Shipments of the high-tech components declined modestly in April but remained well above last year’s levels.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets eased slightly in April, according to the latest data from the country’s customs authority. After reaching 5,238 metric tons in March, exports slipped to 5,126 tons in April — a decrease of just under two percent.
Compared with the same period last year, however, export volumes have nearly doubled. In April of the previous year, China exported only 2,627 tons. That was also the month when Beijing introduced export restrictions on several rare earth elements and a range of related components, measures that continue to disrupt global supply chains.
The leading destinations in April 2026 were Germany, South Korea, the United States, Vietnam, and India. The same countries also ranked among the top five importers in the previous month, although in a slightly different order.
Chinese rare earth magnet exports over the last twelve months
Photo: alengo via Canva
