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China's Rare Earth |
Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion will lift China’s NdPr output and alloy capacity. The Baotou-based producer secured approval for an 8,000 t/yr metals and alloys project. As a result, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion will strengthen upstream feed for magnets, EVs and wind turbines.
Capacity plan boosts NdPr, La-Ce and ferro-gadolinium
Zhongxin Antai will add 3,700 t/yr of praseodymium-neodymium metal and 3,300 t/yr of lanthanum-cerium metal. It will also install 1,000 t/yr of ferro-gadolinium alloy capacity. After commissioning within 24 months, total plant capacity will reach 15,000 t/yr. Therefore, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion directly targets fast-growing magnet demand.
NRE integration aligns supply with downstream growth
Parent company Northern Rare Earth owns 40pc of Zhongxin Antai and drives integration. NRE plans 2025 output of 45,000t NdPr and Nd metals and 74,000t magnetic materials. It also targets 30,000t polishing powders and 2,000t hydrogen-storage materials. Meanwhile, NRE’s 2024 metals and magnets production rose by double digits.
China’s Baotou cluster anchors rare earths processing for global supply chains. The project reinforces reliable NdFeB magnet feedstock amid robotics and EV growth. However, rapid expansions require disciplined ramp-ups to protect pricing and margins. Overall, Zhongxin Antai rare earth production expansion positions NRE to capture premium demand.
The Metalnomist Commentary
This approval tightens NRE’s mine-to-magnet grip and raises non-Chinese buyers’ reliance on Baotou metals. Watch execution risk around ramp timing and alloy qualification. Pricing power will hinge on global magnet restocking and policy moves outside China.
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