Highlights
- JS Link partners with Lynas Rare Earths to build a 3,000-tonne permanent magnet facility in Malaysia amid global supply chain restructuring.
- The company's Yesan plant is nearing equipment commissioning, targeting domestic and international magnet demand.
- Strategic positioning supported by U.S. Department of Defense interest and inquiries from over 30 companies across multiple industries.
JS Link (opens in a new tab) is moving aggressively to secure a foothold in the rare earth magnet supply chain. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lynas Rare Earths—the world’s largest non-Chinese rare earth producer—to supply NdPr oxide and build a 3,000-tonne permanent magnet manufacturing facility in Kuantan, Malaysia. This deal positions JS Link to gain a strategic procurement advantage as China continues to tighten export controls on rare earths.
The partnership is bolstered by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) support for Lynas’ refining in Texas and Kuantan, underscoring Washington’s push to establish non-Chinese supply lines. According to JS Link, the collaboration could contribute to a global production capacity of more than 6,000 tonnes, both domestically and abroad.
Yesan Plant Progress
JS Link’s Yesan plant in Chungcheongnam-do is nearing the commissioning of critical equipment, including its SC alloy melting furnace. This unit is essential for producing magnet alloys with uniform, fine-grain boundary structures—crucial for determining magnet quality. Cold commissioning is complete, and trial runs are expected soon.
Once the furnace is active, auxiliary equipment such as hydrotreating units, mixers, jet mills, and magnetic field presses will follow. After quality testing, the company plans to expand quickly to meet both domestic and international demand.
Market Context
The global magnet market is restructuring under U.S.-China tensions. Washington has directly pressured global manufacturers—including Apple—to secure non-Chinese magnet supply, while also investing heavily in MP Materials, America’s largest rare earth mining company. This demonstrates how serious the U.S. is about reshaping the magnet supply chain.
JS Link reports active inquiries from more than 30 companies across sectors—including Tier 1 auto suppliers, consumer electronics, home appliance firms, and rotary generator companies—seeking magnet supply contracts.
Investor Questions
- How sustainable is JS Link’s rapid scale-up, given the complexity of refining and magnet alloy production?
- Will Lynas be able to reliably supply sufficient NdPr oxide as demand from U.S. defense and tech companies accelerates?
- How quickly can JS Link secure offtake agreements at scale, particularly against entrenched Chinese suppliers with cost advantages?
Bottom Line
JS Link is positioning itself as a serious player in the emerging non-Chinese magnet ecosystem. With Lynas as a partner, U.S. backing in the background, and early customer demand, the company could become a critical midstream node. But execution risk remains high as the market watches how fast its Yesan and Kuantan plants move from trial runs to commercial scale.
The Company
Based in Korea, JS Link is a manufacturer of high-performance sintered permanent magnets, utilizing rare earth materials sourced and processed from trusted partners in Western and allied countries, including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The company is in the process of establishing a permanent magnet production plant in Yesan, Chungnam, with a projected annual capacity of 1,000 tons.
To drive this ambitious endeavor, they report assembling a world-class team of seasoned permanent magnet manufacturing engineers from around the globe, alongside domestic PhD-level experts, to lay a robust foundation for innovation and excellence in production. Through relentless research and development, JS Link is dedicated to becoming a global leader in the rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing sector.
JS Link runs two divisions—a magnet producer and a biotech company.
Source: Monthly Newsletter (opens in a new tab)
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“Will Lynas be able to reliably supply sufficient NdPr oxide as demand from U.S. defense and tech companies accelerates?”
The reason for the US strategic support for Lynas L and HRE processing in TX. Shame about the Lynas DD done for Seadrift and still the water issues arise. Can’t have impressed the Trump Admin’. Will Lynas get further support? Like other shareholders, we will wait and see.
GLTA – REI