In August 2026, China exported 512 tonnes of rare-earth magnets to the United States. This volume represents a 21% decrease compared to the previous month and a 13% decline year-over-year.
The average monthly supply for the first half of 2026 reached 479 tonnes, which is approximately 20% lower than the pre-2025 average of 586 tonnes per month.
The decline in shipments precedes the September 24 meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The agenda for this summit includes trade issues, tariffs, and discussions regarding AI technology.
A trade truce established in October 2025 included Chinese commitments to restore mineral flows and suspend certain export controls. This suspension is set to expire on November 10, 2026.
China currently processes 85–90% of global rare-earth elements. While the US operates the Mountain Pass mine via MP Materials and funds processing initiatives, domestic output remains limited.
