China Imposes Export Control on Goods Related to Lithium Batteries, Synthetic Graphite Anode Materials 
On Oct. 9, 2025, China’s General Administration of Customs and Ministry of Commerce announced export control on goods related to lithium batteries and synthetic graphite anode materials starting Nov. 8, 2025 (Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 58 of 2025).
The export control is based on the Export Control Law1, Foreign Trade Law2, Customs Law3 and Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-use Items4. The list of dual-use items subject to export control5 will be updated when the export control comes into effect.
Affected goods
- Items related to lithium batteries
- 3A001. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (including cells and battery packs) with a gravimetric energy density of 300 Wh/kg or higher (reference tariff code: 85076000)
- 3B901.a. Equipment used in rechargeable lithium-ion battery manufacturing
- Winding machines (reference tariff code: 84798999)
- Stacking machines (reference tariff code: 84798999)
- Electrolyte filling machines (reference tariff code: 84798999)
- Hot presses
- Formation and capacity test systems
- Capacity test cabinets
- 3E901.a．Technologies used in the production of items controlled under 3A001
- Items related to cathode materials
- 3C901.a.1. Lithium iron phosphate cathode materials with a compaction density of 2.5 g/cm3 or higher and a specific capacity of 156 mAh/g or higher (reference tariff code: 28429040)
- 3C901.a.2. Items related to precursors of ternary cathode materials
- Nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide (reference tariff code: 28539030)
- Nickel cobalt aluminum hydroxide (reference tariff code: 28539050)
- 3C901.a.3. Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials
- 3B901.b. Equipment used in the manufacturing of cathode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
- Roller kilns
- High-speed mixers
- Sand mills
- Jet mills
- Items related to graphite anode materials
- 3C901.b.1. Synthetic graphite anode materials
- 3C902.b.2. Anode materials composed of synthetic and natural graphite mixtures
- 3B901.c.1. Graphite granulation equipment used in graphite anode material production
- Vertical granulation reactors with a capacity of 5 m³ or more
- Continuous granulation reactors with a capacity of 5 m³ or more
- 3B901.c.2. Graphitization equipment used in graphite anode material production
- Box furnaces
- Acheson furnaces
- Lengthwise graphitization furnaces
- Continuous graphitization furnaces
- 3B901.c.3. Coating equipment used in graphite anode material production
- Fusion coating equipment with a capacity of 300 L or more
- Spray drying equipment with a capacity of 60 m³ or more
- Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) rotary furnace with a barrel diameter of greater than 0.5 m
- 3E901.b. Processes and technologies used in graphite anode material production
- Granulation processes
- Continuous graphitization technologies
- Wet coating technologies
Requirements for exporters
Exporters have to obtain a license from the commerce department of the State Council to export goods listed above.
Exporters are responsible for truthfulness regarding declared goods and required to identify their export goods appropriately. They must declare controlled goods as dual-use items and provide their dual-use item export control numbers in the remarks section of the declaration. For goods that are not controlled but have similar specifications or properties to controlled ones, they must state that they are not controlled goods and provide specific specification values in the remarks section.
If there is a doubt about the completeness, accuracy or truthfulness of the above information provided by an exporter, customs will make an inquiry according to the law and stop the goods during the inquiry.
The announcement of the export control (in Chinese) is available here:
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2025/art_79646f0161564975a938fe00fee158d5.html
1 出口管制法
2 对外贸易法
3 海关法
4 两用物项出口管制条例
5 两用物项出口管制清单
