Brazil’s Serra Verde Pela Ema project is now operational as the country’s first large-scale rare earth mine and the only Western Hemisphere ionic clay mine producing critical magnet minerals including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. The United States has heavily invested in this project through a $565 million DFC loan, a $2.8 billion acquisition by USA Rare Earth, and up to $750 million in offtake support from the Department of War’s Economic Defense Unit. Serra Verde is targeting annual output of 6,400 to 6,500 metric tons of rare earth oxides by 2027, with a projected 25-year lifespan. This production could provide a buffer against Chinese export restrictions or price manipulation, as China currently produces roughly 270,000 tons of rare earths annually compared to Brazil’s mere 2,000 tons despite estimated reserves of 21 million metric tons.
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