Mine-to-Magnet Workshop

The NDIA Manufacturing Division is hosting the Mine-to-Metals Workshop sponsored by Lockheed Martin on January 16-17!

The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) supply chains for rare earth element (REE) magnets are in a transition phase. Supported by U.S. and partner nations, new sources of supply from raw materials to magnets are being developed around the globe. By statute, effective January 1, 2026, restrictions on REE magnets will follow the supply chain to the mining tier. Additionally, as early as June 2025, suppliers may be required to provide the full provenance of all REE magnets.

This day and a half workshop will gather stakeholders from across the supply chain and U.S. Government to discuss challenges and opportunities in this critical supply chain. A partnership between Government and companies within the DIB is required to accomplish changes in REE supply chains. The provenance requirements for REE magnets will be a significant challenge, and new technologies and new approaches to organizing the market will be required to accomplish this requirement. The Workshop will focus on the following topics and questions:

• What actions is the U.S. Government taking to incentivize new sources of supply throughout the supply chain?
• What tiers of the supply chain are highest risk for not being fully established prior to the sourcing restriction implementation deadline?
• What solutions would enable supply chain provenance to the mining level, and can these solutions be implemented by the June 23rd, 2025 provenance target date?
• What is the status of Government and Industry efforts to develop substitute magnets and new technologies?
• What additional support does the nascent U.S. and friendly nation rare earth element industry need to grow and thrive in the long-term?

More information will follow so continue to check back for updates!