US Strategic Metals
US Strategic Metals operates America's only near-term fully permitted multi-metallic critical minerals processing hub in Fredericktown, Missouri, refining cobalt, nickel, lithium, copper, antimony, and rare earth elements for the U.S. defense, aerospace, and EV battery sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What US Strategic Metals does
US Strategic Metals (USSM), founded in 2018 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a privately held, vertically integrated critical minerals processor operating America's only near-term fully permitted multi-metallic processing hub at commercial scale, situated on a 1,800-acre site in Fredericktown, Missouri (transformed from the legacy Madison Mine Superfund site). The company's core technology is a proprietary multi-metallic hydrometallurgical processing platform that refines complex poly-metallic sulfides and secondary/recycled feedstocks into alloy-grade cobalt, antimony sulfide, nickel metal, lithium carbonate, copper cathode, and separated magnet rare earth oxides including dysprosium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium, and holmium. Through its MOU with Ionic Rare Earths Limited and integration with Nth Cycle's Oyster electro-extraction system, USSM has added rare earth permanent magnet (NdFeB and SmCo) recycling capacity to its product surface.
USSM serves four primary customer segments: the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (superalloys, jet engines, missile materials), aerospace and advanced manufacturing, the electric vehicle and battery industry (cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate, lithium carbonate), and the clean energy sector (rare earths for wind turbines and renewable infrastructure). The company targets the structural U.S. vulnerability that approximately 70% of rare earth imports come from China, which itself processes approximately 90% of global rare earth materials. Revenue is generated through transaction-fee product sales and processing fees under long-term offtake agreements; the company holds a 100% offtake agreement with Glencore covering all battery metal products with significant embedded pre-payment, and additional supply arrangements with Pakistan's Frontier Works Organisation ($500M framework) and feedstock pipelines from DRC (Virtus Minerals/Chemaf), Australia (RareX), and Chile (Chilean Cobalt Corp).
The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales directly to government and defense customers with channel partnerships for global distribution (Glencore for worldwide battery metals marketing) and technology partnerships (IonicRE, Nth Cycle) for recycling IP. Capital structure includes $230M closed debt from Appian Capital Advisory LLP (Dec 2023), a $400M LOI from the US EXIM Bank (Aug 2024), and $100.8M EB-5 program approval (Nov 2024), with an additional international joint venture in Saudi Arabia (up to $1T in announced investments) established through an MOU with the National Industrial Development Center in January 2026. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; Western buyers reportedly pay 15-30% premiums for non-Chinese rare earth supply under long-term contracts with price floors (~$110/kg NdPr oxide) and take-or-pay terms.
US Strategic Metals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- US Strategic Metals
- Legal name
- US Strategic Metals
- Website
- https://usstrategicmetals.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- US Strategic Metals operates America's only near-term fully permitted multi-metallic critical minerals processing hub in Fredericktown, Missouri, refining cobalt, nickel, lithium, copper, antimony, and rare earth elements for the U.S. defense, aerospace, and EV battery sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
US Strategic Metals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Critical Minerals Processing
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314), Secondary Smelting, Refining, and Alloying of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) (331492)
- SIC
- Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Critical Minerals Trading, Offtake & Marketing (IMAKAFAJ), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy) (EUAIAIAD)
Keywords
Where US Strategic Metals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
US Strategic Metals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Critical Minerals Processing: Processing of critical minerals (cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, rare earth elements) sourced from domestic and international partners into strategic materials for defense, aerospace, and advanced technology applications. Revenue generated through processing fees and product sales.
- Battery Metal Products: Production and sale of battery-grade cobalt, nickel sulfates, and lithium products. Long-term off-take agreement with Glencore covering 100% of battery metal products with significant embedded pre-payment.
- Magnet Rare Earth Oxide Production: Production of separated magnet rare earth oxides (neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium) through recycling partnerships, supporting U.S.-Australia critical minerals framework.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
US Strategic Metals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
US Strategic Metals is a vertically integrated, multi-metallic critical minerals processor that refines cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, antimony, and rare earth elements into strategic materials at its 1,800-acre fully permitted hub in Fredericktown, Missouri. The company also operates rare earth permanent magnet recycling (NdFeB/SmCo) at the same site and is deploying its multi-metallic refining technology internationally through a Saudi Arabia joint venture. Its output is sold primarily to the U.S. defense industrial base, aerospace, electric vehicle battery, and clean energy sectors under long-term offtake agreements.
