Top 10 Companies in the Rare Earth Recycling Industry (2025): Market Leaders Driving the Circular Economy

In Business Insights
November 16, 2025


The Global Rare Earth Recycling Market was valued at USD 14.25 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 76.68 Billion by 2029, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.2% during the forecast period (2023–2029). This explosive growth is being driven by supply chain security concerns, escalating demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in clean energy technologies, and stringent environmental regulations promoting a circular economy.

As the world transitions to electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics, the strategic importance of securing a sustainable supply of rare earths has never been greater. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Rare Earth Recycling Industry—a dynamic mix of mining giants, specialized recyclers, and chemical processors shaping the future of critical material recovery.

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🔟 1. Rhodia SA (Solvay Group)

Headquarters: La Défense, France
Key Offering: Rare Earth Extraction and Purification from End-of-Life Products

As part of the Solvay Group, Rhodia is a global leader in rare earth processing with advanced capabilities in recycling. The company leverages its extensive chemical expertise to recover high-purity rare earth oxides from permanent magnets, catalysts, and battery waste, serving the automotive and electronics industries.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Proprietary hydrometallurgical processes for high-yield recovery

  • Strategic partnerships with automakers for closed-loop magnet recycling

  • Commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of rare earth supply chains


9️⃣ 2. Hitachi Metals, Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Neodymium Magnet Recycling and Remanufacturing

Hitachi Metals is a premier manufacturer of high-performance neodymium magnets and a pioneer in their recycling. The company has developed efficient technologies to recover rare earths from used hard disk drives, industrial motors, and hybrid vehicle components, reintegrating them into new magnet production.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of hydrogen-based processing for magnet decoupling and reuse

  • Establishment of dedicated recycling facilities in Japan and Southeast Asia


8️⃣ 3. GEM Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: Urban Mining and Comprehensive Rare Earth Recovery

GEM is one of China’s leading resource recycling enterprises, with a massive “urban mining” footprint. The company recovers rare earths from a wide array of electronic waste (e-waste), including discarded smartphones, laptops, and batteries, playing a critical role in China’s domestic circular economy.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Large-scale, integrated e-waste recycling parks

  • Pioneering the recycling of rare earths from nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries


7️⃣ 4. Geomega Resources Inc.

Headquarters: Boucherville, Quebec, Canada
Key Offering: ISR Technology for Magnet Recycling

Geomega Resources is an innovative developer of recycling technologies, most notably its proprietary ISR (Innovative Solvent Extraction) process. This environmentally friendly technology is designed to separate and purify rare earths from magnet scrap with high efficiency and minimal waste generation.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Focus on creating a closed-loop solution for the North American magnet market

  • Pilot plant operations demonstrating commercial viability

Download FREE Sample Report: Rare Earth Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
Key Offering: Integrated Mining and Recycling of Light Rare Earths

As one of the world’s largest rare earth producers, China Northern Rare Earth has integrated recycling into its vast operations. The company recovers rare earths from industrial waste streams and end-of-life products, complementing its primary production from the massive Bayan Obo mining complex.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Recovery of rare earths from flue dust and smelting slag

  • Investment in R&D for more efficient separation techniques from complex waste


5️⃣ 6. JLMAG Rare-Earth Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: Sintered NdFeB Magnet Production and Recycling

JLMAG is a top global manufacturer of sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. The company operates a robust recycling program, collecting and processing manufacturing scrap and end-of-life magnets to recover valuable neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • In-house recycling loops for production scrap, minimizing raw material input

  • Development of specialized processes for dysprosium recovery from magnet swarf


4️⃣ 7. Huahong Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: Rare Earth Recovery from Catalysts and Phosphors

Huahong Technology specializes in the recycling of precious and rare metals from industrial catalysts and electronic components. The company has developed advanced techniques for recovering cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and phosphors used in lighting.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Leading recycler of rare earths from the petroleum refining industry

  • Expansion of capacity to process end-of-life fluorescent lamps


3️⃣ 8. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: High-Purity Rare Earth Chemicals and Recycling

Shin-Etsu Chemical, a global chemical giant, is a major producer of rare earth materials for various applications. The company is increasingly focused on developing recycling technologies to secure a sustainable and stable supply of high-purity rare earth compounds, particularly for the electronics sector.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • R&D into recycling rare earths from semiconductor manufacturing waste

  • Commitment to reducing reliance on primary mined materials through circular models


2️⃣ 9. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Non-Ferrous Metal and Rare Earth Recycling

Mitsubishi Materials operates one of Japan’s most comprehensive metal recycling businesses. The company recovers rare earths alongside other valuable metals from automotive shredder residue, e-waste, and industrial catalysts, contributing to Japan’s resource-efficient society goals.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Advanced sorting and separation technologies for complex waste streams

  • Collaboration with Japanese car manufacturers to recycle motors from EVs and hybrids


1️⃣ 10. Zhongxi Tianma New Materials Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
Key Offering: Rare Earth Separation and Recycling Services

Zhongxi Tianma is a specialized processor focused on the separation and purification of rare earths, with a growing business in recycling. The company provides tolling services, processing magnet scrap and other rare earth-bearing wastes for clients to recover high-value materials.

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Expertise in the challenging separation of heavy rare earth elements

  • Strategic location in China’s primary rare earth production hub

Get Full Report Here: Rare Earth Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Rare Earth Recycling Is Integrated and Efficient

The rare earth recycling market is at a pivotal juncture. While primary mining still dominates supply, the industry is rapidly scaling up recycling capacities, driven by technological breakthroughs, economic incentives, and powerful policy drivers. The future points toward a more resilient and sustainable supply chain for these critical materials.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Regulatory Push: EU Critical Raw Materials Act and US Inflation Reduction Act are mandating recycled content and supporting domestic recycling infrastructure.

  • Technological Advancements: Development of more efficient hydrometallurgical and direct recycling processes that lower costs and improve yields.

  • Supply Chain Collaboration: Growing partnerships between OEMs (e.g., automotive companies) and recyclers to create closed-loop systems for end-of-life products.

  • Market Maturation: Improved collection and sorting logistics for end-of-life products containing rare earths, creating a more reliable feedstock for recyclers.

Get Full Report Here: Rare Earth Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not just processing waste—they are building the critical infrastructure for a secure and sustainable technological future, turning yesterday’s products into tomorrow’s raw materials.