Australian mineral producer Lynas Rare Earths announced that its rare earth plant in Malaysia has commenced production of terbium oxide, adding a new product to its rare earth product line. The plant completed the construction of a 1,500 mt/year heavy rare earth separation plant from January to March. Previously, it had produced dysprosium oxide in May, becoming the first producer outside China to separate heavy rare earths. The plant uses rare earth raw materials from the Mount Weld mine and the Kalgoorlie project in Western Australia, but may expand its raw material sources in the future. The company has signed a preliminary agreement with Menteri Besar, a Malaysian investment agency, to purchase mixed rare earth carbonate from Malaysian ion-adsorption clay ores. Additionally, Lynas is developing a rare earth production plant in the US, which will have the same capacity as the Malaysian plant. The company plans to produce 2,500-3,000 mt of heavy rare earth products and 5,000 mt of light rare earth products annually after the new plant commences operation. Lynas plans to expand its rare earth product line to include dysprosium, terbium, and holmium, as well as unseparated samarium/europium/gadolinium and unseparated mixed heavy rare earths.