Industrial Minerals


World’s largest rare earth producer halts production

17 August 2012

by Siobhan Lismore, Albert Li IM analyst, Shanghai

China’s latest move to curtail illegal mining; neodymium magnet expansion

Keywords: Inner Mongolia, Baotou Steel Rare Earth Hi-tech, neodymium magnet,

Inner Mongolia-based Baotou Steel Rare Earth Hi-tech Co. Ltd has halted production at its massive rare earths mine, reports from China said on Thursday.

The rare earths giant held meetings with its subsidiaries following the China Rare Earth Industry Forum, covered by IM analyst Albert Li this week, and instructed them to halt production, news sources said.

Baotou operates the Bayan Obo mine in Inner Mongolia, which dominates world production of light rare earth...