By Rhiannon Hoyle

Lynas Rare Earths is searching for its next chief executive as Amanda Lacaze prepares to step down following 12 years in the role.

Her departure comes at a critical time in the global rare-earths market as China again wields its dominance over global supply, choking off exports to Japan of the critical materials used by chip makers, car companies and defense manufacturers.

Lacaze transformed Lynas into a top rare-earths producer and critical supplier to global manufacturing supply chains, said Chair John Humphrey. The Australian company is the largest supplier of the critical minerals outside of China.

Lynas will consider both internal and external candidates to succeed Lacaze, who will remain with the company until the end of June, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

Lynas runs a giant rare-earths processing plant in Malaysia, which is fed by mining operations in Australia and ships separated rare earths to customers globally. It has been developing plans for a processing plant in Texas, although last year said there was no guarantee that facility will go ahead.

Rare earths, which are needed for electric vehicles and wind turbines as well as jet fighters and missile systems, last year became a key battleground in a U.S.-China trade war. That has led to a wave of private and government funding into rare-earths companies that the U.S. and its allies hope will act as a bulwark against aggressive trade practices by China.

Lacaze said her exit from Lynas follows the conclusion of a 1.5 billion Australian dollar, or roughly US$1.01 billion, investment program to increase production capacity and make existing operations more efficient. In August, Lynas set new growth plans to 2030 that include further expanding processing capacity and pursuing deals with metal and magnet makers.

A key part of Lynas's plans is to sell more so-called heavy rare earths, which were until recently essentially all refined in China.

The company built a new production line that last year produced the first dysprosium and terbium available commercially outside of China in decades. Lynas previously sold its heavy rare earths to Chinese separators as part of a mixed compound.

"It is the right time to make this transition," Lacaze said.

Lacaze had little experience in the resources sector when she became chief executive in 2014, joining Lynas from the telecommunications industry.

The company's market value has jumped to nearly A$15 billion from roughly A$400 million when she started in the role, Humphrey said.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 12, 2026 18:57 ET (23:57 GMT)

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