Baogang Group Mine Research Institute announced that “Xianhua Lan-niobate,” discovered under the institute’s leadership, had been officially approved as a new mineral by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association, with the international number IMA2025-087. This is the 29th new mineral discovered in the Bayan Obo deposit, the world’s largest rare earth deposit.This mineral is a rare rare earth–niobate mineral occurring in the East Mine and the eastern contact zone of the Bayan Obo deposit. Its discovery is of significant scientific value for studying the multi-stage, multi-episode hydrothermal superimposed mineralization process of the Bayan Obo deposit, as well as the mechanisms of global rare earth–niobium enrichment.

Affected by the news that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) solicited public opinions on February 19 regarding the "Interim Measures for the Total Volume Control and Management of Rare Earth Mining and Rare Earth Smelting and Separation (Draft for Public Comments)" and other related documents, the spot price of rare earths saw a significant increase on February 20. In the stock market, the rare earth permanent magnets concept sector experienced a notable surge at the opening. As of the close on February 20, the rare earth permanent magnets concept rose by 1.34%. Among individual stocks, Chuangxing Resources hit the daily limit, Zhenghai Magnetic Material rose by 6.1%, Guangsheng Nonferrous Metals increased by 5.59%, while Hanghua Co., Yujing Co., China Rare Earth, Baogang Group, and Ningbo Yunsheng were among the top gainers.

On February 16, Baogang Group and China Rare Earth Group held an exchange symposium at the Baogang Hotel. The two parties conducted in-depth discussions on industrial collaboration and technological innovation in the rare earth sector, aiming to promote the high-quality development of China's rare earth industry. Attendees of the symposium included Academician Chunhua Yan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Liu Leiyun, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Rare Earth Group, and Fanying Meng, Party Secretary and Chairman of Baogang (Group) Company.

[SMM Analysis: Q1 Concentrate Transaction Price of Baogang Group and China Northern Rare Earth Up 4.7% QoQ, What Lies Ahead for Rare Earths?] Baogang Group announced on the evening of January 9 that, based on the calculation formula and the Q4 2024 rare earth oxide market price, the company plans to adjust the related transaction price of rare earth concentrate for Q1 2025 to 18,618 yuan/mt (dry basis, REO=50%, excluding tax). For every 1% increase or decrease in REO, the price will increase or decrease by 372.36 yuan/mt (excluding tax). Compared with the Q4 2024 rare earth concentrate transaction price of 17,782 yuan/mt, this represents a 4.7% increase QoQ.

Baogang Group: The company plans to adjust the related transaction price of rare earth concentrate in Q1 2025 to 18,618 yuan/mt (dry basis, REO=50%, excluding tax), with the price increasing or decreasing by 372.36 yuan/mt for every 1% change in REO.

Baogang Group plans to produce 14.77 million mt of pig iron, 16 million mt of crude steel, 15.14 million mt of commercial billets, 320,000 mt of rare earth concentrates, and 500,000 mt of fluorite in 2023.