China's exports of rare earths rose in October, customs data showed on Tuesday, with shipments of the minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence technology climbing 2.7% from September.

The world's largest rare earth producer shipped out 4,386 metric tons of the group of 17 minerals in October, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. That compared with 4,269.8 tons in September and was up 1% from 4,343.5 tons in the same month a year earlier.

Year-to-date exports still lower

Over the first ten months of 2026, China exported 48,097 tons of rare earths, an annual fall of 8.7%. The decline has narrowed from the 9.6% drop recorded over January to September, suggesting overseas buying has steadied after a summer lull.

China dominates the global rare earth supply chain. It mines roughly 69% of the world's rare earth oxide and refines about 85% of global output, according to International Energy Agency data, giving its export figures outsized importance for manufacturers far beyond its borders. It also makes about 94% of sintered neodymium magnets and produces about 98% of primary gallium, a related critical material.

The flow of shipments has been uneven this year. September's exports of 4,269.8 tons were up 6.7% on a year earlier, and the value of exports over January to September rose 40.5% to 3.45 billion yuan even as volumes fell, pointing to higher prices for the material that did ship. Japan's industry ministry said on 22 October that exports of yttrium, one of the controlled heavy rare earths, had stalled worldwide, with September shipments to Japan of just 4 tons against 51 tons a year earlier.

Export controls pause expires today

The October figures arrive on the day a one-year pause on China's broadest rare earth export controls is due to expire. Beijing suspended six export-control notices in November 2025 under Announcement No. 70, and that suspension runs until 10 November 2026.

The pause never covered the licensing regime China imposed in April 2025 on seven medium and heavy rare earths, including dysprosium and terbium, which still requires a licence for every export. Washington has said the wider US-China trade truce now runs to 10 January 2027, but Beijing had not published matching legal text extending the suspension as of mid-October.

Manufacturers and governments will be watching closely for any new notice from China's commerce ministry, and for the country breakdown of October's shipments, which customs publishes later in the month.