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China Expands Export Controls on Middle and Heavy Rare Earth Elements
On October 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 57, formally expanding export controls to certain rare earth elements, also known as rare earths or REEs. This measure is one of six new regulations expanding China’s export controls on materials and technologies used in electronics manufacturing.
Key Takeaways of Announcement No. 57
Announcement No. 57 imposes restrictions on five middle and heavy rare earth elements: Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Europium (Eu), and Ytterbium (Yb). The measure extends beyond the raw minerals to include a wide range of processed forms and derivative materials such as metals, ingots, bars, powders, alloys, optical materials, sputtering targets, oxides, and compounds.
Beginning November 8, 2025, exporters must observe licensing requirements for covered materials, as well as updated rules for customs declarations.
Implications for Global Trade and Supply Chains
The materials restrictions under Announcement No. 57 are expected to expand compliance burdens across the global electronics, semiconductor, and defense sectors. Companies will want to identify the in-scope rare earths within their products and trace the origin of these materials. Exporters should factor in lead time for compliance with new licensing requirements.
As the new rules take effect, licensing and inspection processes may result in shipment delays, especially for semiconductors, magnets, optical components, and high-precision manufacturing equipment.
Conclusion
China’s Announcement No. 57 marks a major update to its rare earth export control regime. These element-level restrictions along with wider reforms to China’s export control framework signal a tighter regulatory landscape for global manufacturers. This is likely to further intensify supply chain constraints for rare earths, impacting the semiconductor, defense, and clean-energy sectors.
Early compliance planning, supplier engagement, and transparent disclosures will be key to navigating this evolving environment.
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Next Steps for Exporters and Multinational Firms
Activate your free trial of SiliconExpert to simplify these critical steps.
Conduct a Materials Audit
Identify whether your products contain any of the newly restricted elements.
Document Supply Chain Origin
Obtain supplier certifications regarding Chinese-origin rare earths.
Update Compliance Procedures
Adjust export classification, customs documentation, and internal labeling systems.
Coordinate Globally
Align with legal and trade compliance teams to avoid conflicting export obligations under other jurisdictions (e.g., U.S. EAR, EU Dual-Use).
Monitor Regulatory Updates
Expect further developments, given the current pace of change in export controls globally.
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