USA Rare Earth will build a South Carolina facility producing rare earth magnets and metals, boosting domestic supply chains and jobs.
USA Rare Earth, Inc. has announced plans to establish a large-scale rare earth refining and magnet manufacturing facility in Cherokee County, South Carolina, marking a significant step in strengthening the United States’ domestic rare earth supply chain. The new operation will be developed at Bailey Industrial Park in Blacksburg and is expected to generate approximately 490 highly skilled and well-paying jobs, contributing substantially to economic growth in the region while enhancing the nation’s manufacturing capabilities.
The planned facility will focus on the production of refined rare earth metals and high-performance sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. These magnets are critical components used across a wide range of advanced technologies, including defense systems, aerospace equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy infrastructure, artificial intelligence technologies, medical devices, and other high-tech industrial applications. By increasing domestic production capacity, the project aims to reduce dependence on foreign sources of rare earth materials and strengthen supply chain security for strategic industries.
The Blacksburg facility will serve as a key addition to USA Rare Earth’s expanding network of operations. It will complement the company’s existing magnet manufacturing plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which successfully launched its first commercial production line in March 2026. Together, the Oklahoma and South Carolina facilities will form the core of the company’s integrated “mine-to-magnet” business model. This vertically integrated approach is designed to manage every stage of the rare earth value chain, from mining and processing raw materials to producing finished magnets and advanced metal products.
USA Rare Earth’s broader supply chain includes several strategically located assets. These include the Round Top heavy rare earth mining and processing project in Sierra Blanca, Texas, a separation and processing facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and the planned acquisition of the Serra Verde mining and processing operation in Goiás, Brazil. The company also operates the LCM metal and alloy facility in Cheshire, United Kingdom, while additional metallization and alloy production capabilities are planned for Lacq, France. Collectively, these operations are intended to provide a secure and diversified source of rare earth materials and products across allied nations.
Upon reaching full operational capacity, the Blacksburg facility is expected to produce approximately 6,400 metric tons per year of NdFeB permanent magnets along with 5,000 metric tons annually of strip-cast materials, metals, and alloys. When combined with the anticipated expansion of the Stillwater facility, USA Rare Earth projects total U.S.-based production capacity of 10,000 metric tons per year for both rare earth magnets and heavy rare earth strip-cast metals and alloys. These production targets align with the company’s long-term growth strategy and anticipated government-backed financing initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic critical mineral industries.
Development activities for the South Carolina project are already progressing. Engineering work and equipment procurement have commenced, and site preparation is expected to begin in the coming months. The company is targeting the start of commissioning activities in 2028, positioning the facility to become one of the most significant rare earth manufacturing centers in North America.
The selection of Cherokee County followed an extensive evaluation of multiple locations across several states. USA Rare Earth considered numerous factors during the site selection process, including the availability of attractive incentive packages, tax credits, grants, and exemptions. The company also prioritized access to dependable and cost-effective power supplies, a highly skilled manufacturing workforce, proximity to major defense and aerospace customers, and the ability to accelerate project development timelines.
Blacksburg emerged as an ideal location due to its strong transportation infrastructure along the Interstate 85 corridor, well-established advanced manufacturing ecosystem, and reliable energy support from Duke Energy. These advantages are expected to facilitate efficient operations and future expansion opportunities.
By establishing this new facility, USA Rare Earth is advancing its mission to create a secure, transparent, and resilient rare earth supply chain spanning the United States and allied nations. The project is expected to play a crucial role in supporting critical industries that rely on advanced magnetic materials while reinforcing national economic and technological competitiveness.
