Saralnama90% of the world's rare earths are processed by China., China announced stricter export controls on these materials. Foreign companies now need Chinese government approval to export products with even small amounts of rare earths. They must explain their intended use. Similar restrictions apply to lithium batteries and some graphite forms. Beijing says these rules aim to protect national security. The move targets overseas defence and chip manufacturers. China also restricted rare earth mining, processing, and magnet-making technology exports. This could impact the US, which has rare earth mines but lacks processing facilities. The new rules mirror US restrictions on selling chip-making equipment to China. Rare earths are crucial for high-tech products like smartphones, electric cars, and jet engines. (Updated 9 Oct 2025, 18:18 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- 90% of the world's rare earths are processed by China ., China announced stricter export controls on these materials
- Foreign companies now need Chinese government approval to export products with even small amounts of rare earths
- They must explain their intended use