USA Rare Earth to Build $1.2B SC Plant with 6,400 TPA Magnets, 5,000 TPA Metals
USAR•USA Rare Earth will invest $1.2 billion in a Blacksburg, South Carolina, facility targeting production of 6,400 TPA sintered NdFeB magnets and 5,000 TPA rare earth metals by 2028. The project is expected to create 490 high-wage jobs and align with a Pentagon ban on Chinese magnets set for January 2027.
1. $1.2 Billion Investment for SC Facility
USA Rare Earth will allocate $1.2 billion to construct a new magnet manufacturing and refined metals plant in Cherokee County’s Bailey Industrial Park, Blacksburg, South Carolina. The operation targets annual production of 6,400 metric tons of sintered NdFeB magnets and 5,000 metric tons of strip-cast rare earth metals and alloys.
2. Job Creation and Project Timeline
The project is expected to generate approximately 490 high-skill, high-wage positions in the Upstate region. Engineering and equipment procurement are under way, with site work slated to begin in coming months and commissioning scheduled for 2028.
3. Strategic Impact and Supply Chain
This facility will augment USA Rare Earth’s mine-to-magnet value chain alongside its Stillwater, Oklahoma, operation and position the company to meet increased domestic demand driven by the Pentagon’s ban on Chinese-origin NdFeB magnets in defense applications starting January 2027. The output will support aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical, AI, energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
