The Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The city of Baotou, China's leading supplier of rare earth materials, has long been committed to developing its rare earth industry, with Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone serving as the industry's base.

The city has successfully hosted 11 sessions of its rare earth industry forum since 2009, boosting its image throughout the industry.

According to officials, rare earth projects have a high technological content, great development potential and strong market power.

Baotou plans to further optimize the structure of its rare earth industry and facilitate the downstream expansion of the industrial chain, injecting new vitality into the high-quality development of the sector in Baotou city. 

The two automatic electroplating production lines developed by Baotou company. [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]

Currently, there are 115 rare earth enterprises in Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, including 35 engaged in the research and development of permanent magnet materials.

Two fully automatic electroplating production lines - developed by Baotou Huizhong Cigu Rare Earth Technology Co - are now operating at full capacity in the zone.

This year, the zone will fully use its advantages in terms of rare earth resources and existing industries and undertake 26 key rare earth projects with a total investment of 8.11 billion yuan ($1.24 billion).

It is making every effort to build a rare earth permanent magnet materials industry chain, combining rare earth permanent magnet motors, vertical axis wind power generators, 3C products, and rare earth nuclear magnetic resonance.

The zone has established the first rare earth product trading platform in China, and created six service systems for transaction settlements, warehousing, logistics, quality inspection, supply chain finance, and information (big data).

The Inner Mongolia Rare Earth Functional Materials Innovation Center has been established to carry out inspection and testing of rare earth magnetic materials, hydrogen storage materials, polishing materials, and catalytic aid materials, and provide technical evaluation, design inspection, functional verification and other services for rare earth 'new materials' companies and downstream businesses applying the new materials.