Analysts noted that, although aligned with the strategic...

Analysts noted that, although aligned with the strategic ambitions of the US and Australia, a merger did not offer an immediate solution on heavy rare earths for either company. Both Lynas and MP Materials need a source of heavy rare earths such as terbium and dysprosium to complement their strengths in light rare earths in the form of neodymium and praseodymium.Terra Capital’s Dylan Kelly said Hancock’s investment in MP Materials represented a shift in strategy, with Mrs Rinehart backing a producer rather than a developer or explorer like Arafura. He said if MP Materials successfully boosted its downstream processing capability, it could generate “Roy Hill-type cash flow”.“Anything that is producing and not China-aligned is highly strategic. These materials are very, very hard to make and there’s a lot of demand in making magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines,” said Mr Kelly, who invests in resources but not in Lynas or MP Materials. “To compete with China, it makes strategic sense to have scale and control of the Western supply chain ... but I don’t think it’s inevitable.” QUOTE from article in AFR

The US rare earth market is starting in get interesting with the Government ready to be supportive of domestic supply especially of heavy rare earth processing IMO