China’s trade limits continue to bite into Japan’s imports of rare earths, other minerals

China’s exports of key materials to Japan remained on a downward trend in August, with shipment volume of rare earth magnets falling 17.1 per cent from a year earlier, according to the latest customs data.

China exported about 212 tonnes of rare earth permanent magnets to Japan last month, down from nearly 256 tonnes a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data released on Sunday. That followed a 52.2 per cent year-on-year plunge in July.

Other rare earth products and critical materials also recorded declines last month. Exports of rare earth metals to Japan fell 11.2 per cent year on year, while exports of rare earth compounds dropped 48 per cent. Exports of natural flake graphite and other natural graphite fell 36.5 per cent and 77.1 per cent, respectively, while exports of unwrought tungsten plunged 94.7 per cent.