Dysprosium and terbium showed contrasting trends in July. According to Chinese customs data, dysprosium exports rose from 2,098 kilograms in June to 11,292 kilograms in July, an increase of around 438 percent. The entire volume was shipped to South Korea. In June, exports had been split between Malaysia and South Korea. Terbium exports, by contrast, fell from 3,100 to 1,314 kilograms, a decline of nearly 58 percent. Here too, South Korea was the sole destination in July.
Since April 2025, dysprosium and terbium, along with other medium and heavy rare earths, have been subject to export controls in China and therefore require the corresponding export licenses. As a result, export volumes can fluctuate significantly from month to month. In addition, both technology metals are traded in relatively small markets, where individual large shipments can have a substantial impact on export statistics. Our chart shows how exports have developed over the course of the year.
Photo: via Canva, Montage rawmaterials.net
