MP Materials Signs Long-Term Gadolinium Separation Deal with US Aerospace and Defense Client

Published: Aug 17, 2026 18:00

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[SMM Rare Earth Express] MP Materials has signed a long-term gadolinium (Gd) separation agreement with an undisclosed US aerospace and national defense client. Gadolinium will be recovered from the existing ore body at Mountain Pass as part of the SEG+ stream, enabling by-product value without separate mining. This transaction indicates that MP Materials is transitioning from a rare earth producer centered on Pr-Nd (NdPr) to an integrated refiner capable of providing US clients with a range of separated rare earth products. Gadolinium has strategic applications in aerospace and national defense, making it particularly significant within the domestic US supply chain. At present, the client’s identity, transaction volume, pricing, and expected revenue have not been disclosed, so its specific financial contribution remains difficult to assess. However, by recovering and separating gadolinium from the existing ore body, MP Materials is expected to further expand the rare earth product portfolio of the Mountain Pass ore body without increasing standalone mining costs.

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