Tronox, a leading global producer of titanium and derivative products, continues to advance its rare earths strategy as it seeks to leverage its mining and processing of mineral sands in Australia and South Africa. Along with titanium, the sands also bear monazite containing valued rare earths — positioning the company to possibly move further downstream to become a producer of processed feedstock for magnets.
In August, it reported that a definitive feasibility study for a cracking and leaching facility is expected to conclude by third quarter 2027. This follows a key financial development announced in December 2025 that it lined up $600 million in potential financing for the strategy, in the form of letters of interest. The funds would be provided by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and Export Finance Australia – both eager to support ventures that can yield non-Chinese rare earths for magnets.
For Tronox, the strategy represents an opportunity to leverage its existing mining footprint and expertise in hydrometallurgical and chemical operations toward staking out a bigger claim in the rare earths supply chain. Tronox mines and processes titanium ore, zircon and other materials and manufactures titanium dioxide pigment, specialty titanium dioxide products and high-purity titanium chemicals. Its products add brightness and durability to paints, coatings, inks, plastics, paper and a vast array of everyday items.
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, it is the world’s largest vertically integrated TiO2 producer with seven TiO2 pigment plants, six mineral sands mines, and five upgrading facilities on six continents with about 6,500 employees.
The banking letters represent a demonstration of interest in working with Tronox as it seeks to utilize the company’s existing mining and processing capabilities to build out a rare earth elements supply chain. Having recently completed a pre-feasibility study, the company is now progressing to the definitive feasibility study for a proposed cracking and leaching facility in Western Australia to produce a mixed rare earth carbonate including both light and heavy rare earths.
“This announcement represents a significant milestone in advancing the expansion of Tronox’s minerals processing operations to produce rare earth elements for customers that are critical to permanent magnet, defense, energy, and advanced technology industries,” commented Tronox’s CEO John Romano commented about the funding letters.. “While Tronox currently mines and sells tailings materials containing rare earth elements, the letters from EFA and EXIM highlight the opportunity for Tronox to assume a leading role as a supplier of rare earth elements to support the critical mineral strategies of Australia and the United States.”
