REEs in Malaysia

Malaysia holds an estimated 16.2 million metric tons of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) in ion-adsorption clay (IAC) ores, valued at approximately RM747.2 billion (about $183 billion USD). Key Deposits and Elements • Main Regions: Valuable deposits are found across Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, and Kedah. • Critical Elements: These deposits contain important components such as Neodymium (Nd), Dysprosium (Dy), Praseodymium (Pr), and Terbium (Tb), which are vital for electric vehicles, defense systems, wind turbines, and high-performance NdFeB permanent magnets. Strategy and Policy ("Mine-to-Magnet") • Export Moratorium & Guidelines: Malaysia implemented a ban on raw non-radioactive REE exports starting January 1, 2024, to force domestic processing. Updated guidelines introduced in October 2026 allow limited exports of up to 100 metric tons of rare earth carbonates and oxides strictly for R&D tied to a three-year commitment to build local facilities. • National Targets (TIM 2021–2030): The country aims to build an integrated supply chain: • 30,000 tonnes of Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) from upstream. • 10,000 tonnes of Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) from midstream processing. • 35,000 tonnes of NdFeB permanent magnets from downstream manufacturing. • Foreign Partnerships: Because refining and separation require specialized technology and heavy investment, the government (via the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, or MITI) is actively seeking strategic foreign investments and tech transfers. Established operators like Lynas Rare Earths also operate within the country Wallahualam.