China Announces the Decision to Implement Export Control on Some Medium and Heavy Rare Earth-Related Items

China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 18 of 2025 Announces the Decision to Implement Export Control on Some Medium and Heavy Rare Earth-Related Items

[Issuing unit] Security and Control Bureau

[Issuing document number] Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 18 of 2025

[Issuing date] April 4, 2025

By the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and in order to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, with the approval of the State Council, it is decided to implement export controls on the following items:

I. Samarium-related items

(I) 1C902.a Samarium metal, alloys containing samarium and related products:

1. Samarium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301910).

2. Alloys containing samarium:

a. Samarium-cobalt alloy;

b. Samarium iron alloy;

c. Samarium nickel alloy;

d. Samarium aluminum alloy;

e. Samarium-magnesium alloy.

3. Target materials containing samarium (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Samarium target;

b. Samarium-cobalt alloy target;

c. Samarium-iron alloy target.

4. Samarium cobalt permanent magnet material.

(II) 1C902.b Samarium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901940, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C902.c Samarium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

II. Gadolinium-related items

(I) 1C903.a Gadolinium metal, gadolinium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Gadolinium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301910).

2. Gadolinium-containing alloys:

a. Gadolinium magnesium alloy;

b. Gadolinium aluminum alloy.

3. Target materials containing gadolinium (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Gadolinium target;

b. Gadolinium-iron alloy target;

c. Gadolinium-cobalt alloy target.

(II) 1C903.b Gadolinium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901930, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C903.c Gadolinium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

III. Terbium-related items

(I) 1C904.a Terbium metal, terbium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Terbium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301300).

2. Alloys containing terbium:

a. Terbium cobalt alloy;

b. Terbium-cobalt-iron alloy.

3. Target materials containing terbium (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Terbium target;

b. Terbium-cobalt alloy target.

4. NdFeB permanent magnet material containing terbium.

(II) 1C904.b Terbium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901600, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C904.c Terbium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902100, 2846902810, 2846903100, 2846903910, 2846904200, 2846904820, 2846909300, 2846909920, 3824999922).

IV. Dysprosium-related items

(I) 1C905.a Dysprosium metal, dysprosium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Dysprosium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301200).

2. Alloys containing dysprosium:

a. Dysprosium-iron alloy;

b. Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy.

3. Target materials containing dysprosium (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Dysprosium target;

b. Terbium-dysprosium-iron alloy target.

4. NdFeB permanent magnet material containing dysprosium.

(II) 1C905.b Dysprosium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901500, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C905.c Compounds containing dysprosium and their mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902200, 2846902810, 2846903200, 2846903910, 2846904300, 2846904820, 2846909400, 2846909920, 3824999922).

V. Lutetium-related items

(I) 1C906.a Lutetium metal, lutetium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Lutetium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301910).

2. Ytterbium and lutetium alloy.

3. Lutetium target (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110).

(II) 1C906.b Lutetium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901800, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C906.c Lutetium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

VI. Scandium-related items

(I) 1C907.a Scandium metal, alloys containing scandium, and related products:

1. Scandium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301800).

2. Alloys containing scandium:

a. Scandium aluminum alloy;

b. Scandium-magnesium alloy;

c. Scandium copper alloy.

3. Scandium target (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110).

(II) 1C907.b Scandium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901980, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C907.c Scandium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902810, 2846902910, 2846903910, 2846904820, 2846904910, 2846909920, 3824999922).

VII. Yttrium-related items

(I) 1C908.a Yttrium metal, yttrium-containing alloys, and related products:

1. Yttrium metal (reference customs commodity number: 2805301700).

2. Alloys containing yttrium:

a. Yttrium aluminum alloy;

b. Yttrium magnesium alloy;

c. Yttrium nickel alloy;

d. Yttrium copper alloy;

e. Yttrium iron alloy.

3. Target materials containing yttrium (reference customs commodity numbers: 3824999922, 8486909110):

a. Yttrium target;

b. Yttrium aluminum alloy target;

c. Yttrium-zirconium alloy target.

(II) 1C908.b Yttrium oxide and its mixtures (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846901100, 2846901993, 3824999922).

(III) 1C908.c Yttrium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof (reference customs commodity numbers: 2846902600, 2846902810, 2846903600, 2846903910, 2846904600, 2846904820, 2846909690, 2846909920, 3824999922).

Illustrate:

1. The alloys controlled by 1C902.a.2, 1C903.a.2, 1C904.a.2, 1C905.a.2, 1C906.a.2, 1C907.a.2, and 1C908.a.2 include ingots, blocks, bars, wires, sheets, rods, plates, tubes, granules, powders, etc.

2. The targets regulated by Items 1C902.a.3, 1C903.a.3, 1C904.a.3, 1C905.a.3, 1C906.a.3, 1C907.a.3 and 1C908.a.3 include those in the form of sheets, tubes, etc.

3. Permanent magnetic materials controlled by 1C902.a.4, 1C904.a.4, and 1C905.a.4 include magnets or magnetic powder.

4. The oxides, compounds, and mixtures thereof are regulated by Items 1C902.b, 1C902.c, 1C903.b, 1C903.c, 1C904.b, 1C904.c, 1C905.b, 1C905.c, 1C906.b, 1C906.c, 1C907.b, 1C907.c, 1C908.b, and 1C908.c include but are not limited to powders and the like.

Export operators who wish to export the above-mentioned items shall apply for a license from the State Council’s commerce department in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items.

Exporters should strengthen item identification and indicate whether they are controlled items in the remarks column when declaring. If they are controlled items, the export control code of dual-use items should be listed. If there are doubts about the above-mentioned information, the customs will question it according to law, and the export goods will not be released during the questioning period.

This announcement will be officially implemented from the date of publication. The Export Control List of Dual-Use Items of the People’s Republic of China will be updated simultaneously.

Ministry of Commerce General Administration of Customs

April 4, 2025