2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Baotou city's Baogang Group, celebrating its monumental achievements in industrial growth, reform, and expanding global markets.

In the 1950s, people from across China united to construct Baogang, ending the region's history of steel scarcity and opening a new chapter for industrial development in China's ethnic regions.

The Baogang No 1 blast furnace plant is built some 70 years ago. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

Over the past seven decades, Baogang has produced nearly 300 million metric tons of steel and generated over 100 billion yuan ($14.15 billion) in profits, collaborating with over 90,000 enterprises. This growth has significantly contributed to China's economic and social development, establishing Baogang as a pillar of the nation's industrial strength.

Baogang's legacy continues today as it adapts to modern demands. It has expanded into rare earth materials and high-tech industries, ensuring its vital role in China's industrial and technological future.

Quality control personnel of Baogang's Steel Sheet Mill check the quality of cold rolled coil. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

The group's high-quality products have gained global recognition, shining brightly in the international market. Over the past decade, the number of countries importing Baogang steel has expanded from 22 to 60. Annual steel exports to Belt and Road countries have doubled, reaching a peak of 1.88 million tons. The product range has also diversified, now including plates, pipes, rails, and wires.

In 2023, Baogang exported 1.38 million tons of steel to 46 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. High-end products like pipeline steel, automotive steel, and rails led the market, enhancing the brand's global reputation and laying a solid foundation for its World Rare Earth City reputation. Baogang's hot-rolled pipeline steel exports reached 291,100 tons, a 26.84 percent increase from 2022, representing 72 percent of the nation's hot-rolled coil shipments.

The 500-meter rare earth welding rail products Baogang produces are transported for export. [Photo provided to goinnermongolia.com.cn]

Baogang's galvanized sheets and automotive steel are also popular in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. Its rail products showcased strength in international projects like the Hungary-Serbia Railway. Baogang's expansion into high-end markets continues to grow, boosting the scale and influence of its rare earth steel globally.