China's rare earth exports jump 23% in May despite export curbs

China's April export curbs on several types of rare earths and rare earth magnets shut parts of the global auto industry and figured heavily in a rare telephone call last week between the leaders of the United States and China.

Rare earth exports of all kinds from the world's largest producer were up 23% in May versus April to stand at 5,864.60 tons, the highest monthly figure in a year.

The curbs do not cover all the many types of rare earth products that China exports. Monday's data does not distinguish among them, so a full picture of the curbs' impact will only be provided in a more detailed data release due on June 20.

Data released last month showed magnet exports fell by half in April. Several European auto parts plants were forced to stop production last week while semiconductor firms on the continent warned they were weeks away from also doing so.

In the first five months of 2025, exports of the group of 17 minerals rose marginally to 24,827 tons from 24,266.5 tons a year earlier, customs data showed.