Ningxia's new material industry brought in 15 percent of the region's industrial output value, and the capacity and technology of many products from the industry has reached levels that lead internationally, according to the region's commission on economics and information technology.

So far, the new material industry in the region has formed five industry chains, including rare metals, magnesium and its alloys, electrolytic aluminium alloys and bars, coal based carbon materials, and photovoltaic materials like polysilicon and monocrystal silicon, spokesmen from the commission said.

Zhang Chunlin, chief engineer of Ningxia Sunshine Silicon Company, said that the company takes a leading role in West China with an annual capacity reaching 1,800 tons since it introduced a complete and advanced production line of polysilicon.

Shares of the tantalum powder and tantalum wire produced by CNMC Ningxia Orient Group kept the first two places in the world market over the past five years.

The aluminium ingot branded QTX by Ningxia Qingtongxia Energy Aluminium Group has been listed in London Stock Exchange.

Besides, the region has been designated as the national production base for magnesium and its alloys, having the third biggest annual capacity and output.

In the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2011-2015), the region will build an industrial cluster on new materials. By 2015, the sales revenue of the region's new materials is expected to reach 70 billion yuan (US$11 billion), more than double that of 2010.