LS Eco Energy, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, said Tuesday it will begin trial production of samarium metal in December, with the goal of becoming the world's first company to mass-produce the key material for permanent magnets using non-Chinese raw materials. The move is part of the company's efforts to establish a supply chain independent of China ahead of new U.S. restrictions on rare earth materials used in defense applications. According to the company, LS Eco Energy is investing 11.6 billion won ($8 million) to build a samarium metal production facility at its subsidiary LSCV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company plans to begin trial production in December before moving to full-scale mass production. The facility's annual output of 240 tons of samarium metal would be sufficient to produce approximately 700 to 1,000 tons of samarium-cobalt (SmCo) permanent magnets. Samarium is a key material for SmCo permanent magnets, which retain their magnetic strength at high temperatures. SmCo magnets are used in aerospace and defense applications, including fighter jets and missiles. St