Compared with previous months, however, a clear increase is evident.
China exported 5,490 tons of rare earths in May, according to the latest data from the country’s customs authority. This figure falls well below the 5,865 tons recorded a year earlier, representing a decline of 6.4 percent. However, exports rose by 3.4 percent compared with April. Against the backdrop of the year-to-date trend, May also marks the highest monthly level so far in 2026.
The statistics cover all 17 elements in the rare earth group—not just the seven particularly critical and highly demanded elements for which Beijing introduced export controls in April 2025. Detailed breakdowns of the export composition are expected in the second half of the month.
Photo: iStock/Alex_Wang1
