. The plant is set to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026. In July, the company signed a deal with Canadian recycler Cyclic Materials to offtake recycled mixed rare earth oxides (we reported). In addition, Ucore has also secured a significant share of the future output from Meteoric’s rare earth project in Brazil.
Photo: iStock/jasonbennee
