Rare earth magnets

State-controlled enterprise dominating heavy rare earth production from ionic clay deposits in southern China (Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian). Principal supplier of dysprosium and terbium globally. Formed 2011 by consolidation of six regional rare earth companies under SASAC mandate.

China's largest rare earth company by production volume; controls the Bayan Obo mining complex in Inner Mongolia — the world's largest rare earth deposit (light rare earths, primarily bastnäsite/monazite). Listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange. Subsidiary of Baotou Steel Group (itself a subsidiary of China Baowu, the world's largest steel company). Bayan Obo was initially developed as an iron ore deposit; rare earths were a 'byproduct' discovery that became the dominant geopolitical asset. China Northern's production plus other Chinese producers gives China ~60% of global ore production and ~85% of separated NdPr oxide.

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.

State-owned rare earth conglomerate (~18% global lanthanum oxide market share); consolidated under China Minmetals Corp via SASAC-directed mergers with Chinalco (2021), Xiamen Tungsten (2023), and Guangdong Rare Earths Group (2024). In April-May 2025, SASAC centralized China's national rare earth minerals strategy under China Minmetals with 'full-chain control' enforcement — export licensing, SOE discipline, data traceability — representing a significant consolidation of state control over rare earth exports.

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.

Largest non-China rare earth producer; mines at Mount Weld (Western Australia) — one of the world's highest-grade rare earth deposits. Processes ore at the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Kuantan, Malaysia — the only significant non-China rare earth separation facility. Produces ~21,000 MT NdPr oxide/year. LAMP in Malaysia is geopolitically significant: it's the primary non-Chinese source of separated NdPr oxide for Western magnet manufacturers. Lynas also building a new processing facility in Kalgoorlie, Australia (cracking & leaching) and a separation facility in Texas (with DoD funding) to reduce Malaysia-dependency.

China's pioneering NdFeB magnet producer (SHEX: 000970); first company to achieve industrialized NdFeB production in China. Headquartered in Ningbo region, Zhejiang Province. ~16.4% global high-performance NdFeB segment market share. 2025 net profit +660% YoY to 91.32 million yuan (revenue 6.641B yuan) — benefited directly from China's April 2025 export licensing controls which constrained competitors' export access while Zhong Ke San Huan retained licenses. Primary supplier to EV manufacturers, wind turbine OEMs, and precision equipment makers.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo; TSE: 4063; ~¥2.3 trillion revenue) is Japan's second-largest EUV photoresist supplier, holding approximately 20-25% of the EUV photoresist market through its SEPR (Shin-Etsu Polymer Resist) product line. Primary EUV resist production at Niigata and Gunma facilities in Japan. The same parent company is the world's largest polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producer, the world's largest silicon wafer producer (through Shin-Etsu Silicones/SEH), and a major hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) pharmaceutical excipient manufacturer. Shin-Etsu's photoresist was among the materials covered by Japan's July 2019 export controls targeting South Korea, as fluorinated polyimide — a resist ancillary material — was one of the three restricted chemicals.

National high-tech enterprise backed by China Iron & Steel Research Institute (CISRI). Major producer of NdFeB magnet alloy, rare earth magnetic materials, and specialty alloys. Core supplier to Chinese defense and EV industries.

Chinese magnet manufacturer part of Hengdian Group conglomerate (SHEX: 002127); 15,000-20,000 tonnes/year NdFeB magnet capacity. Direct supplier to Tesla, Brose, Panasonic, Cooper, and Nidec. Also produces ferrite magnets and batteries. Hengdian Group is best known in China for owning Hengdian World Studios — the world's largest film production base — making DMEGC a subsidiary of a Chinese movie studio that also supplies EV magnets to Tesla.

Chinese rare earth company; significant minority investor in MP Materials (Mountain Pass CA) and off-take agreement holder for Mountain Pass concentrate — giving a Chinese state-linked company commercial involvement in the only US rare earth mine. This relationship has drawn US national security scrutiny. Shenghe processes the Mountain Pass concentrate in China and sells back NdPr oxide. Also has separate mining interests in Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea) and operations in Australia.

Australian rare earth mining and processing company (ASX: LYC, HQ Kuala Lumpur/Perth); world's largest rare earth producer outside China. Mines at Mount Weld, Western Australia (one of the world's highest-grade rare earth deposits) and processes at LAMP (Lynas Advanced Materials Plant) in Kuantan, Malaysia. Produces separated rare earth oxides including lanthanum oxide, LREE carbonate, neodymium-praseodymium oxide. Lanthanum from Lynas is a byproduct of Nd/Pr production — lanthanum has limited premium uses and Lynas has at times struggled to find buyers for its lanthanum output. Lynas is also building a heavy rare earth processing facility in Kalgoorlie, Australia and an NdPr separation facility in Seadrift, Texas (DoD-funded) to establish non-China rare earth processing.

Rare earth processing and magnet powder specialist; operates separation plant in Sillamäe Estonia (only commercial rare earth separation in Europe); NdFeB powder and finished magnet production

Rare earth processing and materials company; operates the only commercial rare earth separation facility in Europe — the Sillamäe, Estonia plant. Sillamäe is a former Soviet uranium enrichment and rare earth processing site on the Baltic Sea. Neo's Sillamäe plant separates rare earth feedstock into NdPr oxide and other rare earth products for European magnet manufacturers. Also operates rare earth processing in China (Zibo, Shandong). Neo is the critical link in a non-China NdPr supply chain for European permanent magnet producers. Listed on Toronto Stock Exchange. EU-funded as part of Critical Raw Materials strategy.

German specialty magnetic materials producer; one of two major non-Asian NdFeB producers at scale. Revenue ~€600M (2024). Operates Hanau plant and Póvoa de Varzim (Portugal) facility. Supplies European automotive (BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen) and wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa, Enercon) applications. VAC is strategically important to EU rare earth independence plans; received EU funding for European magnet supply chain. Private; owned by private equity (Advent International).