Asian Metal visits Baotou Xinlong, Baotou Yingguang, Jinmeng Magnetic Materials, Sunlux Rare Matals, Baotou Steel Rare Earth International, BRIRE, etc.

During 26-27 December, Eric Qiu, the rare earth market analyst of Asian Metal successively visited enterprises and institutions like Baotou Xinlong New Materials Co., Ltd. (short for “Baotou Xinlong”), Baotou Yingguang New Materials Co., Ltd. (short for “Baotou Yingguang”), Baotou Jinmeng Magnetic Materials Co., Ltd. (short for “Jinmeng Magnetic Materials”), Baotou Guixin Technology Development Co., Ltd. (short for “Guixin Technology Development”), Sunlux Rare Matals Material Co., Ltd. (short for “Sunlux Rare Matals”), Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth International Trading Co., Ltd. (short for “Baotou Steel Rare Earth International”), “China Rare Earth” (www. cre.net) and Metal Materials Institute of Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths (BRIRE). Asian Metal conducted researches on the spot side and comprehensively exchanged opinions with officials of the above companies and institutions.

On the morning of Dec 26, Eric Qiu paid visited to Xu Airong, the sales manager of Baotou Longxin and Man Yongjun, the chief engineer of Baotou Yingguang. Eric Qiu introduced operation of Asian Metal, the technologies of “ammonia-nitrogen wastewater disposal based on evaporation” and “non-saponifiable extraction” to them and shared opinions on current slight decreases in prices for products of PrNd mischmetal, terbium metal, etc. Mr. Xu claimed that Baotou Xinlong has 20 molten salt electrolytic tanks of 6kA with only 6 tanks in operation for PrNd mischmetal due to fluctuating prices and tight supply of raw materials. Mr. Man mentioned that Baotou Yingguang only produces europium oxide 99.999%min at present and had resumed production since November 2016 with a monthly output of about 1.2t of europium oxide 99.99%min 99.9995-99.9999%min. Mr. Man and Mr. Xu also accompanied with Eric Qiu to visit the Sm-Eu-Gd separation line and introduced different processes of single stage extraction-zinc reduction in details.

On the afternoon of Dec 26, Eric Qiu visited Jinmeng Magnetic Materials and discussed with Sun Xiaoping, the vice-general manager of the company. Sun introduced that, with a designed annual capacity of 3,000t, the company owns capacity of 1,500t on first-stage project and produced about 1,200t in 2016. Currently, the company has acquired POSCO (Baotou) Yongxin Rare Earth Materials Co., Ltd. and thus their annual output will reach above 4,000t after the acquisition. He mentioned that the company has 10 molten salt electrolytic tanks for production of PrNd mischmetal and neodymium metal. Currently, the smelter mainly serves as the supporting facility for magnet plant. Eric Qiu introduced the status quo for magnetic material development and exchanged opinions with Mr. Sun on State Reserves Bureau and crackdown of illegal rare earth activities led by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Then, Eric Qiu drove to the innovation park to visit Wang Guicai, the Chairman of Baotou Guixin Technology Development Co., Ltd. Mr. Wang revealed that they only operate 9 electrolytic tanks for production of PrNd mischmetal with raw material mainly from separation plants and waste NdFeB magnet recycling companies in South China and the electricity consumption is 8500 kW.h per ton. Eric Qiu discussed in depth with him on policies in Baotou Rare Earth high-tech industrial zone and invited him to attend the Asian Metal’s 9th world Rare Earth Summit.

On the morning of Dec 27, Eric Qiu went to Sunlux Rare Matals Rare Metal Material Co., Ltd. and discussed with Hou Changchun, the Vice G.M. and Jian Wenqiang, the sales manager. Mr. Hou claimed that the company provides OEM services to processing PrNd mischmetals currently and the spot supply was relatively tight. He added that the company plans to expand the capacity by 5,000t in 2017. Eric Qiu also exchanged opinions with Sunlux Rare Matals on metal products, payment terms, raw material subsidy, industrial conferences, etc.

Then, Eric Qiu visited Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth International Trading Co., Ltd. and deeply discussed with Liu Haifeng, the general manager, Yu Jingxue, Liang Lixia and Chen Haiying, department ministers of the company on topics of rare earth products pricing and market survey and sampling. The company recognized the pricing measure of Asian Metal, highly appraising Asian Metal’s works on industrial statistics and research reports and hoping Asian Metal to strengthen attentions on downstream application market. Both the two parties communicated friendly and Mr. Liu claimed that he would fully support the 9th world Rare Earth Summit during May 11-12 of 2017 held by Asian Metal.

On the afternoon of Dec 27, Eric Qiu visited the Information Center of Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earth (BRIRE) and communicated with Yan Hongwei, the director of BRIRE, Jia Tao, the deputy director of BRIRE, Professor Guo Yongmei, the business manager of “China Rare Earth” (www. cre.net), Yu Jiaxin, the website manager and Bai Xue, the editor of the web. Eric Qiu introduced the status quo of Asian Metal and future strategy to the website of “China Rare Earth”. Mr. Yan and Professor Guo highly recognized the authority, timeliness and accuracy of Asian Metal’s information. They also noted that the website of “China Rare Earth” is oriented by policies currently and will make efforts to combine the research and market to achieve oriented research work. Both the two parties claimed that sharing in industrial statistics and market information will be promoted, mutually providing effective informational services to the development of rare earth industry.

Later on, Eric Qiu moved to Metal Materials institute of Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths (BRIRE) sited in Batou Ruixin Rare Earth Co.,Ltd and visited Chen Guohua, the director of the Institute. Chen disclosed that Runxin Rare Earth has completed production on 10kA tanks with monthly output of about 500t of PrNd mischmetal with 13-14tpm for single tank Presently. He pointed out that the direction of future development in the rare earth metal industry, which will move forwards to energy saving, emission reduction and automation. He is focusing on R&D and promotion of Pr-Nd-Dy alloy, ytterbium metal and other products. Eric Qiu introduced Professor Chen the current price trend for rare earth metals, outputs and inventories of the metal industry and discussed in depth on electricty consumption, product yield, ratios for raw material feeding etc. At last, Professor Chen introduced 10kA equipment to Eric Qiu and accompanied with him to visit the test plant of the Institute.