China Northern Rare Earth Starts Trial Production at 50,000-Tonne NdFeB Strip-Cast Alloy Project

Highlights

• All eight melting furnaces at Inner Mongolia Northern Rare Earth Magnetic Materials Co. are now connected and in trial production, with full-line operation targeted by year-end 2026.
• The 50,000-tonne/year expansion will push China Northern Rare Earth's total magnetic-material alloy capacity to 150,000 tonnes/year, potentially making Baotou the largest single-site rare-earth alloy base in China.
• The facility features automated batching, intelligent material handling and MES digital management, allowing flexible alloy compositions across different NdFeB product grades.
• China Northern Rare Earth is simultaneously pursuing downstream magnet projects with Advanced Technology & Materials and Ningbo Zhaobao Magnet, further vertically integrating its supply chain.
• Western rare-earth strategies face a moving benchmark: China continues adding capacity and automation while U.S. and European alternatives are still being financed and constructed.