Company’s stock rallies on U.S. support to build the 10X Facility as its second domestic magnet-manufacturing plant

The Defense Department on Thursday became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, which owns the only rare earth mine in the U.S., amid a surge in demand for rare earths mined in the U.S. as China has curbed its rare earth exports amid a trade war with the U.S.

Shares of Australian rare earths miners, including Lynas and Iluka Resources , soared on Friday after U.S.-based MP Materials' a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost production of rare earth magnets.