{
  "id": 19272632,
  "title": "LS Eco Energy makes push for world's 1st mass production of samarium",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/ls-eco-energy-makes-push-for-worlds-1st-mass-production-of-samarium-19272632",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T03:02:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20261110/ls-eco-energy-makes-push-for-worlds-1st-mass-production-of-samarium"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LS Eco Energy, a division of LS Cable & System, announced Tuesday plans to commence test production of samarium metal in December, aiming to become the world's first firm to mass-produce this essential material for permanent magnets using non-Chinese raw resources. This initiative forms part of the company's strategy to construct a supply chain free from China, in anticipation of forthcoming U.S. restrictions on rare earth materials employed in defense uses.\n\nAccording to LS Eco Energy, the corporation is investing 11.6 billion won ($8 million) to construct a samarium metal production plant at its affiliate LSCV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company anticipates initiating trial production in December, followed by full-scale mass production. The plant's projected annual output of 240 tons of samarium metal would be adequate to manufacture roughly 700 to 1,000 tons of samarium-cobalt (SmCo) permanent magnets.\n\nSamarium is a crucial component for SmCo permanent magnets, which retain their magnetic strength at elevated temperatures. SmCo magnets are utilized in aerospace and defense applications, encompassing fighter jets and missiles.",
  "summary": "LS Eco Energy, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, said Tuesday it will begin trial production of samarium metal in December, with the goal of becoming the world's first company to mass-produce the key material for permanent magnets using non-Chinese raw materials. The move is part of the company's efforts to establish a supply chain independent of China ahead of new U.S. restrictions on rare…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}