U.S. Ships First Commercial Rare-Earth Magnets in Decades

In a major milestone for U.S. critical mineral and manufacturing independence, eVAC Magnetics has shipped the first commercially produced neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) rare-earth magnets manufactured in the United States during the 21st century. The shipment originated from the company’s facility in Sumter, South Carolina, marking the return of domestic rare-earth magnet production after a decades-long absence.

The new magnets are essential components in technologies ranging from electric vehicles and aerospace systems to medical devices and defense equipment, highlighting the strategic importance of resilient supply chains for national security and industrial competitiveness. eVAC’s South Carolina plant — backed by Germany’s VAC Group — aims to scale to an annual capacity of 2,000 metric tons by early 2026, with potential to expand further as partnerships and investments grow.

This breakthrough comes amid a broader push in the U.S. and allied economies to diversify critical mineral production and reduce reliance on concentrated foreign processing. With China accounting for roughly 85–90% of global rare-earth magnet manufacture, domestic milestones like this signal progress toward long-term supply chain resilience.

Learn more in the full announcement at eVAC Magnetics’ press release: https://evac-magnetics.com/shared/eVAC-news-first-magnets