Regarding Announcement No. 18 of 2025 on rare earth export controls, which rare earth products fall under the control scope for manufacturers, and which are on the exemption list?
The core of Announcement No. 18 of 2025 is the implementation of export controls on items related to 7 key medium and heavy rare earth elements, but it also clarifies through official Q&A that some downstream products do not fall within the control scope.
The table below summarizes the scope of controlled items involved in the announcement, helping you quickly build an overall understanding.
|
Controlled Rare Earth Elements |
Categories of Controlled Items |
Specific Form Examples (Based on Announcement Description) |
| Samarium (Sm), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Lutetium (Lu), Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y) | 1. Metals & Alloys | Samarium metal, Gadolinium-magnesium alloy, Terbium-cobalt alloy, etc. Forms include ingots, blocks, bars, wires, strips, rods, plates, tubes, granules, powders, etc |
| 2. Targets | Samarium target, Gadolinium-iron alloy target, Dysprosium target, etc. Forms include plates, tubes, etc. | |
| 3. Oxides & Compounds | Samarium oxide, Gadolinium oxide, Terbium-containing compounds, etc. Forms include but are not limited to powders. | |
| 4. Specific Permanent Magnet Materials | Samarium-cobalt permanent magnet materials, Neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet materials containing Terbium, Neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet materials containing Dysprosium, including magnets or magnet powders. |
* Note These Non-Controlled Products
For manufacturers, a very important positive message is that the Ministry of Commerce clarified in subsequent Q&A that many deeply processed downstream products are generally not subject to the controls of this Announcement No. 18. Therefore, when planning export business, you can focus on the following product categories:
•Motor Components: For example, rotor or stator assemblies where magnets are embedded, inserted, or surface-mounted and fixed onto iron cores or steel plates. Even deeply assembled parts integrating more components like shafts, bearings, fans, etc., are usually not controlled.。
•Sensor Components: Sensors and related parts/components are generally not subject to control.
•Catalytic and Luminescent Materials: Downstream rare earth functional materials like catalyst powders and phosphors are generally not controlled.
•Consumer Magnetic Attachment Products: Final consumer goods incorporating functional parts made of samarium-cobalt or neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, such as plastic magnetic building block toys, magnetic phone backplates/attachments, magnetic chargers, magnetic phone cases, tablet stands, etc., are generally not listed under controls.
** Compliant Export Guide
If your product falls under the control scope, you need to apply for a license following the process below; if not, you can export normally.
•Belongs to Controlled Items: You must apply for an export license from the competent department of commerce under the State Council, in accordance with the “Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China” and other regulations. When declaring customs, you must indicate in the remarks column that the items are controlled and list the corresponding dual-use item export control codes.
•Does Not Belong to Controlled Items: For the aforementioned downstream products explicitly not within the control scope, such as motor components, sensors, and consumer products, you can proceed with export according to regular trade procedures.
** Important Reminder: Watch for Policy Expansion
Furthermore, you need to be aware that following Announcement No. 18, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 61 and Announcement No. 62 in October 2025, further expanding the control scope.
•Announcement No. 61: Extends controls overseas. Effective December 1, 2025, if products exported by overseas enterprises contain the aforementioned controlled rare earth items originating from China and their value accounts for 0.1% or more, they also need to apply for an export license from China’s Ministry of Commerce. This means your overseas customers or subsidiaries could be affected.
•Announcement No. 62: Implements export controls on rare earth-related technologies, including a series of technologies for mining, smelting separation, metal冶炼, and magnet manufacturing.
Mastering this key information will help you achieve precision and compliance！
�� Important Reminder: Watch for Policy Expansion
Post time: Oct-20-2025