Highlights

• China Northern Rare Earth has launched 30 modernization projects at an 88% start rate, including a Green Smelting Upgrade and state-of-the-art automated facilities targeting high-end, smart, and environmentally sustainable production.
• A groundbreaking 50,000-ton high-performance NdFeB magnet-materials line with advanced automation and MES systems is set for November trial production, positioned to become China's most advanced rare-earth-magnet facility.
• Capacity expansions include an 8,000-ton rare-earth-metal addition (boosting total to 15,000 tons), a 4,000-ton NdFeB waste-recovery line, and new heavy rare-earth processing capabilities, strengthening NRE's vertical integration and circular resource model.

---

China Northern Rare Earth (NRE), the rare earth mining operation with the largest market share, reports that its major project pipeline is now in full swing. On site after site, construction crews and heavy machinery are operating at pace. So far this year NRE says it has restarted or begun 30 projects, achieving an 88 % start-rate, as the company pivots toward higher-end, smarter and greener production to build “a world-class rare-earth leading enterprise.”

One headline project is the “Green Smelting Upgrade” Phase II

Dozens of large machines, trucks, and crews are now on site, with plant envelope installation, roof base-plates, and structure fire-proof coating all proceeding on schedule. The construction team emphasizes tight scheduling, resource allocation, and high safety and quality standards. NRE says this green-smelting upgrade is a foundational step toward its transformation to high-end, smart, green operations.

Secondly, the company’s magnet-materials unit has launched a 50,000-ton high-performance NdFeB rapid-solidification alloy project (started in April).

On-site, the company is installing an integrated automatic batching system capable of ultra-precise raw-material blending across multiple input streams.

A state-of-the-art Type-III continuous vacuum induction rapid-solidification furnace is part of the build, complemented by a full-line centralized control system and MES information system. NRE expects trial production in November, and says the line will be China’s most advanced automated rare-earth-magnet-material facility when fully operational.

Third: NRE is building a wet-process smelting and inorganic functional-materials pilot base

Designed to move lab-scale R&D into production across four key platforms: rare-earth mineral wet-smelting, “three-waste” (wastewater/air/solid) treatment and resource reuse, separation/purification, and fine chemical/powder synthesis. This multi-platform base is expected to reach handover readiness by December.

Fourth: A new 3,000-ton/year rare-earth concentrate separation line has entered trial operation (starting mid-June)

At Jinmeng Rare Earth Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary/affiliate), we have new energy-saving features (including rare-earth permanent-magnet motors across the process). Simultaneously, a new 4,000-ton/year NdFeB waste-recovery line is under construction. NRE says this facility is part of its “One-South, One-North” 10+kt rare-earth resource-utilization system and will fill a processing gap for heavy rare-earth-metal & magnet-waste recycling in the region.

Finally, an 8,000-ton/year expansion of rare-earth metals is being built via a “cross-operation” mode.

At Northern Zhongxin Antai Rare Earth Co., Ltd., simultaneous work on electrolysis, dust-removal & water-treatment systems, and power infrastructure. When complete (planned for year-end), annual capacity will jump from 7,000 t to 15,000 t, and the product scope will expand to include heavier rare-earth metals (e.g., gadolinium-iron). NRE says this will strengthen its core competitive edge in rare-earth metals.

NRE says it will next keep focus on stable production, accelerated project delivery, and digital enablement—deploying robust execution to drive its high-quality industrial growth agenda.

Key business updates and implications

Key Update/Development	Strategic Significance & Implications
Scale and Speed of Projects	Over 30 projects initiated or restarted with an 88% start rate — demonstrates Northern Rare Earth’s (NRE) aggressive execution of its modernization roadmap.
50,000 t NdFeB Magnet-Materials Line	Integration of automated batching, MES, and continuous rapid-solidification technology marks a major leap in China’s smart-manufacturing capability for high-performance magnets.
4,000 t NdFeB Waste-Recycling & 15,000 t Metal Expansion	Strengthens vertical integration and builds a closed-loop resource-circulation model; enhances resilience and efficiency across the rare-earth production chain.
Global Competitive Impact	NRE’s automation, recycling, and heavy-metal expansion elevate the global performance benchmark, pressuring U.S. and European supply-chain initiatives to accelerate de-risking and innovation.
Green Smelting Upgrade	Focus on cleaner, more energy-efficient operations sets new ESG and process-efficiency standards that Western producers will need to match or surpass to remain competitive.

Disclaimer: This news item originates from the media of a state-owned entity. The information should be verified by independent sources.

© 2025 Rare Earth Exchanges™ – Accelerating Transparency, Accuracy, and Insight Across the Rare Earth & Critical Minerals Supply Chain.