ReElement Technologies and POSCO International Form Joint Venture to Develop Integrated Rare Earth and Magnet Production in the United States
Rhea-AI Summary
American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC), through minority holding ReElement Technologies, announced a $200 million joint venture with POSCO International to build integrated rare earth refining and permanent magnet production in the United States.
Phase 1 targets ~3,000 MTPA SREO by 2028, expanding to ~6,000 MTPA by 2030, supporting allied, non-China supply chains.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- $200 million joint venture investment for U.S. rare earth and magnet complex
- Planned capacity of ~3,000 MTPA SREO by 2028 (Phase 1)
- Expansion to ~6,000 MTPA SREO by 2030 (Phase 2)
- Integrated value chain from feedstock sourcing to permanent magnet manufacturing
- Strategic U.S.–South Korea partnership enhancing allied critical mineral supply chains
- Light and heavy rare earth metalization plus permanent magnet production capabilities
Negative
- Project commissioning targeted for 2028, implying a long development timeline
- Final site selection for the U.S. complex is still underway
- Partnership leaders note building a heavy rare earth value chain in the U.S. “will not be easy”
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
AREC slipped 0.47% while several coal peers like METC and SXC showed gains, and AMR was slightly negative, pointing to a stock-specific reaction rather than a coordinated sector move.
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 | Strategic collaboration | Positive | +8.0% | Mitsubishi collaboration and equity investment to scale refining in U.S. and Japan. |
| Jan 05 | Equity facility partnership | Positive | +19.5% | $200M strategic equity facility to fund Marion refining buildout and expansion. |
| Dec 08 | Blockchain traceability deal | Positive | -6.3% | SAGINT partnership to tokenize and trace critical minerals via blockchain. |
| Dec 01 | Tokenization services pact | Positive | +2.2% | Tokenization Services Agreement with SAGINT and equity commitment for traceability. |
| Nov 20 | Recycling processing partnership | Positive | -17.2% | ERI partnership to process magnet waste into 99.99%+ rare earth oxides domestically. |
Partnership announcements tied to ReElement have produced mixed outcomes for AREC, with both strong rallies and sharp declines, suggesting investor reactions are sensitive to deal structure and perceived execution risk.
Over the past months, AREC’s minority holding ReElement has signed multiple partnerships aimed at scaling rare earth and critical mineral refining. Deals with Mitsubishi Materials, Transition Equity Partners, SAGINT, and ERI focused on capital, technology, recycling feedstock, and traceability. Price reactions ranged from a +19.49% move on a funding-related partnership to a -17.21% drop on a processing deal, showing that similar strategic collaborations can be received very differently. Today’s POSCO International JV extends this pattern of supply-chain-focused alliances.
Historical Comparison
In the past, ReElement-focused partnership news for AREC saw an average move of about 1.23%, with both rallies and selloffs, framing today’s POSCO JV as part of an ongoing collaboration trend.
Partnerships have evolved from recycling and traceability (ERI, SAGINT) to large-scale capital commitments and strategic collaborations (Transition Equity Partners, Mitsubishi), now extending into a full rare earth and magnet JV with POSCO International.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details a $200 million joint venture between ReElement and POSCO International to build an integrated U.S. rare earth and magnet supply chain, targeting 3,000 then 6,000 MTPA of output by 2028 and 2030. It extends a series of supply-chain partnerships that previously produced both positive and negative moves for AREC. Investors may watch for site selection, funding structure, and construction progress, alongside how this JV complements earlier agreements tied to recycling, traceability, and international collaboration.
Key Terms
rare earth oxides (REO) technical
chromatographic separation technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Strategic U.S.-South Korea Partnership Advancing a Secure, Resilient, and Diversified Allied Supply Chain for Defense, Energy, and Advanced Technologies
JV expands on Existing Strategic Partnership and Long-Term Offtake Agreement Between ReElement and POSCO International
FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2026 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources") through its affiliated minority holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation ("ReElement"), a leading U.S.-based innovator in rare earth and critical mineral refining, today announced that ReElement has formed a joint venture with POSCO International Corporation ("POSCO International"), a global leader in materials trading and industrial development, to develop integrated rare earth element and permanent magnet production in the United States.
A formal signing ceremony took place on May 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C., with ReElement CEO Mark Jensen and POSCO International President and CEO Kye-In Lee executing the agreement.
The joint venture represents a major milestone in advancing the long-term partnership previously established between ReElement and POSCO International, including their commercial offtake agreement announced in September. The collaboration further strengthens U.S.-South Korea cooperation in building a resilient and sustainable supply chain for critical minerals essential to national security, clean energy, and advanced technologies.