Product overview
US Strategic Metals is a vertically integrated, multi-metallic critical minerals platform operating America's only near-term fully permitted multi-metallic processing hub at commercial scale. The company's core offerings include: (1) a multi-metallic processing hub in Fredericktown, Missouri that refines cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, rare earth elements, and antimony; (2) rare earth magnet recycling using IonicRE's patented hydro-metallurgical technology at a 1,800-acre site; (3) battery metals production of cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate, and lithium carbonate from primary and recycled sources; and (4) international joint ventures including a Saudi Arabia-based critical minerals refining hub. The company serves U.S. defense, aerospace, electric vehicle, and advanced manufacturing sectors with ethically sourced, strategically important materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Critical Minerals Processing Hub Multi-metallic processing hub in Fredericktown, Missouri that refines critical minerals (cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, rare earth elements) into strategic materials for defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing applications.
- Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Recycling Vertically integrated rare earth production from recycling end-of-life permanent magnets (NdFeB and SmCo) using IonicRE's patented hydro-metallurgical technology at the Missouri site, producing neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.
- Battery Metals Production Production of battery-grade cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate, and lithium carbonate from cobalt hydroxide and black mass (recycled lithium-ion batteries and battery scrap) for electric vehicle and clean energy applications.
- Antimony Sulfide Production Processing and production of antimony sulfide for defense applications including missile production, batteries, and flame retardants.
- Heavy Rare Earth Separation (Dy, Tb, Sm, Gd, Ho) Production of high-purity, separated magnet rare earth oxides including dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), and holmium (Ho) — elements currently restricted by Chinese export controls.
- Critical Minerals Refining Hub (Saudi Arabia) International joint venture with Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Development Center deploying USSM's multi-metallic refining technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accepting feedstocks from Africa, Pakistan, and regional sources for processing into critical minerals and rare earth elements for U.S. and allied markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 61% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional primary mining supply chain
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use US Strategic Metals
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
US Strategic Metals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
US Strategic Metals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Nth CyclesupportingPartnership through IonicRE: Nth Cycle's Oyster electro-extraction system for rare earth refining from recycled feedstocks. Modular system enables deployment in under 12 months using electricity-driven extraction in closed-loop process.
- Virtus MineralscoreMOU signed in Kinshasa establishes framework for directing cobalt production from Virtus's Chemaf mining assets in DRC to USSM's Fredericktown, Missouri processing facility. Partnership aims to strengthen U.S. defense industrial base supply chains with ethically sourced African critical minerals, supporting the Washington Accords and U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement.
- National Industrial Development Center (Saudi Arabia)coreMOU signed at Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh to deploy USSM's multi-metallic refining technology in Saudi Arabia. Joint initiative will create critical minerals and REE refining hub accepting feedstocks from Africa, Pakistan, and regional sources. Supports Saudi Vision 2030 and U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum agreements.
- GlencorecoreStrategic global marketing relationship including long-term off-take agreement covering 100% of USSM's battery metal products with significant embedded pre-payment. Glencore supports USSM's construction of hydrometallurgical processing facility for battery-grade cobalt, nickel sulfates, and lithium products.
- Ionic Rare Earths LimitedcoreMOU at Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to develop vertically integrated rare earth recycling production at USSM's 1,800-acre Missouri site. Deployment of IonicRE's Ionic Technologies' patented NdFeB and SmCo magnet recycling technology. Supports U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework signed October 2025.
- RareX LimitedcoreNon-binding MOU witnessed by U.S. Department of State to assess processing capability at USSM's Missouri hub for RareX's Cummins Range project production including dysprosium, terbium, gallium, and scandium. Aligns with Executive Order 14241 and U.S.-Australia critical minerals cooperation framework.
- Pakistan Frontier Works Organisationcore$500 million framework agreement for sourcing rare earth and critical minerals from Pakistan. Facilitated through Trump's former White House physician Ronny Jackson. First shipment of rare earth and critical minerals completed over a month ago under this landmark deal.
- Chilean Cobalt CorpsupportingLetters of Intent signed for U.S.-based processing of cobalt concentrates from Chilean Cobalt Corp's La Cobaltera project in Chile. Supports diversification of cobalt supply sources beyond DRC.
