Posco International, the trading and energy arm of the Korean steel giant Posco, announced recently that it has received a significant order for rare earth magnets, an essential component of electric vehicle drive motor cores, through its overseas subsidiaries.
Posco International's US subsidiary plans to supply approximately 900 billion won ($685 million) worth of permanent magnets to a major North American automaker from 2026 to 2031. The magnets produced will be used in the drive motors of the company's medium and large-sized electric vehicle models.
Similarly, Posco International's German subsidiary has signed a permanent magnet supply agreement worth about 260 billion won ($197 million) with a premium European car brand from 2025 to 2034.
While the company declined to disclose the names of its clients, it emphasized that rare earth magnets are a crucial component of electric vehicle drive motors and exhibit magnetic forces much stronger than conventional magnets.
Posco International underscored that the supply contract aims to support its stable mobility business with large-scale orders and to diversify the supply chain for rare earth magnets away from China.
Posco International will source the rare earth metals required for the magnets from the United States, Australia, and Vietnam. Given that China currently controls 90% of the rare earth metals market, this diversification is seen as a significant step.
Additionally, the company plans to establish two additional EV motor core facilities in Poland and Mexico. This will increase the total number of factories to five, along with Posco's existing facilities in Korea, Mexico, Poland, India, and China
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