China’s rare earth exports saw a sharp rise in May, increasing by 23% from April to reach 5,865 tons. While this number is still lower than the same period last year, the growth helped lift total exports for the year so far to 24,827 tons — up 2.3%.
This rise in exports comes just before important trade talks between China and the United States, which are set to take place in London. Rare earth elements are expected to be a major point of discussion, as they play a key role in electronics, defense, and clean energy technologies.
In April, China had imposed stricter export controls on seven rare earth materials. However, the recent data suggests that the country eased some of these restrictions in May. Chinese authorities also announced new export approvals for certain rare earths, though they did not share full details.
China Eases Rare Earth Export Rules After Pressure from West
China has decided to relax its rare earth export restrictions to help U.S. and European carmakers deal with supply shortages. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it’s open to creating a “green channel” to speed up export license approvals for companies in the EU. This offer came after trade talks in Paris between China’s Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. China also quietly approved export licenses for suppliers working with U.S. automakers like GM, Ford, and Stellantis. However, the ministry has not officially commented on these approvals.
This move could impact global supply chains and pricing, especially as countries look to secure stable access to these critical minerals.
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