Critical Minerals Factbook
Facility

KSM Metals Korean Metals Plant (Ochang)

Australian Strategic Materials' Korean Metals Plant in the Ochang Foreign Investment Zone, Cheongju, operated by ASM's wholly owned Korean subsidiary Korean Strategic Materials and Metals (KSM Metals). Officially opened May 2022; produces NdPr metal and NdFeB strip alloy via ASM's patented metallisation process, with Phase 1 installed capacity of 1,300 tpa NdFeB alloy and a Phase 2 design of 3,600 tpa.

Facts on this page last re-verified Aug 11, 2026 — the oldest verification date among its current claims. How we verify.

Location: Ochang Foreign Investment Zone, Cheongju, North Chungcheong (Chungcheongbuk-do), South Korea

Metals & alloys

NdPr metallisation

Operating

ASM's patented, energy-efficient metallisation process converting rare earth oxides to high-purity metal; neodymium furnace commissioning commenced November 2021

Material flow

NdPr Oxide → NdPr Metal

Capacity

No capacity claim. Absence of a figure means no source publishes one.

Qualification

No qualification claim. Status does not imply qualified output.

Metals & alloys

NdFeB strip alloy casting

Commissioned

NdFeB strip alloy caster; commissioning completed March 2023 with alloy samples supplied to customers

Material flow

NdPr Metal → NdFeB Alloy

Capacity

1,300 t/year · Product mass · Nameplate · as of Aug 11, 2026

3,600 t/year · Product mass · Target · as of Aug 11, 2026

Qualification

No qualification claim. Status does not imply qualified output.

Sources