China’s imports of rare earth ore from the United States surged sharply in July, likely reflecting the final batch of shipments from U.S. supplier MP Materials.
Data released Wednesday by China’s General Administration of Customs showed imports soared to 4,719 metric tons, rebounding from zero in June. The sudden jump fueled speculation in the market over the shipment source.
MP Materials, operator of the only rare earth mine in the U.S., has historically shipped ore to China for processing by minority shareholder Shenghe Resources. However, the company announced in April that it had halted shipments amid rising U.S.–China trade tensions over tariffs. Exports to China officially stopped in July, shortly after the U.S. Department of Defense became MP’s largest shareholder through a major investment.
Speaking to Reuters, MP confirmed its final shipments were sent during the second quarter, noting that “shipping delays, warehousing, and other factors can affect reporting.”
The timing of the import surge also matched a rebound in China’s rare earth magnet exports, which are crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense industries. Exports of rare earth magnets to the U.S. rose 75.5% month-over-month to 619 tons, 4.8% higher than the same period in 2024, customs data showed.
