Export controls
China's rare earth and technology metal export controls: timeline
Thirteen of the 25 elements this site covers are under Chinese export licence, through the eight steps below since August 2023. The April 2025 rare earth list is in force; the October 2025 package and the US-only ban on gallium, germanium and antimony are suspended, the latter until 27 November 2026.
Reviewed 28 October 2026 · check original MOFCOM texts before acting on a date
Timeline of China's export controls, 2023 to 2026
| Date | Measure | Metals | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 2023 | Gallium and germanium need an export licence MOFCOM and Customs Announcement 23 of 2023 puts gallium, germanium and their compounds under licence. | Ga, Ge | In force |
| 15 Sept 2024 | Antimony joins the licence list Announcement 33 of 2024 adds antimony ores, metal, oxides and related technology. | Sb | In force |
| 3 Dec 2024 | Exports to the United States banned Announcement 46 of 2024 bans gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to the US and for US military end use. | Ga, Ge, Sb | US ban suspended |
| 4 Feb 2025 | Indium, bismuth and tellurium under licence February 2025 controls add indium, bismuth, tellurium, tungsten and molybdenum. Exporters must document end users; tellurium licences typically take about 45 days (USGS). | In, Bi, Te | In force |
| 4 Apr 2025 | Seven medium and heavy rare earths under licence Announcement 18 of 2025: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium need a licence to leave China. | Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu, Sc, Y | In force |
| 9 Oct 2025 | Wider rare earth package announced Announcements 55–58, 61 and 62 add holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium, magnet and processing items, and battery and superhard materials. | Ho, Er, Tm, Eu, Yb | Suspended one year |
| 7 Nov 2025 | October package suspended Announcement 70 of 2025 suspends the six October announcements for one year. The April 2025 list stays in force and China begins issuing general licences to selected exporters. | Dy, Tb, Nd | To about 10 Nov 2026 |
| 9 Nov 2025 | US ban on Ga, Ge and Sb suspended Announcement 72 of 2025 suspends Article 2 of Announcement 46 until 27 November 2026. Licences still apply to every destination and the military end-use ban stays. | Ga, Ge, Sb | Until 27 Nov 2026 |
Sources: Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announcements as cited by USGS, Fastmarkets and law-firm notes. The end date of the October 2025 suspension (about 10 November 2026) is reported by one secondary source; confirm it in Announcement 70 of 2025.
Status by metal, and the price move this year
| Metal | Control | YTD price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysprosium, Terbium | Licence required since 4 April 2025 (Announcement 18) | +377.23% / +131.61% | In force |
| Neodymium, Praseodymium | Not on the April 2025 list; magnet-related items were in the suspended October package | +16.85% / +26.45% | No direct licence |
| Gallium, Germanium | Licence since 1 August 2023; US ban suspended to 27 November 2026 | +66.40% / +75.39% | Licence + suspended ban |
| Antimony | Licence since 15 September 2024; US ban suspended to 27 November 2026 | −34.24% | Licence + suspended ban |
| Indium, Bismuth, Tellurium | Licensing since February 2025 with end-user documentation | +2.11% / +55.36% / −39.89% | In force |
| Hafnium, Rhenium | Not in the announcements we track | +1.15% / +55.46% | None found |
YTD change in the supplier reference price as of our latest update. Price moves reflect many factors; the table shows correlation with controls, not proof of cause.
Two dates that matter
About 10 November 2026: the October 2025 package
Announcements 55 to 58, 61 and 62 of 9 October 2025 would have extended licensing to holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium, to magnet and processing technology, and to battery and superhard materials. Announcement 70 of 7 November 2025 suspended all six for one year. The reported end date has not been confirmed in the MOFCOM text, so treat it as approximate.
27 November 2026: the US-only ban on gallium, germanium and antimony
Announcement 72 of 9 November 2025 suspends Article 2 of Announcement 46 of 2024 until 27 November 2026. Licences are still needed for every destination, and the ban on supply to US military end users stays. Detail and data are on the gallium, germanium and antimony page.
What "general licences" changed
After the November 2025 announcements, China began issuing general licences to selected exporters, which lets named companies ship without a licence per consignment. USGS records that the April 2025 controls were not removed. In late 2025 Chinese officials said the scheme was still being worked out, so the benefit has been uneven.
China export controls: frequently asked questions
Which rare earths has China put under export controls?
On 4 April 2025 China required licences for samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium (Announcement 18 of 2025). A package adding holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium, announced 9 October 2025, is suspended for one year.
When does the suspension of China's October 2025 rare earth controls end?
It was suspended for one year from 7 November 2025 by Announcement 70 of 2025. One secondary source puts the end at 10 November 2026; check the original MOFCOM text.
What is the date to watch for gallium, germanium and antimony?
27 November 2026, when the suspension of the US-specific export ban ends (Announcement 72 of 2025). That is 30 days after 28 October 2026. Licences for every destination remain either way.
Did China remove its rare earth export controls?
No. The April 2025 list remains in force. China agreed to introduce general licences and has issued them to selected exporters, but USGS records that the April controls were not removed.
Which metals on this site are affected?
Dysprosium and terbium directly; gallium, germanium and antimony through licensing and the US ban; indium, bismuth and tellurium through February 2025 licensing. Hafnium and rhenium are not in the announcements we track.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare Earths
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tellurium, Indium, Bismuth, Gallium, Germanium, Antimony
- Fastmarkets: China suspends export prohibition on gallium, germanium, antimony, superhard materials to US
- Clark Hill: China hits "pause" on rare-earth export controls and what it means for supply chains
- China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Announcements 23/2023, 33/2024, 46/2024, 18/2025, 55–58/2025, 61–62/2025, 70/2025, 72/2025