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Solvay and Cyclic Materials sign supply agreement for recycled mixed rare-earth oxide

| By Mary Bailey

Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) and Cyclic Materials, an advanced metals recycling company building a circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical metals, announced the signing of an agreement for the supply of recycled mixed rare earth oxide (rMREO) from Cyclic Materials to Solvay, with shipments to begin in late 2024.

This agreement extends the partnership formed by the memorandum of understanding signed in February 2023. Since then, the companies have validated Cyclic Materials’ rMREO product with Solvay’s rare earth separation process. This supply agreement is the culmination of both parties’ active collaboration, which confirmed the technical and commercial viability of Cyclic Materials’ product with an established rare earth chemicals producer.

Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials leads the industry in developing technologies that economically, sustainably and domestically convert end-of-life products into valuable raw materials. The company plans to establish facilities across North America, Europe and Asia to meet the growing demand for domestic sources of MREO in these regions. 

This move aligns with Solvay’s proactive measures since the end of 2022 to establish a rare earths hub for the permanent magnets value chain in La Rochelle, France, aiming to enhance European self-sufficiency. An historical and active actor in Rare Earths processing, Solvay is committed to serving customers in the fast-growing electric vehicles, wind power, and electronics markets as of 2025.