China Customs Announces Export Restrictions on Certain Key Rare Earths 
On April 4, 2025, China’s General Administration of Customs, along with the Ministry of Commerce and other central government agencies, announced on its website the “Notice on Export Restrictions for Certain Medium and Heavy Rare Earth-Related Substances.” This notice took effect on the date of its publication. Concurrently, the “Dual-Use Items Control List” was also updated.
Regulated rare earths
- Samarium (Sm) Related
- Metallic samarium and samarium alloys (e.g., samarium-cobalt)
- Samarium-containing target materials (e.g., samarium targets, samarium-cobalt targets)
- Permanent magnet materials (e.g., samarium-cobalt magnets)
- Samarium oxide and samarium compounds
- Gadolinium (Gd) Related
- Metallic gadolinium and alloys (e.g., gadolinium-magnesium)
- Gadolinium-containing target materials
- Gadolinium oxide and compounds
- Terbium (Tb) Related
- Metallic terbium and alloys (e.g., terbium-cobalt)
- Terbium-containing neodymium-iron-boron magnets
- Terbium oxide and compounds
- Dysprosium (Dy) Related
- Metallic dysprosium and alloys (e.g., dysprosium-iron)
- Dysprosium-containing neodymium-iron-boron magnets
- Dysprosium oxide and compounds
- Lutetium (Lu) Related
- Metallic lutetium and alloys (e.g., ytterbium-lutetium alloys)
- Lutetium-containing target materials
- Lutetium oxide and compounds
- Scandium (Sc) Related
- Metallic scandium and alloys (e.g., scandium-aluminum)
- Scandium target materials
- Scandium oxide and compounds
- Yttrium (Y) Related
- Metallic yttrium and alloys (e.g., yttrium-aluminum)
- Yttrium-containing target materials
- Yttrium oxide and compounds
Requirements for Companies
Exporters of the above items must apply for permission from the competent commercial department of the State Council in accordance with the relevant provisions of “Export Control Law” and the “Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items.” Exporters must enhance item identification and clearly indicate in the remark’s column during customs clearance whether the items fall under the regulated categories. If they do, the dual-use item export control code must be included. If there are any doubts about the listed content, customs will investigate according to the law, and the export goods will not be cleared during the investigation period.
The original text of the “Notice on Export Restrictions for Certain Medium and Heavy Rare Earth-Related Substances” can be viewed at the following URL (in Simplified Chinese):
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2025/art_9c2108ccaf754f22a34abab2fedaa944.html
