At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on December 4, spokesperson He Yadong made a clear response regarding the export control of rare earth-related items. He emphasized that the Chinese government conducts relevant work in accordance with laws and regulations, promptly approves all compliant export applications for civilian use, and promotes compliant trade of dual-use items through facilitation measures such as general licenses, so as to safeguard the safety and stability of the global industrial and supply chains.
As a key material for strategic industries such as new energy and semiconductors, rare earth export control policies have always attracted international attention. This response sends a clear policy signal: under the premise of safeguarding national security, China will continue to fulfill its international trade responsibilities and provide stable support for the global industrial chain. Data shows that China’s rare earth export volume maintained steady growth in 2024, with exports to the civilian sector accounting for over 85%, mainly flowing to countries and regions with concentrated industries such as new energy vehicles and electronic manufacturing.
In the same period, related sectors in the capital market responded rationally: the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Index rose slightly by 0.3% on the day, and some leading enterprises’ stock prices strengthened against the market. Institutional analysis points out that MOFCOM’s statement helps ease market concerns about restricted rare earth exports. Especially against the backdrop of the accelerated development of the global new energy industry, the stable development of compliant rare earth trade will benefit the upstream and downstream industrial chains. At the same time, the consolidation of China’s domestic rare earth industry continues to advance. The improvement of industrial concentration and technological innovation and upgrading are driving China’s transformation from a major rare earth resource country to a powerful industrial country.
