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
China's recent export controls on critical materials, including bismuth, are driving significant price disparities between bismuth oxide and metal in Europe. This development is reshaping market dynamics and posing challenges for industries reliant on these materials.
Indian critical minerals producer Lohum launched the country’s first battery-grade lithium refinery earlier this month, designed to be able to consume both primary and secondary feedstocks, Fastmarkets heard this week.
Caremag's €216M investment in a French rare earth recycling plant marks a major step toward sustainable resource independence for Europe's electric vehicle sector.
Cobalt market dynamics are intensifying as the DRC's export suspension fuels volatility, raises supply chain concerns, and impacts global pricing and investments
French shipping giant CMA CGM Group’s plan to invest $20 billion in maritime transportation, logistics and supply chains in the US over the next four years signals the start of a turnaround for US shipbuilding and will increase demand for steel plate by as much as an estimated $2 billion over the term of the investment, according to market participants.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly battery raw materials market update for March 2025, focusing on raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and more