Wyoming Reserve Achieves FTZ Activation, Expanding Potential Tariff-Exempt Storage
The Wyoming Reserve Opportunity Zone Fund Corporation announced that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has officially approved final activation of The Wyoming Reserve’s Casper vault as a foreign trade zone, or FTZ, marking a major milestone that enhances the company’s operational flexibility and may strengthen its position in the global precious metals trade.
“The FTZ activation enhances the value of our vaulting, transportation and fulfillment services, and makes our facility a more attractive hub for both U.S. and international customers,” said Josh Phair, chief executive officer of The Wyoming Reserve and a precious metals industry veteran. “Wyoming Reserve customers may now have reduced exposure to supply-chain disruption amid the ever-changing tariff landscape, since inventory held in FTZ status remains outside U.S. commerce until formally entered into the U.S. stream of commerce. This designation also positions The Wyoming Reserve for growth by attracting new clients seeking tariff-efficient asset storage and trade solutions.”
Activation of the FTZ vault designates The Wyoming Reserve as a potential hub for international precious metals and other high-value trade. According to the company, customers can now store imported metals tariff-deferred until entry into the U.S. stream of commerce or tariff-exempt if exported to another country, potentially reducing costs and improving cash-flow management. Additionally, transportation into and out of the FTZ can often be streamlined with fewer customs bottlenecks, and importers may be able to reduce the amount of processing fees paid to the U.S. government.
The Wyoming Reserve has been working with CBP for approximately a year to obtain approval and activation of the FTZ. The Casper region is served by FTZ 157, which was established in 1989 to provide local businesses with a tool to help them reduce costs, enhance supply chain efficiency, and increase manufacturing for businesses involved in international commerce. The Natrona County International Airport serves as the grantee of FTZ 157.
“We are pleased to have worked alongside The Wyoming Reserve to ensure it achieved activation as the first foreign trade zone in Wyoming,” said Glenn Januska, airport director for Casper/Natrona County International Airport. “We believe this will provide additional, positive economic impact for Wyoming and help retain and expand business activity in the state.”
Initial FTZ designation was received in December 2024, and over the last several months the company completed this final activation milestone for its Casper facility, which includes meeting all required infrastructure and security standards.
Phair continued: “FTZs are regulated and overseen by CBP, which imposes stringent security standards that must be maintained. Our FTZ status provides added surety for customers seeking high-security vaulting of art and other high-value collectibles that The Wyoming Reserve meets or exceeds security and supervisory controls as mandated by CBP. This additional oversight reinforces our commitment to transparency and compliance – qualities that give investors confidence in the security and governance of our operations.”
The core business of The Wyoming Reserve includes generating income from the purchase and sale of precious metals, as well as fee income from vaulting, transportation, fulfillment, and metal availability services for commercial and industrial customers in a high-security, precious metals-focused vault facility. The company aims to deliver investor returns that exceed the historical performance of physical gold and silver, which have achieved a 14.2% combined compound annual growth rate over the past five years, according to data from the London Bullion Market Association.
In summer 2025, the company announced an offering of up to 10 million shares of its common stock at $11.50 per share for an aggregate offering amount of $115 million, pursuant to Rule 506(c) under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Wyoming Reserve is located in an approximately 70,000-square-foot facility in a designated opportunity zone in Casper. Over the past few years, Wyoming has been ranked first for both business tax climate and as a “sound money” state by The Tax Foundation and the Sound Money Defense League & Money Metals Exchange, respectively. Wyoming also does not impose a tax on silver or gold, has no corporate state income tax, no personal state income tax, inventory tax, franchise tax or occupation tax.
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