Ucore Produces 99.9% Dysprosium Oxide Sample Material for Japanese, South Korean, and US Customer Qualifications Ucore announces:
Ucore Produces 99.9% Dysprosium Oxide Sample Material for
Japanese, South Korean, and US Customer Qualifications
Ucore announces:
• Ucore has produced 99.9% dysprosium (“Dy”) oxide generated at its Commercialization and
Demonstration Facility (“CDF”) in Kingston, Ontario , for planned Japanese , South Korean,
and US customer qualifications
• The shortage of heavy rare earth oxides, namely Dy and terbium (“Tb”), represents one of
the most challenging requirements of forging a Western rare earth permanent magnet
industry independent of geopolitical supply turbulence
• The qualification work is intended to support the development of structured definitive
supply and offtake agreements aligned with Ucore’s planned Louisiana Strategic Metals
Complex (“SMC”), including downstream market development under the Company’s
previously announced strategic cooperation framework with Sumitomo Corporation of
Americas
Halifax, Nova Scotia – July 7, 2026 - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) (“Ucore”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has produced commercial-grade 99.9% dysprosium
(“Dy”) oxide for planned qualification samples to major rare earth permanent magnet and electronics
manufacturers for technical evaluation.
The Dy qualification sample material represents a significant milestone in Ucore’s strategy to connect
its planned Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex’s (“SMC”) rare earth separation outputs directly with
downstream magnet, metal, alloy, and advanced materials supply chains. Dy oxide is a critical heavy
rare earth element (“REE”) material used in high-performance electronics and rare earth permanent
magnets, particularly where magnets must retain performance, coercivity, and stability at elevated
operating temperatures. These requirements are essential across electric vehicles, robotics, industrial
automation, renewable energy systems, aerospace, and defense applications.
Together with Ucore’s previously announced NdPr oxide qualification samples , this Dy oxide
production advances Ucore’s broader product qualification strategy for the light and heavy rare earth
oxides required by the Western oxide and permanent magnet industries.
Figure 1: 99.9% dysprosium (Dy) oxide generated at Ucore’s Commercialization and Demonstration
Facility (CDF) in Kingston, Ontario
Heavy Rare Earths: The Critical Gap in Western Magnet Independence
Ucore believes that the Western rare earth supply chain challenge is defined by the ability to reliably
separate, refine, qualify, and deliver the individual rare earth oxides required by downstream
manufacturers.
This challenge is especially acute for heavy rare earths. NdPr provides the primary magnetic
foundation for NdFeB permanent magnets, while Dy and Tb are used in smaller quantities but are
essential for many high -temperature and high-performance magnet applications. Without qualified
sources of Dy and Tb oxide outside of China, Western and Western-allied magnet producers remain
exposed to supply concentration risk even when light rare earth supply and magnet manufacturing
capacity are being expanded.
“The first-mover advantage in the Western market is not primarily about heavy rare earth
production volume alone. It is about qualification status ,” stated Pat Ryan, P .Eng., Chairman
and CEO of Ucore. “A proven modular and scalable processing platform, such as RapidSX ™,
can deliver high -purity material into customer qualification programs, begin to establish
downstream customer relationships, defense and commercial industry confidence, and
business alignment into 2030 and beyond.
“Dysprosium is one of the defining materials in the race to build an independent Western
permanent magnet and oxide supply chain. Producing 99.9% Dy oxide and providing access to
that material to major manufacturers is a significant step for Ucore. It demonstrates that our
Kingston CDF is not simply validating a separation concept. It is generating the customer -
specific materials required to move from technical demonstration toward commercial supply
alignment.”
Ucore’s Commercialization and Demonstration Facility Technology Center
The work at Ucore’s Commercialization and Demonstration Facility (“ CDF”) technology center in
Kingston, Ontario, has focused on expanding the West’s knowledge of heavy rare earth processing,
through:
• Developing front-end leaching and impurity removal processes from real-world sources
• Constructing two conventional solvent-extraction (“CSX”) pilot -scale circuits of 52 and 80
stages each
• Directly comparing over 1 6,000 samples produced from RapidSX ™ vs. those produced from
the CSX circuits and proving that the chemistry of CSX and RapidSX™ is identical
o While proving RapidSX™ is faster and more efficient
• Adapting the modular and scalable RapidSX ™ technology platform to suit the required
solvent-extraction chemistry while noting that , for given chemical conditions, the purity
achieved is simply a function of the number of functional group stages (i.e., extraction,
scrub, strip, wash, and saponification)
• Optimizing the solvent-extraction chemistry to recover both light and heavy REEs, primarily
from heavy REE feedstocks
• Demonstrating ESG standards for solids and liquids handling and reagent recoveries
• Developing the back-end oxalate and oxide production processes
• Scaling the RapidSX™ hardware for full-scale operation and factory acceptance testing
Customer Qualification: A Critical Step in Project Development
The evaluation work by major downstream prospective customers focuses on confirming that Ucore’s
Dy oxide meets the technical, quality, consistency, traceability, and compliance requirements for use
in their manufacturing supply chains.
This qualification process is a key step toward elevating strategic relationships currently under
discussion or toward forming the framework for structured commercial arrangements. It allows
downstream manufacturers and advanced materials customers to evaluate whether Ucore’s
separated heavy rare earth oxide products meet their internal manufacturing and procurement
specifications before finalizing larger-volume supply commitments.
