Key Takeaways
- ◆France has no virgin sintered-NdFeB production. The only genuine French NdFeB maker is MagREEsource (Grenoble), and it makes sintered magnets from 100% recycled feedstock at small scale.
- ◆France's real strength is upstream: Solvay (La Rochelle) is the largest rare-earth separation plant outside China, and Carester's Caremag refinery (Lacq) is commissioning around late 2026.
- ◆The EU imports roughly 98% of its rare-earth magnets, mostly from China; the nearest volume sintered NdFeB serving France sits in Germany (VAC) and Estonia (Neo).
- ◆Unlike the US (DFARS), the EU has no ban on Chinese-origin magnets in defence — the EU Critical Raw Materials Act sets diversification targets, not an origin prohibition.
- ◆For commercial volume, the practical route is a qualified factory-direct international supplier vetted on IATF 16949, GBD cost, and supply continuity.
Sourcing NdFeB magnets in France means understanding that there is no virgin French sintered-magnet production. The genuine French developments are upstream — rare-earth refining at Solvay and the new Caremag plant at Lacq — plus one recycled-magnet maker, MagREEsource. Everything else machines, assembles, or distributes imported magnets. This guide separates the real French and EU producers from the import-and-distribute houses, and from the factory-direct international suppliers that carry the volume.
The State of U.S. NdFeB Supply
The EU imports roughly 98% of its rare-earth permanent magnets, and only about 1,000 of the ~20,000 tonnes consumed each year are made in Europe. In France specifically there is no virgin sintered-NdFeB production: the only genuine French maker is MagREEsource (Grenoble), producing sintered magnets from 100% recycled feedstock at small scale. France's weight is upstream — Solvay's La Rochelle plant is the largest rare-earth separation site outside China, and Carester's Caremag refinery at Lacq is commissioning around late 2026 (oxides, not magnets). The nearest volume sintered NdFeB serving French buyers is Vacuumschmelze (Germany) and Neo (Estonia). For most commercial volume, a French buyer is choosing a supplier, not a country.
Magnet Manufacturers & Suppliers — French Market
| Company | Location | Type | Best for | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MagREEsourceEst. 2019France's only genuine NdFeB magnet maker — sintered magnets from 100% recycled feedstock (~50 t/yr, scaling); a magnet-to-magnet recycling loop. | Noyarey (Grenoble), France | Domestic NdFeB producer | French recycled NdFeB; low-carbon supply | — |
| Mainrich InternationalEst. 1994Factory-direct sintered NdFeB grades N30-N58 through the AH high-temperature series, GBD magnets, and finished, magnetized magnet assemblies built to drawing. | International — EU/France sales presence (manufacturing partners in China) | International factory-direct | Commercial-volume NdFeB and assemblies, GBD cost reduction, second-source continuity | IATF 16949, in-house export licensing |
| Solvay (La Rochelle)Rare-earth separation and refining — the largest such plant outside China; produces NdPr and other oxides (feedstock, not finished magnets). | La Rochelle, France | Rare-earth / upstream | European rare-earth refining | — |
| Carester / CaremagRare-earth refinery and magnet recycling at Lacq (commissioning ~late 2026) — targets Dy/Tb and Nd/Pr oxides, with a Stellantis offtake. Oxides, not magnets. | Lacq, France | Rare-earth / upstream | French rare-earth refining (Dy/Tb), from 2026 | — |
| Vacuumschmelze (VAC)Est. 1923Europe's leading sintered NdFeB (VACODYM) and SmCo producer; the realistic European volume option for French defence, automotive, and medical programs. | Hanau, Germany (serving France) | Domestic NdFeB producer | EV-grade European sintered NdFeB | — |
| Neo (Narva)The EU's first integrated oxide-to-magnet sintered-NdFeB plant (commissioned 2025); EV traction magnets for the European market. | Narva, Estonia (serving France) | Domestic NdFeB producer | New EU sintered NdFeB capacity | — |
| EuromagHistoric French magnet house — AlNiCo, ferrite, SmCo, and NdFeB machining and finishing (NdFeB largely from imported blanks). | Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard, France | Domestic magnet manufacturer | French AlNiCo/ferrite and magnet finishing | — |
| Braillon MagneticsEst. 1921Magnetic systems and assemblies — workholding chucks, lifting magnets, separators — built from magnet materials (not a sintered-NdFeB producer). | Sainte-Helene-du-Lac, France | Domestic magnet manufacturer | Magnetic systems and workholding | — |
| Newland Magnetics EuropeFrench sales and warehouse arm of a Chinese sintered-NdFeB maker — imported magnets and assemblies distributed in France. | France (parent: Ningbo, China) | Distributor / importer | Imported NdFeB and assemblies | — |
| Calamit (Aimants Calamit)Distributor and converter of NdFeB, ferrite, SmCo, and AlNiCo magnets and magnetic systems for the French market. | Paris, France (group: Italy) | Distributor / importer | Stock magnets and distribution | — |
Suppliers are labelled by type in the Type column so buyers can match a source to their end-use. Company facts (location, founding year, certifications) reflect public information and may change — verify current certifications directly with each supplier during qualification.
