lanthanides.io

Pricing intelligence for rare earths, rare metals & semiconductor materials

Recent News

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2026-04-03 In Force Sm Gd Tb Dy Lu Sc Y Ho Tm Eu Er Yb
China's invisible rare earth wall: why suspended controls don't mean available supply
Analysis of the six-layer domestic regulatory architecture — production quotas, SOE duopoly, mandatory traceability, customs enforcement, VAT structure, and regulatory ambiguity — that constrains rare earth trade regardless of whether MOFCOM export controls are formally active. Heavy REE mining quotas frozen at 19,150 t for six years; 80.7% of historical thulium supply was illegally produced; customs enforcement cases up 248% in 2025.
State Council Order No. 785, Rare Earth Management Regulations Zhang et al., Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2024 MOFCOM/GAC enforcement data, 2025
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2026-02-24 In Force
China sanctions 15 Japanese defence entities
MOFCOM designates 15 Japanese companies as "unreliable entities," prohibiting export of controlled items (including all dual-use minerals). Retaliatory measure following Japan's Jan 2026 prohibition order targeting Chinese semiconductor firms.
MOFCOM Announcement No. 17 of 2026 Reuters, 'China retaliates with sanctions on Japanese defence firms,' 24 Feb 2026
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2026-01-06 In Force Ga Ge Sb W Te Bi Mo In Sm Gd Tb Dy Lu Sc Y
Japan prohibited from receiving Chinese dual-use exports
China prohibits export of dual-use items to Japan, citing Japan's restrictions on semiconductor equipment to China. Covers gallium, germanium, antimony, rare earths, and all items on China's dual-use export control list. First country-wide prohibition order since the US ban in Dec 2024.
MOFCOM Announcement No. 1 of 2026 Japan METI semiconductor export controls, effective Jul 2023, expanded Dec 2025

Key Developments

7 REE export licences required (Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Lu, Sc, Y) In Force

Metals, alloys, oxides, compounds, and permanent magnets all covered. Licence review takes up to 45 working days with end-use certification

Sm Gd Tb Dy Lu Sc Y MOFCOM/GAC Ann. No. 18/2025

W, Te, Bi, Mo, In added to dual-use export control list In Force

Licence required for all exports. Te and W most impacted — Te supply is inelastic (Cu byproduct), W is 82% Chinese production

W Te Bi Mo In MOFCOM/GAC Ann. No. 10/2025

Ga/Ge/Sb US military end-use ban permanent In Force

Art. 1 of No. 46/2024 prohibits Ga, Ge, Sb exports for US military end-use. Never suspended. Blanket US ban (Art. 2) suspended until Nov 2026

Ga Ge Sb MOFCOM Ann. No. 46/2024, Art. 1

Oct 2025 escalation suspended until 28 Nov 2026 Suspended

All six Oct 2025 announcements (Nos. 55–58, 61, 62) paused. Underlying licence requirements remain in force. If not renewed, controls revert to pre-Oct 2025 baseline