E-Vac’s South Carolina rare earth magnet factory to get $112 mln IRA-funded tax credit

E-Vac Magnetics has been awarded $111.9 million in US tax credits to advance the construction of its first US rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina, it announced on Tuesday April 9

E-Vac, the US subsidiary of German magnet manufacturer VAC Group, plans to build a sintered neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) rare earth magnet plant in the US city, to be operational in late fall of 2025. It broke ground on the project in March of this year.

The award will be paid under the US’ Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit (48C), to which the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocated $10 billion in funding. In this first phase of funding, $800 million in tax credits were awarded to selected critical materials recycling, processing, and refining projects.

“Our facility will help to establish a resilient, US-based supply chain for decades to come,” e-VAC chief executive officer Erik Eschen said.

On April 1, US-integrated rare earth producer MP Materials announced it had been awarded $58.5 million in tax credits under the scheme to support the building of its own rare earth magnet manufacturing facility.

Ara Partners, the private equity and infrastructure firm that acquired VAC Group in October 2023, welcomed the tax break.

“The IRA is helping companies invest in America and build critical domestic supply chains,” Tuan Tran, partner at Ara, said.

In 2023, E-Vac also inked an agreement with the US Department of Defense as part of the latter’s ‘Mine-to-Magnet’ supply chain initiative. VAC has also announced a partnership with Korea’s LS EAM to make rare earth magnets for EVs from 2027 onwards.

US carmaker GM has announced concluded long-term supply deals with both MP and e-VAC’s projects.

We offer insights into critical decision-making factors such as supply chain dynamics, future pipeline consideration, policy developments and historical price data. Our information is sourced from market reports, industry publications, conferences and feedback from those who buy, sell and trade rare earths. Stay informed, make confident decisions and navigate the dynamic rare earths market with Fastmarkets

What to read next
Imerys has placed its Imerys British Lithium (IBL) project into care and maintenance, suspending active development for the foreseeable future as it reassesses capital allocation and seeks a long-term partner, the company announced on Friday February 20.
The US and Canadian steel industries are “aligned” in trade policies, and the imposition of Section 232 tariffs against Canada is “unjustified,” Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) vice president for trade and industry affairs Francois Desmarais told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Friday February 6.
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its non-ferrous materials and industrial minerals prices, via an open consultation process between January 6 and February 6. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process.
The US is being very creative not only in providing funding for projects but also in finding sustainable ways to develop a Western supply of rare earths, Aclara Resources chief executive officer Ramón Barúa Costa told Fastmarkets in an interview on Monday February 9.
Gains in byproduct values are expected to play an increasingly important role in Chinese zinc and lead smelters’ margins in 2026, especially because concentrates availability is likely to tighten, adding further pressure to treatment charges (TCs), the primary income source for metal refiners, industry sources told Fastmarkets in the fortnight ended Friday January 16.
The build-out of the Indian battery and critical mineral supply chain requires an integrated approach in terms of government policy, investment and subsidies and technology, market participants said during the inaugural Fastmarkets India Battery & Critical Minerals conference in New Delhi, India, over February 2-3.