manufactured · input
Neodymium-iron-boron sintered permanent magnets used in direct-drive wind turbine generators (which have no gearbox). A 3 MW direct-drive turbine contains ~600 kg of NdFeB magnets. The magnet supply chain is China-dominated at every stage: rare earth mining (60%), separation (90%), alloying (>85%), and final magnet manufacturing (>85%). The US has one rare earth mine (Mountain Pass, CA) but no domestic magnet manufacturing capacity.
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Source countries
5
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on ndfeb permanent magnets for wind turbine generators somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| CNChina | 85% |
| JPJapan | 8% |
| USUnited States | 2% |
Who makes it
5 companies produce ndfeb permanent magnets for wind turbine generators.
Largest NdFeB permanent magnet producer in China and the world. State-affiliated; partly owned by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Revenue ~¥8B (2024). Produces ~30,000 MT/yr of sintered NdFeB magnets for EV motors, wind turbines, and consumer electronics. Pioneered the original Sanhuan process and holds key patents in China. Critical to Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, and most Chinese wind turbine OEMs.
Operator of Mountain Pass, California — the only US rare earth mine and the largest rare earth mine outside of China. Produces rare earth concentrate (bastnasite ore) with ~15% of global rare earth ore production. As of 2024, still shipping concentrate to China (Shenghe Resources, a major MP investor) for separation into NdPr oxide. On-site solvent extraction (SX) separation plant being commissioned at Mountain Pass to enable US-based separation. MP Materials also building a rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Mountain Pass was the world's dominant rare earth mine until Chinese competition drove Molycorp (predecessor) bankrupt in 2015.
Chinese sintered NdFeB magnet manufacturer (SZSE: 300748, HK: 6680) headquartered in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province — the center of China's heavy rare earth industry. 25,000 tonnes/year capacity as of 2024 (doubled from 13,000 tonnes in 2022). Specializes in high-performance N54-grade magnets for EV motors rated to +200°C operating temperature. One of China's 'six leading magnet producers'; received early export licenses under April 2025 controls. Primary EV and wind turbine magnet supplier for Chinese and global automotive OEMs.
Major Chinese sintered NdFeB magnet manufacturer headquartered in Yantai, Shandong Province. Annual capacity of 18,000–22,000 tonnes, serving EV, wind turbine, and consumer electronics customers. Key supplier to Chinese wind turbine OEMs including Goldwind and Mingyang.
TDK Corporation (Tokyo; TYO: 6762; ~¥2.1T revenue) is a Japanese electronic components manufacturer — historically known for magnetic recording materials, ferrite cores, capacitors, and inductors — that became a major battery company via its 2005 acquisition of ATL (Amperex Technology Limited). TDK's Energy Application Products segment (which includes ATL and TDK's own battery brands) represents approximately 30-35% of TDK group revenue. TDK also manufactures lithium-ion cells under the CeraCharge and TDK brand for small-format applications (IoT sensors, wearables, hearing aids). Combined ATL+TDK represents more than 50% of Apple's annual iPhone battery cell supply. TDK's other major businesses include MEMS sensors (barometric pressure, magnetic), power supplies, and noise suppression components — all supplied to the same consumer electronics OEMs that buy ATL cells.
