China’s rare earth magnet exports to EU and US rebound in September

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

China’s rare earth permanent magnet exports to the EU and the U.S. surged in September, rising 20.5% and 18% respectively after previous declines. This rebound reflects progress in trade talks and export facilitation measures, although shipments to Japan dropped sharply amid diplomatic tensions.

China’s exports of rare earth permanent magnets to the European Union and the United States showed a notable recovery in September, reversing declines observed in the previous month, according to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs. Shipments to the EU rose 20.5 percent from August, reaching 2,454 tonnes, the highest monthly total since February. This rebound followed slowed growth in July and a 4.9 percent decline in August.

The increase comes amid heightened trade negotiations between China and the EU, aimed at addressing ongoing trade imbalances. Earlier in October, officials from both sides met in Beijing for high-level discussions, during which China promised to maintain expedited processing for export licenses related to rare earth elements and permanent magnets bound for the EU through a designated “green channel.” The two parties also agreed to limit Chinese shipments of hybrid vehicles to the bloc for the next four years.

China remains the dominant global supplier of rare earth permanent magnets, which are critical components in various high-technology products such as electric vehicles, smartphones, and wind turbines. The country controls much of the processing capacity for these materials and has imposed export regulations since April 2025. These measures require exporters to obtain government approval before shipping certain rare earth elements and magnets abroad, a response to U.S. tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump that targeted Chinese goods.

In addition to the gains in the EU market, Chinese exports of rare earth permanent magnets to the United States increased by 18 percent month on month, totaling 604 tonnes in September. This marked a recovery from the 20.9 percent drop recorded in August. The U.S. ranked as China’s third-largest destination for these magnets last month, following South Korea and Germany.

Conversely, shipments to Japan fell sharply, declining 19.1 percent compared to August, reaching 172 tonnes. This decrease coincides with ongoing diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, which have affected bilateral trade relations.

Overall, the September export data suggests a transient easing of trade pressures between China and some major markets, even as challenges persist in others amid broader geopolitical dynamics.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.