NdFeB permanent magnet（following called NdFeB magnets or neodymium magnets in short) has good mechanical properties and high energy density, which is beneficial to the lightweight, thin, miniaturization or ultraminiaturization of magnetic components.The appearance of NdFeB magnet not only leads the development of electroacoustic motor, instrument, magnetic separation,to miniaturization, high frequency, high performance, low loss and low noise.And with the characteristics of energy saving and environmental protection, its application extends from traditional fields to new energy vehicles, wind power generation, energy-saving household appliances, aerospace and other emerging fields.
Before the 1990s, the global NdFeB magnets production enterprises were mainly concentrated in Japan,United States, Europe countries,among them, Japan was the largest producer of NdFeB magnetic materials in the world at that time, accounting for more than half of the total output of the world.With the increase of production cost in developed countries, the demand for NdFeB in the lower reaches of the Chinese downstream industry and the promotion of its own product competitiveness, the United States, European and Japanese well-known international NdFeB manufacturers have taken a joint venture or set up processing bases to transfer to China, which has led to the rapid development of local production enterprises.In 2001, China's NdFeB production reached 6500 tons, overtaking Japan and becoming the world's largest NdFeB magnets production base.
Japan is the largest producer of neodymium magnets besides of China,for a long time, most of China sintered NdFeB manufacturers just produce low-end products and face great market competition pressure.
In recent years, driven by the development of new and strategic industries such as energy-saving and environmental protection, new energy vehicles, information technology and high-end equipment, some domestic enterprises have continuously introduced advanced production technology, equipment and management experience of neodymium magnets from abroad. Investment in independent research and development, promoting the rapid development of NdFeB magnets manufacturing technology.
Between 2016 and 2018, the global demand for high performance NdFeB permanent magnets will increase at an average annual rate of 19%. Among them, the fields of new energy vehicles driving motors, automobile micromotors, frequency conversion air conditioning, robots and energy efficient elevators will become important drivers of growth. China has developed to be a major production and consumption country for NdFeB magnetic material.
In terms of product varieties, the grade and quality of NdFeB magnet products in China have been greatly improved. Taking N series as an example, from the initial production of middle and low grade products below N40 to the high grade products of N45-N52. At present, the products of high, medium and low grades have complete specifications, the production equipment has gradually realized the localization, and the product performance has gradually reached the advanced level abroad. In 2013, the output of NdFeB materials in China reached 94000 tons, accounting for more than 85% of the total output of the whole world.
In the past ten years, the output of
NdFeB magnets in the world has increased rapidly, reaching about 110000 tons in 2013, of which, the output of NdFeB with high performance was about 42800 tons, an increase of 16.56 percent over the same period of last year, accounting for more than 35% of the total output of NdFeB in 2013. With the global low-carbon economy, energy-saving and environment-friendly society construction, new energy vehicles, energy-saving appliances, wind power, national defense industry and other emerging industries began to rise gradually, the demand for NdFeB is constantly emerging new growth point. Due to the high barrier of high performance NdFeB industry and the slow cycle of increasing production, high-performance NdFeB will be in short supply.