Establishing a Fully Integrated, Allied Rare Earth Supply Chain
The joint venture is designed to establish a closed-loop, end-to-end rare earth supply chain, spanning feedstock sourcing, separation, purification and refining, and permanent magnet manufacturing within the United States.
The partnership combines:
ReElement's advanced chromatographic separation and purification refining platform, enabling high-purity rare earth oxide (REO) production across both light and heavy rare earth elements; and
POSCO International's global industrial capabilities and deep relationships across automotive and industrial markets, along with its expertise in large-scale industrial deployment and materials science.
Together, the companies are building a scalable platform to support high-growth sectors including electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, defense systems, and clean energy technologies.
Project Scope and Development Timeline
The joint venture brings a
Initial development phases include:
Phase 1 (2028): ~3,000 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of separated rare earth oxides (SREO)
Phase 2 (2030): Expansion to ~6,000 MTPA of SREO
In addition to oxide production, the project will incorporate:
Light and heavy rare earth metalization capabilities
Permanent magnet manufacturing capacity
Integrated feedstock sourcing through a joint taskforce focused on both domestic and international primary and recycled resources
Strengthening Allied Supply Chains Through Strategic Collaboration
The joint venture directly addresses critical gaps in U.S. and allied supply chains by enabling domestic production of high-purity rare earth materials and magnets-historically dominated by foreign supply.
By combining complementary strengths, ReElement and POSCO International are advancing a capital-efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible model for rare earth development -one that reduces reliance on legacy, capital-intensive and single-source systems that have proven unsustainable, while supporting long-term supply chain resilience.
Mark Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of ReElement Technologies, commented:
"This joint venture represents a defining moment in the evolution of the rare earth supply chain in the United States. By combining ReElement's refining-first platform with POSCO International's global capabilities and industrial scale, we are creating a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that addresses one of the most critical gaps in the market.
This is not just about building capacity - it's about building a new model. One that is modular, scalable, and capable of aligning with the rapidly evolving needs of domestic and allied markets. Together, we are establishing a secure, non-China supply chain that supports national security, clean energy, and the next generation of advanced technologies."
Kye-In Lee, President and CEO of POSCO International, added:
"Today's signing is more than just a contract - it is a reflection of the trust and shared vision between our two companies. POSCO International's global supply chain capabilities and ReElement's innovative refining technology are highly complementary and bring out the best in each other.
Building a heavy rare earth separation and refining value chain in the United States will not be easy, but that is precisely why this partnership matters. Together, we believe we can achieve something meaningful and strategically important for the future."
About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a minority holding of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ: AREC), is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth elements and critical minerals. Its refining-first, multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform is designed to process a wide range of inputs - including recycled materials from permanent magnets, lithium-ion batteries, and industrial, defense, and technology waste streams, as well as mined ores, brines, and coal-based byproducts - into high-purity products that support a cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and circular supply chain.
ReElement's innovative and scalable "Powered by ReElement" process leverages its exclusively licensed and internally developed intellectual property, integrating directly into partners' material processing flowsheets to enhance efficiency and adaptability across the global critical mineral supply chain. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About POSCO International Corporation
POSCO International, a core member of the POSCO Group, continues to solidify its position as a leading trading and investment company with a diverse business portfolio spanning energy, materials, and agro business. Leveraging an extensive global network, the company is actively engaged in steel trading, the development and operation of the Myanmar Gas Field, as well as sourcing key resources for its overseas agribusiness operations.
In line with its commitment to sustainable growth, POSCO International is also exploring future growth engines such as renewable energy and eco-friendly mobility components. By prioritizing innovation and sustainability, the company aims to stay ahead in a rapidly changing global business landscape.
Supported by a stable business foundation and robust global capabilities, POSCO International is well-positioned to achieve sustainable growth and create long-term value. For more information, please visit www.poscointl.com.
About American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC)
American Resources Corporation has established a comprehensive solution platform across the rare earth and critical mineral supply chain, leveraging its affiliation with, and former parent relationship to, ReElement Technologies Corporation - a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. The Company is advancing efficient upstream and downstream critical mineral operations.
These operations span conventional and unconventional resource sourcing and development, as well as recycling and manufacturing, enabling American Resources to aggregate and process diverse feedstocks while efficiently aligning supply with end-market demand.
American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model focused on scalable growth. Its streamlined approach enables the Company to expand its asset portfolio and meet increasing global demand across infrastructure, defense, technology, and electrification markets - while maximizing margins and maintaining cost discipline. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.
Media Inquiries:
Marjorie Weisskohl
703-587-1532
mweisskohl@allseasonspr.com
Company Contact:
Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com
SOURCE: American Resources Corporation
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire