After the acquisition of the mining company Serra Verde by the North American company USA Rare Earth, which has participation from the United States government, exports of critical minerals began on a commercial scale to the country. The information was released in a statement from USA Rare Earth, on Monday (9).
Rare earths form a group of 17 chemical elements that are essential for the functioning of many modern products — from smartphones and televisions to digital cameras and LEDs. Although used in small quantities, they are irreplaceable. Most of these minerals are concentrated in two points: in China and Brazil.
According to the company, the acquisition of Serra Verde was completed in September this year, with the aim of creating a global leader in the rare earths market. Located in Minaçu, in the north of Goiás, the mining company is the only one outside Asia to produce, on a commercial scale, the four main elements used in the manufacture of high-performance magnets: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.
In the statement, USA Rare Earth reported that Serra Verde has completed the first stage of the optimization and expansion program and is already producing Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) on a commercial scale. In October, commercial shipments began and, in November, the company recorded its first sales.
Currently, the expansion of the first stage is in the phase of increasing production, with the goal of reaching 4 thousand metric tons per year of total rare earth oxide (TREO). The second stage, which foresees the addition of 2.4 thousand metric tons per year to production capacity, is expected to be completed and commissioning will begin in the third quarter of 2027.
According to projections released by the company, Serra Verde expects to sell at least 325 tons of total rare earth oxides (TREO) in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The company also presented the average sales values after separation costs:
At minimum prices: approximately US$43 per kilogram, equivalent to around US$150 per kilogram of NdPr (neodymium and praseodymium).
At market prices: approximately US$97 per kilogram, equivalent to around US$340 per kilogram of NdPr.
In April this year, USA Rare Earth announced the purchase of Serra Verde for US$2.8 billion, equivalent to approximately R$14 billion. In August, the purchase was approved by the North American company's shareholders.
According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Brazil has the second largest reserves of rare earths in the world, behind only China. The Asian country accounts for more than 60% of global production and almost 90% of the refining of these elements.
The negotiation envisages the integration of the two companies' operations to operate across the entire production chain, from the extraction of rare earths to the separation, processing of elements and the manufacture of permanent magnets.
In addition to the acquisition, the agreement includes a 15-year supply contract. Minimum prices for minerals were also established, which guarantees revenue predictability and reduces operational risks.
At the time of the announcement, Ricardo Grossi, president and director of operations at Serra Verde, informed g1 that the sale would not promote immediate changes to the operation in Brazil and that local management would remain unchanged.
"The mine and plant in Minaçu continue to operate normally, under the leadership of the current team, with continuity of the strategy already underway. The operation remains focused on the planned ramp-up and expansion, and local management remains unchanged. At the same time, the agreement strengthens the company by providing access to technology throughout the entire production chain and greater global integration, without changing the day-to-day operations", he explained.
