China’s Global Exports of Rare Earth Elements and Rare Earth Permanent Magnets

China continued to heavily restrict exports of certain rare earth compounds and metals in June 2026.

China’s exports of rare earth compounds and metals covered by China’s April 2025 export controls remained well below historical levels.

• U.S.-bound exports— which fell to zero in May 2026 — only marginally increased in June 2026.
• China’s exports to Japan fell to zero in June 2026, continuing the trend of limited exports to Japan since China imposed additional export controls on shipments to Japan in January.
• Conversely, China’s exports to South Korea exceeded pre-export control levels in June 2026.

China’s exports of rare earth magnets , which are only partially covered by China’s April 2025 export controls, have largely returned to pre-export control levels.

• However, among major export destinations, only the United States received a smaller volume of rare earth magnets in the first half of 2026 than in the first half of 2024.