China’s rare earth exports rose slightly in October for the first time since June, signaling a tentative stabilization after several months of declining shipments.
Data from the General Administration of Customs showed that China exported 4,345.5 metric tons of rare earths in October, up 8.7% from 4,000 tons in September. The world’s leading supplier of minerals critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics had seen exports fall sharply through the summer, following the introduction of expanded export controls in April.
Chinese rare earth exports over the last year
In early October, Beijing announced a new round of controls covering five additional rare earth elements and dozens of refining technologies, tightening its grip on the strategically important sector. Some of these rules were slated to take effect in early November, raising concerns over further supply disruptions. However, following a high-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan on October 30, China announced that it would pause the new export measures for one year. The White House separately announced what it described as a broader easing of restrictions, though Beijing has yet to confirm any such move.
For the first ten months of 2025, China’s rare earth exports totaled about 52,700 tons, up 10.5% from the same period in 2024, according to customs data.
Analysts caution that the October uptick likely reflects a temporary stabilization rather than a sustained recovery, Reuters reports. “The pause in controls provides short-term relief,” one industry analyst said, “but China’s long-term strategy of tightening oversight on rare earth exports remains unchanged.”
Photo: iStock/SHansche