NdFeB magnets, favored for their high remanence, coercive force and magnetic energy product, are widely used in consumer electronics, and the automotive, oil, gas, aerospace, defense and medical fields. Recent years have seen an increase in demand for these magnets, specifically high-performance types, driven by new energy technologies, including electric vehicles, and wind and solar power systems.
In China, manufacturers continue to step up efforts to meet the steeper requirements in these applications. They are exploring solutions that will further enhance current technologies and techniques used while meeting the government’s recent policies toward achieving better efficiency, lessening environmental impact and curbing illegal mining.
Yantai Zhenghai, a national high-tech company and a key NdFeB magnet supplier in the country, has developed three technologies. The Zhenghai Oxygen Free Process (ZHOFP) enables the production of magnets with a low oxygen content, bringing it down to less than 1,000ppm, as high levels can reduce magnetic properties. The Technology of Optimizing Particle Size (TOPS) and the Technology of Heaving Rare Earth Diffusion (THRED), meanwhile, can improve the coercive force and allow a higher operating temperature with minimum use of heavy rare earths.
JL MAG, another high-tech enterprise, applied for a patent in early 2024 for a new NdFeB magnet and its preparation method. The company has said that the product undergoes a coating diffusion process to reduce heavy rare earth content and lower temperature rise. In motors, this magnet ensures improved stability during operation.
NdFeB magnet production
China’s NdFeB magnet market is projected to reach $11.11 billion by 2025, according to Qianzhan Industrial Research Institute.
With rising demand domestically and overseas, many manufacturers are set to undertake production expansion. Jiangsu Huahong invested $160 million in a new factory in Shuocheng, Shandong, which is scheduled to have started operating on a mass scale in September 2024. The facility will have an annual capacity of 20,000 tons of high-performance neodymium magnets and an annual revenue of $270 million.
Guangdong Zhaoyuan, meanwhile, is spending $11.11 million for the installation of four lines. Once operational in 2025, these lines will turn out 180 tons of NdFeB magnets every year.
There are hundreds of suppliers in China, led by Yantai Zhenghai, Jingli Magnetic, Ningbo Yunsheng, Innuovo, Shougang Magnetic Materials, Zhong Ke San Huan and Tianhe Magnets. The top Chinese companies are also major global players.
Key makers such as Hitachi Metals, TDK and Shin-Etsu of Japan and Vacuumschmelze of Germany have production facilities in the country as well.
Production hubs
Zhejiang province is the largest manufacturing base for neodymium magnets in China based the top five suppliers there with a 17 percent collective market share, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The key locations are Ningbo, Dongyang, Jinhua and Hangzhou.
The other areas where many companies are found are Dongguan, Shenzhen, Beijing and Qingdao. There are also manufacturers in Jiangxi and Inner Mongolia.
Baotou, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, has 83.7 percent of China’s rare earth reserves or 37.8 percent of the global total, according to Global Times, the country’s English-language newspaper.
There are more than 200 enterprises engaged in rare earths in Baotou in 2023 that realized a total production value of $11.51 billion based on a Xinhua News Agency report. This translated to an increase of 22.4 percent year on year.
China-made NdFeB magnets
Sintered and bonded neodymium magnets in various grades are widely available from Chinese manufacturers. Based on surface treatments, there are units subjected to phosphating, passivating, or coating with zinc, nickel, NiCuNi, epoxy, PVD, Everlude or gold. Orders based on custom shapes, sizes, coatings and other specifications are welcome.
Top applications include wind turbines, new energy vehicles, energy-saving lifts and air-conditioners, respectively accounting for 20, 15, 15 and 14 percent of total NdFeB magnet shipments in 2022, according to Chinabaogao. Other uses include drones and robotics.
NdFeB materials, adhesives, nickel, zinc, epoxy, gold, copper and other inputs are domestically obtained. The NdFeB materials come mainly from Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi and Yunnan. Neodymium accounts for 40 percent of total outlay.
Industry leader
China has the leading position in both rare earth metals and neodymium magnets. In 2023, it accounted for almost 60 percent of rare earth mining operations, more than 85 percent of processing capacity and over 90 percent of permanent magnet production, according to a National Defense article quoting the US Department of Commerce.
In December of the same year, the Chinese government issued an export ban related to the technologies used in extracting and processing rare earth elements as well as in producing some magnets. The reasons cited include protecting national security and public interest, but analysts believe the move is strategic and aimed at maintaining market control, responding to geopolitical pressures and managing environmental challenges as well.
“China has mastered the solvent extraction process to refine the strategic minerals, which Western rare earth companies have struggled to deploy due to technical complexities and pollution concerns,” according to Reuters. The news agency’s report said that, as of 2023, the country was separating 99.9 percent of global heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, yttrium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium.
The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our market analyst for representing current trends in NdFeB magnets from manufacturers in China.
NdFeB magnet in various grades
Company: Ningbo Lihe Magnetic Industry Co. Ltd
Available in N35 to N52, N35M to N50M, N35H to N48H, N30SH to N45SH, N30UH to N42UH, N30EH to N40EH and N30Ah to N33Ah grades, Ningbo Lihe’s NDS-031 NdFeB magnet with a countersunk hole and NiCuNi plating has strong coercive force, low reversible temperature coefficient and low weight loss.
MOQ: 1,000 units
Lead time: 20 days
NdFeB magnet for motors, loudspeakers, medical apparatus
Company: Ningbo Sunrise Magnetic Material Co. Ltd
For use in DC and linear motors, loudspeakers, MRI scanners and other medical apparatuses, the SR-N004-M1 NdFeB magnet from Ningbo Sunrise comes in custom sizes and has a nickel, zinc, NiCuNi, silver, gold, epoxy resin or passivated coating.
MOQ: 100 units
Lead time: 10 days
N50, N35 to N50M NdFeB magnet
Company: Shenzhen Jyun Magnetism Industry Co. Ltd
Shenzhen Jyun’s N50 NdFeB magnet comes in N35 to N50M grades as well and custom sizes and shapes. It has anti-rust or zinc-, nickel- or epoxy-plated surface treatment.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 15 days
NdFeB magnet with trivalent chromium or zinc coating
Company: Xiamen Yuxiang Magnetic Materials Technology Co. Ltd
Designed for use in MP3 and MP4 players, mobile phones, speakers and other consumer electronics, the YXSP0781 NdFeB magnet from Xiamen Yuxiang comes in up to N52 grade and 3 to 220mm diameter. It has trivalent chromium or zinc coating and 250 C maximum operating temperature.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 7 days
