Contents
Introduction:
Rare earth companies in China dominate the global rare earth industry not only through holding the world’s largest reserves, but also by controlling over 90% of global refining and separation capacity. This makes China an irreplaceable leader in the rare earth supply chain. Given the strategic nature of these materials, the Chinese government has implemented strict controls over access, mining quotas, export licensing, and environmental regulations, effectively centralizing all aspects of resource management.
Rare earth elements are critical inputs for electric vehicles, high-performance magnets, 5G infrastructure, wind turbines, aerospace equipment, and advanced defense systems. In this context, this article introduces the top 10 rare earth companies in China, all of which are state-owned or state-controlled. These enterprises embody the strategic power of China’s rare earth companies and will remain at the center of global technological competition in the years ahead.
What Are Rare Earths?
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) refer to 17 metallic elements: the 15 lanthanides from Lanthanum (La) to Lutetium (Lu), plus Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium (Y). While these elements are not necessarily rare in terms of total crustal abundance, their dispersion across the earth makes economically viable extraction extremely difficult.
Rare earths possess unique magnetic, optical, and catalytic properties, and serve as fundamental materials in modern industry. They are widely used in cutting-edge sectors such as new energy vehicles, new materials, aerospace, biotechnology, advanced electronics, and defense. Due to their strategic relevance, rare earths are often referred to as the “vitamins of industry” — their importance comparable to that of oil. That is the key point of Rare Earth Companies in China.
Top 10 Rare Earth Companies in China
Below is a summary of the top 10 Rare Earth companies in China as of 2025 (in no particular order):
| No. | Chinese Company Name | English Company Name | Company Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 中国北方稀土（集团）高科技股份有限公司 | China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High‑Tech Co., Ltd. | A subsidiary of Baogang Group and owner of the world’s largest rare earth mine, the Bayan Obo deposit. |
| 2 | 中国稀土控股有限公司 | China Rare Earth Holdings Limited | Operates rare earth separation and refining facilities in Jiangsu and Guangdong. Its neodymium and praseodymium oxides have purities exceeding 99.9% and 99.5%, respectively. |
| 3 | 厦门钨业股份有限公司 | Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. | Specializes in tungsten, molybdenum, and rare earth materials. Its rare earth oxides are widely used in energy and magnet sectors. |
| 4 | 广东稀土集团有限公司 | Guangdong Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd. | Leading rare earth enterprise in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. Its listed arm Rising Advanced Materials covers mining, refining, and deep processing. |
| 5 | 江西金力永磁科技股份有限公司 | JL MAG Rare‑Earth Co., Ltd. | A global leader in NdFeB permanent magnets. Covers full R&D, production, and sales chain. Serves EVs, wind turbines, and more. |
| 6 | 稀奥科材料股份有限公司 | Rising Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. | Listed subsidiary of Guangdong Rare Earth Group, specializing in high-performance magnetic materials and raw material supply. |
| 7 | 宁波韵升股份有限公司 | Ningbo Yunsheng Co., Ltd. | A national high-tech enterprise focusing on the R&D and manufacturing of rare earth magnets, widely used in automotive motors, appliances, and wind energy. |
| 8 | 北京中科三环高技术股份有限公司 | Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan High‑Tech Co., Ltd. | Pioneer in NdFeB magnet technology. Covers R&D, production, and applications in new energy, electronics, and industrial sectors. |
| 9 | 永兴特种材料科技股份有限公司 | Yongxing Special Materials Technology Co., Ltd. | Formerly focused on stainless steel, now produces sintered NdFeB magnets and rare earth alloys for advanced industrial use. |
| 10 | 包钢稀土钢铁新材料有限公司 | Baotou Steel Rare‑Earth Steel New Materials Co., Ltd. | A core subsidiary under Baogang Group focusing on rare earth alloys and processing, serving high-end steel and aerospace sectors. |
Major Rare Earth Reserves Outside China
The main countries with rare earth reserves include:
| Country | Reserves (Million Tons) | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 44 | 36.7% | Global leader in reserves and refining capacity |
| Vietnam | 22 | 18.3% | Rapid rise supported by U.S. and Japanese investment |
| Brazil | 21 | 17.5% | Large reserves but underdeveloped extraction |
| Russia | 12 | 10.0% | Politically unstable supply |
| India | 6.9 | 5.8% | Policy gradually liberalizing |
| United States | 2.3 | 1.9% | Mountain Pass mine partially revived |
| Others | — | — | Includes Australia, Myanmar, etc. |
More than 95% of rare earth refining capacity is still concentrated in China — the country’s greatest strategic edge.
How Rare Earth Companies in China Use Strategic Materials as a Silent Weapon?
Rare earth elements are not just industrial materials — they are the invisible backbone of modern military and high-tech systems. From guided missile systems and advanced radar to stealth fighter jets and quantum communication infrastructure, rare earths are embedded in nearly every level of critical U.S. defense technology.
What makes this situation geopolitically sensitive is the simple fact that China dominates both the production and refinement of these materials, with an estimated 85–90% global market share in processing capacity. The United States, though possessing its own rare earth mine at Mountain Pass, California, lacks adequate downstream processing capacity and has long relied on Chinese refiners to complete the supply chain.
Over the past decade, as U.S. policies tightened restrictions on Chinese tech companies and military collaboration, Beijing began using rare earth export control as a counter-leverage tool. In 2023 and 2024, China introduced licensing requirements for specific rare earth products — notably heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for heat-resistant magnets used in jet engines and missile actuators.
Under the updated Chinese regulations, exporters must now provide documentation detailing the end user, end use, and contract pathway for sensitive rare earth products. While general exports to civilian sectors may still be processed, any material suspected of being routed toward U.S. defense contractors may be delayed or denied.
This level of oversight, though non-confrontational on the surface, gives China a powerful “silent weapon” — the ability to slow or halt the flow of materials that are otherwise irreplaceable in American defense manufacturing. In this light, China rare earth companies are not just economic actors but extensions of national strategy.
Conclusion:
As competition between the U.S. and China escalates in areas like AI, semiconductors, aerospace, and clean energy, rare earths will likely remain one of the most potent — and subtle — tools of strategic influence in China’s arsenal.
