China has maintained its export ban on rare earth products for Japanese military use.

January announcement and 9 June reaffirmation.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced in January an export ban covering dual-use goods, including rare earth-based products, according to the original source article and Mining.com . The sources describe a measure linked to a stated destination, namely Japanese military use . The Northern Miner reports the same scope and refers to dual-use goods including rare earth elements, for both civil and military use .

On 9 June 2026, China reaffirmed that this export ban remained in force, according to the original source article . Mining.com states that the reminder followed reports that the United States had asked Beijing to lift the measure . The outlet attributes the statement to Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Mining.com reports that Lin Jian reiterated that rare earths remain classified as "dual-use materials" under Chinese law, under rules prohibiting their export to the Japanese government for military purposes . The original source article repeats the description of "dual-use materials" cited by the spokesperson .

Stated scope of the dual-use goods.

The scope mentioned by the sources concerns dual-use goods, including products manufactured from rare earth elements or rare earth-based products, covered by China's January announcement . Mining.com reports that the ban announced by China's Ministry of Commerce concerns items intended for the Japanese government for military purposes .

On 9 June 2026, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that rare earths remain classified as "dual-use materials" under Chinese law, according to Mining.com . The Northern Miner describes the same scope as dual-use items, including goods made with rare earth elements and capable of both civil and military use .

The sources available in the file do not publish a detailed list of products, tariff subheadings, HS codes, CN codes or TARIC codes associated with this measure .

Chinese rare earth volumes in May.

Reuters, as carried by Kitco, states that Chinese rare earth exports reached 5,490 tonnes in May 2026, the highest level since January according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China cited by the agency . The volume was up 3.4% from the previous month, after 5,309 tonnes in April 2026 . The same source gives a level of 5,864 tonnes in May 2025 .

Mining.com also notes that the latest Chinese customs data show a four-month high in rare earth exports in May, while remaining below the comparable period of the previous year . Reuters, as carried by Kitco, adds that cumulative exports from January to May 2026 stood at 25,378 tonnes, up 2.2% year on year . The Reuters article attributes the monthly increase to overseas stock rebuilding ahead of the seasonal summer slowdown from July . The data carried by Kitco do not break down these volumes by destination, by element or by export procedure in the published passage .

Available sources and documentary limits.

The file does not contain the full text of China's January announcement; it includes a summary stating that China's Ministry of Commerce announced an export ban on dual-use goods, including rare earth-based products, intended for Japanese military use . Mining.com also reports this January announcement and states that China's Ministry of Commerce presented it as an export ban on dual-use goods including rare earth elements .

The file does not contain a customs nomenclature, product list or regulatory annex linked to this measure . Mining.com states that the 9 June 2026 statement followed a Bloomberg question to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about a Nikkei article concerning a US request to resume sales to Japan . The Northern Miner also covered the issue on 9 June 2026, but the extract available in the file breaks off during the description of the January ban .

The volume data cited in the file come from a Reuters article carried by Kitco: Chinese rare earth exports reached 5,490 tonnes in May 2026, against 5,309 tonnes in April and 5,864 tonnes in May 2025, according to Chinese customs data cited by Reuters .