The data includes all rare earth elements, of which not all are bound to export controls.
China’s General Administration of Customs released preliminary trade data for May, revealing a significant drop in the value of rare earth element exports. The total export value decreased by over 47% year-over-year, with a month-over-month decline of approximately 14% compared to April.
Although higher than in April, export volumes declined year-on-year in May, with 5,864.6 tonnes shipped, representing a decrease of approximately 5.7% compared to the same month in 2024. Nevertheless, total rare earth exports from January to May reached 24,827 tonnes, reflecting a 2.3% year-over-year increase in volume.
May exports compared to the same month last year.
The data includes exports of all 17 rare earth elements, not only the seven Beijing has imposed export controls on in early April. More detailed information regarding how individual elements are developing will be available once Beijing publishes the second batch of May export data later this month.
Meanwhile, U.S.-China trade talks are set to continue in London on Tuesday, with export controls expected to be among the core issues. While Beijing has recently announced the easing of some measures introduced in response to the Trump-era trade tariffs, the rare earth export controls remain in place so far. In a commentary published in the state-affiliated newspaper Global Times, Huo Jianguo, the former president of China’s Ministry of Commerce research institute, argues that the issue can only be resolved through mutual respect, openness, and lawful conduct.
Photo: Kittikorn via Canva.