China's rare earth exports grind to a halt as trade war controls bite

Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 31, 2010. REUTERS

Shipments of seven rare earths placed on an export control list last week by Beijing have ground to halt, three sources said, raising the risk of shortages overseas as Chinese exporters begin the long, uncertain wait for government licences.

Shipments stopped on Apr 4, the sources familiar with the matter said, when Beijing restricted the export of seven rare earths and related material used across the defence, energy and automotive industries as part of its retaliation against US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes on Chinese goods.

Exporters must now apply to the Ministry of Commerce for licences, a relatively opaque process that can range from six or seven weeks to several months. Reuters reported last month there had been no antimony exports to European Union countries since China put the metal on a control list in September.

"When asked by my clients when their cargoes will be able to leave China, we give them an estimated time of 60 days but it may actually take longer than that," said a China rare earth trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the topic's sensitivity.

If the freeze lasted longer than two months, then the typical stockpiles built up by customers could deplete, they said, adding it could be especially difficult for US clients to get export licences given the escalating trade war between the superpowers.

China produces some 90 percent of the world's rare earths and the export restrictions demonstrate how Beijing can weaponise that control to all but sever supply of the vital elements to users around the world.

However, the export controls are also likely to chip away at China's dominance because they will force overseas buyers to accelerate their diversification away from China, even if that process is likely to be lengthy.

Several Chinese rare earth sellers have already declared force majeure on their contracts with overseas buyers, according to two analysts. Cargoes already at port waiting for shipment have been barred from leaving if they have not cleared customs, they added.

It is unclear how many cargoes scheduled for shipment have been affected.

China's commerce ministry and customs department did not respond to faxed questions from Reuters outside of office hours.