China January-February rare earth exports up 23% on-year, customs data shows

BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) - China's exports of rare earths in the first two months of 2026 rose 23% from a year earlier, data showed on Tuesday.

KEY DETAILS

* Exports of the group of 17 minerals from the world'slargest rare earths producer came in at 10,468.3 metric tons inJanuary and February, data from the General Administration ofCustoms showed. * China combines data for January and February to smooth outthe impact of the Lunar New Year holiday. * China's second-ranking official, Premier Li Qiang,inspected rare earths facilities in the southern province ofJiangxi last month, using the visit to hint at intensifyingcompetition with the U.S. over strategic minerals. * A Chinese metals industry body will hold a policy briefingon March 25 in Beijing on rare earths and other criticalminerals exports, as Beijing tightens controls on strategicmaterials and steps up oversight of dual-use goods. * China's rare earths exports in 2025 hit their highestlevel since at least 2014, even as Beijing began restrictingshipments of several medium-to-heavy elements in April.

(Reporting by Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Sonali Paul and Ronojoy Mazumdar)