- Missouri S&T / CM2AE Tech HubsupportingConsortium partnership with Missouri University of Science & Technology which leads the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub. Missouri S&T received $28.5 million federal funding for test bed facility supporting USSM's mission.
- AlphaSierra OnesupportingStrategic alliance to address critical gaps in U.S. supply chain for strategic minerals. Combines USSM's processing technologies with AlphaSierra One's strategic advisory capabilities focused on energy, natural resource, and national security solutions.
- Stillwater Critical MineralssupportingNon-binding MOU for strategic relationship including marketing support, technical support, supply chain development, offtake and logistics, and potential strategic financing. Focus on Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co project in Montana.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights8 records
US Strategic Metals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MP Materials: U.S.-based rare earth mining and processing company operating the Mountain Pass mine and processing facility. Closely comparable as a domestic critical minerals processor focused on onshoring rare earth and magnet supply chains for defense and clean energy.
- Energy Fuels: U.S. critical minerals company producing rare earth oxides, uranium, and vanadium from processing facilities. Comparable as a Western non-Chinese processor developing separated rare earth capacity for defense and EV applications.
- Lynas Rare Earths: Largest non-Chinese rare earth producer with integrated mining and separation assets in Australia and Malaysia. Comparable as a non-Chinese integrated rare earth processor and a global benchmark for ex-China separation capacity.
- USA Rare Earth: U.S. company developing domestic rare earth mining and magnet manufacturing. Comparable as a U.S.-focused, vertically integrated rare earth platform targeting defense and clean tech demand.
- Electra Battery Materials: Canadian battery materials company building North American cobalt sulfate and nickel sulfate refining capacity. Comparable as a hydrometallurgical processor targeting North American battery-grade materials supply.
- Jervois Mining: Cobalt and nickel developer focused on U.S. and Finnish refining assets. Comparable as a Western cobalt/nickel processor serving defense and EV battery supply chains.
Broad incumbents
- Albemarle: Global lithium and bromine specialty chemicals major. Comparable as a large-scale battery materials refiner supplying EV and grid storage customers, though diversified across multiple sites and chemistries.
Emerging players
- Piedmont Lithium: U.S.-headquartered lithium developer with spodumene and chemical conversion assets. Comparable as a domestic lithium project aiming to supply the U.S. battery value chain with downstream conversion.
- Talon Metals: U.S. nickel and copper developer with the Tamarack project in Minnesota. Comparable as a U.S. critical minerals project aiming to supply nickel and copper into domestic defense and battery supply chains.
Others
- Glencore: Global mining and commodities trading major and USSM's exclusive offtake/distribution partner. Comparable as the strategic counterparty whose global marketing infrastructure USSM depends on for commercial distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
US Strategic Metals social profiles
Digital presenceUS Strategic Metals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
US Strategic Metals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
US Strategic Metals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
US Strategic Metals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
US Strategic Metals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about US Strategic Metals
What does US Strategic Metals do?
US Strategic Metals is a vertically integrated, multi-metallic critical minerals processor that refines cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, antimony, and rare earth elements into strategic materials at its 1,800-acre fully permitted hub in Fredericktown, Missouri. The company also operates rare earth permanent magnet recycling (NdFeB/SmCo) at the same site and is deploying its multi-metallic refining technology internationally through a Saudi Arabia joint venture. Its output is sold primarily to the U.S. defense industrial base, aerospace, electric vehicle battery, and clean energy sectors under long-term offtake agreements.
Is US Strategic Metals a public or private company?
US Strategic Metals is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was US Strategic Metals founded?
US Strategic Metals was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is US Strategic Metals based?
US Strategic Metals is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does US Strategic Metals make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Critical Minerals Processing is the primary driver. The others are battery Metal Products and magnet Rare Earth Oxide Production.
Who are US Strategic Metals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MP Materials, Energy Fuels, Lynas Rare Earths, USA Rare Earth, Electra Battery Materials and Jervois Mining. Albemarle is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Piedmont Lithium and Talon Metals. Glencore is listed as an others.
Does US Strategic Metals have an API?
No public API is recorded for US Strategic Metals.
What industry is US Strategic Metals in?
US Strategic Metals's product category is Critical Minerals Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAA, Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite), with a secondary code of IMAKAFAI, Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate). Its NAICS code is 33141 and its SIC code is 3330.