Lynas rare earth output nearly halves on virus-linked plant halts

Despite the restart, Lynas said its Malaysian plant was operating at only 75% capacity and production at Mt Weld was aligned to the rates in the southeast Asia nation.

Rare earths producer Lynas Corp Ltd said on Wednesday output nearly halved in the fourth quarter, hit by coronavirus-triggered halts at its Malaysian processing plant and flagship mine in Australia.

The pandemic also hit demand for rare earths, a group of 17 minerals used in everything from ventilators to iPhones to military weapons, the world's largest producer of rare earths outside China said.