Brazil’s Serra Verde rare‑earth project draws US and French investment

USA Rare Earth and the French-backed InfraVia fund each plan to acquire a 13.6% stake in Carester, a French company that separates, processes and recycles heavy rare‑earth elements. The deal creates a supply chain linking the Serra Verde mine and processing plant in Goiás, Brazil, with Carester’s European processing facilities and USA Rare Earth’s future magnet‑manufacturing operations in the United States. The partnership is intended to cut dependence on China, which controls about 90% of rare‑earth processing worldwide.

USA Rare Earth previously signed an agreement in April to buy the Serra Verde operation for roughly US$2.8 billion, subject to regulatory approvals. Under the new arrangement, Carester will receive Brazilian heavy‑rare‑earth concentrates, while USA Rare Earth will obtain access to the separated oxide products from Carester. The investments are expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, marking a coordinated effort by the United States and France to secure critical mineral supplies for defence, clean‑energy and high‑tech applications.