“For downstream customers, dysprosium oxide quality is about much more than individual
oxide parameters,” stated Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore’s Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer. “These samples will provide potential customers with the material they need to
evaluate Ucore’s Dy oxide against their own technical and compliance requirements. Customer
feedback from this qualification work is being directly integrated to support the engineering
and commercial planning of the Louisiana SMC.
“Once again, the Kingston CDF continues to serve as the bridge between RapidSX ™
commercialization work and the product specifications, quality systems, and operating
knowledge required for commercial deployment in Louisiana.”
The Dy oxide qualification sample material was produced at Ucore’s CDF technology center. As noted
above, work at the CDF is integral to Ucore’s commercial development plans and to understanding
and exploiting solvent extraction chemistry. The noted Dy oxide sample material started with
approximately 2 tonnes of mixed rare earth oxide (“MREO”) derived from a third-party Western ionic
clay source and was first processed through the Company’s 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant
(“Demo Plant”) through a multi-step separation campaign and then through a complementary solvent
extraction circuit to provide additional polishing capacity through more available stages. As Ucore
announced on May 28, 2026, at the Louisiana SMC the Company’s initial Machine A (the first
component within Production Line 1) will alone consist of ≈118 RapidSX™ stages.
Strategic Alignment with the Louisiana SMC and Allied REE Supply Chains
Ucore has previously announced strategic relationships with industry participants working to expand
Western and allied rare earth supply chains. These relationships are intended to position Ucore as a
midstream supplier of separated rare earth oxides to strategically important downstream
manufacturers in Europe, Japan, North America, South Korea, and other allied markets.
On June 15, 2026, Ucore announced a strategic cooperation framework with Sumitomo Corporation
of Americas to support the development of a diversified rare earth supply chain across North America
and allied markets. Under that framework, the parties intend to collaborate on rare earth feedstock
sourcing for Ucore’s planned Louisiana SMC and downstream offtake development for selected
middle and heavy rare earth elements critical to high-performance magnets and advanced materials
applications.
# # #
About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare - and critical -metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation
technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore’s vision and plan is to
become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products
and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, Ucore aims to support the development of a more diversified and
resilient North American REE supply chain through the near -term development of a heavy and light
rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and
the longer-term development of Ucore’s 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project
on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA (“Bokan”).
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol “ UCU” and in the United States on the OTC
Markets’ OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol “UURAF.”
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws . All statements
in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development,
technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings),
timelines, events, products to be produced at the Louisiana SMC , or developments that the Company is
pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in
such forward -looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from
those in forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements regarding the
development or execution of definitive supply , offtake agreements or other commercial agreements; the
acceptability of rare earth oxide samples to magnet makers and other end users of product; the ability to
provide high-purity materials or on-spec product to customers on an on-going basis; and the acceptability
of the referenced samples to potential customers.
For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, its business activities, its ability to qualify
for and receive any additional funding from any U.S. or Canadian government, the CDF and the
aforementioned projects (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company’s MD&A for Q1-2026 (filed on
SEDAR+ on May 29, 2026) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below.
Regarding the disclosure above in the “About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.” section, the Company has assumed
that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation
Metals Corp. (“IMC”), as suppliers for Ucore’s expected future SMCs. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient
external funding will be found to continue and complete the ongoing research and development work
required at the CDF and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 technical report that
demonstrates that Bokan is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product
metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed c ustomer offtake agreements. Ucore
has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the
specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction and eventual commissioning and operations.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including, without limitation:
the successful completion and accuracy of baseline, front-end-engineering design and detailed engineering
studies; the ability to complete further engineering, procurement, and construction activities as currently
contemplated; the availability, cost, and timely delivery of equipment, materials, utilities, labour and
construction services; the Company’s ability to secure sufficient financing on acceptable terms; the receipt
and timing of all required permits and approvals; the successful scale -up and commercial deployment of
RapidSX™ technology from demonstration to commercial operation; the availability of qualified feedstock
from third-party suppliers; successful customer qualification and offtake discussions; continued support
from governmental partners; and general economic, marke t, and industry conditions, including
assumptions regarding rare earth oxide prices, which are subject to significant volatility..
Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward -looking information are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate or that the
anticipated results, performance, or achievements will be re alized. Actual results may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: risks associated with
the development, scale -up, and commercialization of new or unproven technologies; the risk that
RapidSX™ may not perform at commercial scale as expected; engineering design changes; inaccuracies in
capital or operating cost estimates; cost escalation due to inflation, supply chain disruption, or market
conditions; delays or failures in procurement, constructi on, or commissioning; the inability to obtain or
maintain required permits, approvals, or regulatory authorizations; challenges in securing adequate
financing; adverse capital market conditions; variability in feedstock supply, quality, or pricing; failure to
secure or maintain commercial relationships, customer qualification, or offtake arrangements; fluctuations
and uncertainty in rare earth oxide prices and demand; the risk that indicative or quoted market prices,
including for ex -China markets, may not be realized; operational risks once in production , including
equipment failures or lower -than-expected recoveries; geopolitical risk; changes in applicable laws or
regulations; environmental or permitting challenges; loss of key personnel; and general economic,
business, or competitive conditions.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACTS
Michael Schrider, P .E., Ucore Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the
content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.
For additional information, please contact:
Mark MacDonald
Vice President, Investor Relations
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
1.902.482.5214