China's rare-earth magnet exports to US take a dip, but global shipments surge
In November 2025, China's rare-earth magnet exports to the US dropped by 11%, falling from 656 to 582 metric tons.
But here's the twist: while sales to America dipped, China actually reached the second-highest level ever for total rare-earth magnet exports worldwide—up 12% from October.
The bigger picture? China's overall rare-earth exports jumped over 26% last month, even after tightening export rules earlier this year that hit US shipments hard.
What's going on with these export controls?
China has been adding more heavy rare-earth elements to its export restrictions—five more joined the list in October, but these rules are suspended until late 2026.
To keep things moving (and avoid red tape), China just rolled out a new "general license" system on December 18.
This should make it easier for approved exporters to keep shipping essential materials used in everything from electric cars to defense tech—even as the global supply game gets trickier.
Why does this matter?
If you care about tech—like EVs or gadgets—or just want to know how global politics can shake up what goes into your favorite devices, this is worth keeping an eye on.
These shifts show how closely linked technology and international policy really are right now.