Inner Mongolia

Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi are central to China's rare earth production, while coal output remains high alongside Shanxi. Baotou is set to become China's rare earth hub under Inner Mongolia's 10-year plan, with initiatives boosting mining, refining, and magnet production for the new-energy industry and global markets. The autonomous region achieved 7.3% GDP growth in 2023—among China's highest. Coal mining remains significant, but the region diversifies into rare earth processing critical for EV batteries and clean energy technology. Mongolia (the independent country) exports 88% of minerals unprocessed to China through Inner Mongolia border crossings, making this region the critical transit point. Grasslands cover vast territories, supporting pastoral herding alongside industrial extraction. Wind power potential ranks among China's highest given open terrain and consistent wind patterns.