Export Controls and Restrictions on Critical Minerals
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China has put export licensing on gallium, germanium, graphite, antimony, tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium and seven medium and heavy rare earths since August 2023. In November 2025 it suspended its October 2025 rare earth measures until 10 November 2026 and its December 2024 prohibition on gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard material exports to the United States until 27 November 2026. The licensing itself, including the April 2025 rare earth controls, was not suspended.
10 Nov 2026
end of the suspension of China's October 2025 rare earth and related measures
Source: MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 70
27 Nov 2026
end of the suspension of the US-specific gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials ban
Source: MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 72
$9.80 to $25
antimony price per pound, August 2024 to the 2025 average
-67%
US imports of germanium metal in 2025 after China's December 2024 ban
Which Chinese export controls are in force and which are suspended?
Most of China's controls remain in force, and two sets are suspended with fixed end dates. The table lists each control, its source and its status as of 12 October 2026. China's statement of 28 September 2026 extended its US trade arrangements to 10 January 2027 without naming rare earths, so the November 2026 dates may move.
| Control | Effective | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gallium and germanium licensing | 1 August 2023 | In force. We found no announcement lifting it. |
| Graphite licensing | 1 December 2023 | In force. We found no announcement lifting it. |
| Antimony and superhard materials licensing | 15 September 2024 | MOFCOM's regulations database marks the original announcement as no longer in force without saying why. We found no announcement lifting antimony licensing; check before relying on it. |
| Tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium licensing | 4 February 2025 | In force. USGS recorded the licensing effects through 2025. |
| Seven medium and heavy rare earths (samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium) | 4 April 2025 | In force. Not named in the November 2025 suspension. |
| Further rare earths and related measures (Announcements 55 to 58, 61, 62) | 9 October 2025 | Suspended until 10 November 2026. |
| Ban on gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard material exports to the US | 3 December 2024 | Paragraph 2 suspended until 27 November 2026. The ban on exports to US military users is not suspended. |
Sources: MOFCOM announcements 2023/23, 2023/39, 2024/33, 2024/46, 2025/10, 2025/18, 2025/70 and 2025/72; USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
What export controls have governments imposed on critical minerals?
The tracker lists 16 events from 2012 to 2026, newest first. Each entry links to the official notice where one exists, and to USGS or WTO documents for the effects. Filter by country or type, and select a row for the details.
Showing all 16 events. Select a row to expand it.
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How did the controls move prices and trade?
Export controls changed prices and trade volumes within months, and USGS recorded the largest moves in antimony, tungsten, bismuth, tellurium and germanium. The figures below are USGS's own, from its 2026 commodity chapters.
| Mineral | Control | Effect recorded by USGS |
|---|---|---|
| Antimony | Licensing from September 2024; US ban from December 2024 | Monthly price rose from $9.80 per pound in August 2024 to $18.10 in December 2024. The 2025 average was $25, more than double 2024, with a peak of $27.50 in June 2025. |
| Tungsten | Licensing from February 2025 | Rotterdam 65% concentrate rose from $266 to $551 per metric tonne unit in 2025, and ammonium paratungstate from $331 to $675. |
| Bismuth | Licensing from February 2025 | Monthly price peaked at $34.22 per pound in March 2025; the 2025 average of $20 was almost four times 2024. |
| Tellurium | Licensing from February 2025 | Average price in Europe rose 84% to $150 per kilogram, and 60% to $120 in US warehouses; a license typically took about 45 days. |
| Germanium | Licensing from August 2023; US ban from December 2024 | US imports of germanium metal fell 67% in 2025. The price in Europe rose from $3,150 to $5,380 per kilogram between January and October 2025. |
| Indium | Licensing from February 2025 | Exports of unwrought indium fell 72% year on year to September 2025. |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 chapters on antimony, tungsten, bismuth, tellurium, germanium and indium.
What has the WTO decided?
The WTO has ruled on two mineral export restrictions, and neither ruling has settled the wider question. In the rare earths case (DS431), the panel and Appellate Body reports of 2014 were adopted on 29 August 2014 and China notified implementation on 20 May 2015. In the nickel case (DS592), a panel concluded on 30 November 2022 that Indonesia's export prohibition and domestic processing requirement breach GATT Article XI:1 and are not justified under Article XX(d), but Indonesia appealed on 8 December 2022 and the WTO reported that no Appellate Body division was available to hear the appeal.
Frequently asked questions
What critical minerals does China restrict for export?
China requires export licenses for gallium, germanium, graphite, antimony, tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium and seven medium and heavy rare earths: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. The controls were introduced between August 2023 and April 2025.
Are China's rare earth export controls suspended?
Only part of them. China suspended its October 2025 rare earth and related measures until 10 November 2026, but the April 2025 licensing of seven medium and heavy rare earths was not suspended. On 28 September 2026 China said its US trade arrangements run to 10 January 2027, without naming rare earths.
Did China ban gallium, germanium and antimony exports to the US?
China announced in December 2024 that licenses for gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to the US would in principle not be granted. It suspended that paragraph on 9 November 2025 until 27 November 2026, and US germanium metal imports had already fallen 67% in 2025.
Which countries other than China restrict mineral exports?
Indonesia bans nickel ore and bauxite exports, Zimbabwe banned lithium ore in 2022 and plans to ban lithium concentrates from January 2027, the Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from a cobalt export ban to quotas in October 2025, and Russia restricted enriched uranium exports to the United States in November 2024.
Sources
Read on October 12, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 70 (suspension to 10 November 2026). Chinese-language text read in a browser
- MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 72 (suspension to 27 November 2026). Chinese-language text read in a browser
- MOFCOM Announcement 2023 No. 23 (gallium and germanium)
- MOFCOM Announcement 2023 No. 39 (graphite)
- MOFCOM Announcement 2024 No. 33 (antimony and superhard materials). Text read; the regulations database flags it as no longer in force without explanation
- MOFCOM Announcement 2024 No. 46 (dual-use items to the United States)
- MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 10 (tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium)
- MOFCOM Announcement 2025 No. 18 (medium and heavy rare earths)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (antimony, bauxite, bismuth, cobalt, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, rare earths, tellurium, tungsten). Chapters downloaded and read; each is linked in the tracker
- WTO disputes DS431 and DS592. Panel report conclusions of DS592 read; DS431 page read
- RAWMATERIALS.net: China confirms extension of trade arrangements with the US. Press report; the MOFCOM statement itself was not found
- World Nuclear News: Russia places tit-for-tat ban on US uranium exports (18 November 2024). Press report of the Russian government announcement
- Mining Technology: Zimbabwe to ban export of lithium concentrates from 2027 (11 June 2025). Press report; the 2022 ore ban is mentioned in the same article
Related topics
Why China Dominates Processing
The industrial position that gives export controls their force.
Resource Nationalism
Why producers ban ore exports to build domestic processing.
Sanctions and Compliance
The rules buyers must follow beyond export controls.
Friendshoring and Partnerships
How importing countries respond.
