China Halts Rare Earth Exports to Japan Since December

China has stopped shipments of several heavy rare earth minerals and gallium to Japan for at least four months, according to Chinese customs data released on May 23. The affected materials include dysprosium, terbium, yttrium oxide and gallium. These substances are used in magnet production, aerospace, defense and semiconductor manufacturing.

Japan is the largest producer of rare earth magnets outside China and relies on Chinese supplies for these inputs.

The suspension began shortly after a diplomatic disagreement over Taiwan surfaced in November. Since December, only a few small shipments of yttrium have continued. Chinese customs statistics confirm the near-total cutoff of the listed materials to Japanese buyers.

The current situation follows a similar episode in 2010 when China restricted rare earth exports during a territorial dispute with Japan.