How to Choose a Magnet Supplier
EU rules and supplier diversification
The EU has no DFARS-style ban on Chinese-origin magnets in defence. The Critical Raw Materials Act sets 2030 targets and caps any single third country at 65% of supply; buyers are also exposed to China's own export licensing. Plan for diversification and a licensed, continuity-capable supplier.
Certifications matched to your industry
IATF 16949 for automotive, AS9100 for aerospace, ISO 13485 for medical, ISO 9001 as a baseline. The certification your industry demands is a hard gate, regardless of price.
Magnet cost and GBD
On high-temperature grades, heavy-rare-earth (Dy/Tb) content drives cost. Grain-boundary diffusion (GBD) holds coercivity while cutting Dy/Tb 30-50% — usually the largest single cost lever.
European, recycled, or imported
French recycled (MagREEsource) and EU sintered (VAC, Neo) supply suit specific supply-security or sustainability goals but are capacity-limited; for most commercial requirements, qualified imported supply is the practical route.
Assembly vs. bare magnets
A finished, magnetized, balanced assembly built to your drawing removes magnet handling and magnetizing from your line — often worth more than the per-kilogram price.
Supply continuity and second-sourcing
Tariffs and export controls move fast. A qualified second source with in-house export licensing is the difference between a price negotiation and a stopped line.
Where Mainrich Fits
Mainrich International is included as what it is: an international, factory-direct NdFeB supplier serving French and EU buyers, not a French manufacturer. For genuinely French or European material, MagREEsource, VAC, and Neo above are the names to know. For commercial programs, Mainrich competes on the full grade range (N30-N58 through AH), GBD that cuts Dy/Tb cost 30-50%, finished assemblies built to drawing, IATF 16949 quality, and in-house export licensing so a qualified order keeps shipping through China's export-control regime. The honest role we ask for is the qualified commercial source and the second source that keeps the line moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there neodymium (NdFeB) magnet manufacturers in France?
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There is no virgin sintered-NdFeB production in France. The only genuine French NdFeB maker is MagREEsource (Grenoble), which produces sintered magnets from 100% recycled feedstock at small scale. France's other strengths are upstream — rare-earth refining at Solvay (La Rochelle) and the Caremag plant at Lacq (commissioning ~2026) — while established French houses such as Euromag and Braillon machine, assemble, or build systems from imported material. The nearest volume sintered NdFeB serving France is Vacuumschmelze (Germany) and Neo (Estonia).
Does France or the EU ban Chinese-made magnets in defence, like the US does?
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No. There is no EU or French equivalent to the US DFARS rule. The EU's approach is the Critical Raw Materials Act — 2030 targets for domestic extraction, processing, and recycling, plus a cap of 65% of supply from any single third country — rather than a country-of-origin ban. French buyers are, however, exposed to China's own export-licensing controls on rare-earth magnets.
Is it cheaper to source magnets in France or to import them?
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For most commercial NdFeB volume, qualified imported supply is the cost backbone, because roughly 98% of EU rare-earth magnets are imported and France has no virgin sintered production. French recycled (MagREEsource) and EU sintered (VAC, Neo) supply suit specific goals. The largest single cost lever on high-temperature grades is the heavy-rare-earth content, which GBD can cut 30-50% while holding coercivity.
What certifications should a magnet supplier have?
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Match the certification to your industry: IATF 16949 for automotive, AS9100 for aerospace, ISO 13485 for medical, ISO 9001 as a baseline. A supplier without the certification your program requires cannot be qualified regardless of price, so screen on this first.
What is GBD and why does it lower magnet cost?
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Grain-boundary diffusion (GBD) diffuses heavy rare earths (dysprosium and terbium) along the grain boundaries of a sintered NdFeB magnet rather than throughout the bulk, achieving the same high-temperature coercivity with 30-50% less Dy/Tb. Because those heavy rare earths are the most expensive, supply-constrained inputs, GBD directly lowers cost.
Sourcing NdFeB for a French program?
Send a drawing or a target specification. Our engineering team will quote the correct grade or assembly with real design margin, and flag any end-use restrictions up front. Human response within 1 business day; pricing within 2.