Highlights

• China Northern Rare Earth Group forms a strategic joint venture with Fujian Jinlong Rare Earth Co.
• Establishment of a new rare earth separation company.
• Aim to build a cutting-edge 5,000-ton rare earth oxide separation production line by the end of 2026.
• Enhancing resource utilization.
• This collaboration reinforces China's control over global rare earth processing.
• Represents over 90% of worldwide critical materials production.

China Northern Rare Earth Group, the world’s largest producer of rare earth materials, has announced a joint venture with Fujian Jinlong Rare Earth Co. to establish a new company tentatively named Northern Jinlong (Baotou) Rare Earth Co., Ltd. This state-backed partnership aims to build a cutting-edge 5,000-ton rare earth oxide separation production line by the end of 2026, focusing on the high-efficiency utilization of rare earth resources from both northern and southern China.

As the controlling shareholder, China Northern Rare Earth Group will oversee a range of operations, including rare earth metal refining, functional material sales, recycling, and advanced material technology development. The partnership aims to leverage each company’s strengths in technology, market reach, branding, and talent to create a flagship rare earth separation line that offers a comprehensive product portfolio and innovative, profitable business models.

This joint venture is designed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality raw materials across downstream industries, including advanced rare earth materials and applications. By achieving full-spectrum separation of rare earth elements, the new company will bolster the competitive edge of China’s rare earth value chain and secure its dominance in the global market.

Potential Impacts on the Global Rare Earth Sector?

With China controlling over 90% of global rare earth processing, this move further consolidates the country’s control over critical materials essential for green energy, defense, and high-tech applications. The collaboration underscores China's strategic focus on enhancing its rare earth capabilities through state-of-the-art facilities and resource integration. For competitors in the U.S. and other nations, this reinforces the need to prioritize domestic rare earth supply chains, invest in innovative processing technologies, and reduce reliance on China to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.

By aligning technological advances with talent development and resource optimization, China Northern Rare Earth Group is not only expanding its industrial reach but also moving to set the pace for global competition in the rare earth sector.