Highlights

• Chinese rare earth magnet exports to the US fell sharply in May 2025, driven by escalating trade tensions.
• Beijing is using rare earth magnets as strategic leverage, targeting US supply chains in retaliation for trade policies.
• The US faces urgent challenges to develop domestic rare earth magnet production and reduce dependence on Chinese imports.

Chinese rare earth magnet exports fell sharply in May 2025, with shipments to the United States experiencing the steepest drop yet—clear fallout from the escalating trade war launched by President Donald Trump in April.

According to Bloomberg, (opens in a new tab) China’s outbound trade in rare earth magnets, which are critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense systems, and consumer electronics, has entered a sharp contraction phase. While exports to other nations declined modestly, shipments to the U.S. plummeted as Chinese authorities tightened export controls and signal retaliation for Washington’s sweeping tariffs and escalating decoupling efforts.

Clearly, China has targeted the United States in this response.

This export dip confirms what Rare Earth Exchanges (REEx) has long warned: the U.S. remains dangerously exposed to China’s dominance in rare earth permanent magnets. While the Trump administration races to ramp up domestic mining and processing under the Defense Production Act, capacity gaps in alloying and sintering technologies remain stark. Supply shocks are now a present threat, not a future risk.

May’s export slump highlights how geopolitics—not market fundamentals—now dictate the flow of rare earths. Beijing has made it clear that it views rare earths as a strategic leverage. This latest trade data signals that it’s not bluffing.

Bottom Line

With rare earth magnet shipments to the U.S. in free fall, Washington faces a critical test. The race is on to de-risk supply chains, support domestic production, and ensure allied cooperation before China’s grip tightens further.