China issues first batch of ‘general’ rare-earth export licences to magnet makers — country's stranglehold over industry continues, but tensions are easing
Early approvals cover major suppliers after a year of tighter controls.
(Image credit: Lynas Rare Earth)
China has issued the first round of streamlined rare-earth export licences to at least three permanent-magnet manufacturers, allowing them to accelerate shipments to selected overseas clients after months of stricter controls.
Reuters reports that JL Mag Rare Earth, Ningbo Yunsheng, and Beijing Zhong Ke San Huan High-Tech received approvals tied to individual customers on December 2. Beijing began designing the new system following the October 30 meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, which aimed to ease trade tensions after a year marked by successive layers of export restrictions.
The approvals represent the first use of what China is calling “general licences”, a shift from the case-by-case permissions that slowed exports throughout 2025. These licences run for a year and attach to specific downstream clients rather than entire product lines. JL Mag, one of the world’s largest sintered-magnet producers, can reportedly ship to nearly all of its customers. Ningbo Yunsheng and Zhong Ke San Huan, meanwhile, obtained narrower permissions covering part of their client lists. China’s Ministry of Commerce and the companies involved did not respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
The development comes after Beijing tightened its oversight over both rare-earth materials and finished magnet products in recent months. Those measures heightened scrutiny of technologies used in magnet fabrication and expanded categories requiring explicit approval. It also increased lead times as licensing evaluations grew more complex. The introduction of a standing, customer-specific licence is intended to shorten those timelines without dismantling the broader control structure that has built up around the sector.
Permanent magnets remain one of the most internationally exposed segments of China’s rare-earth industry. The country dominates global production, particularly in high-performance parts used in things like motors and generators. Year-to-date export data released in October showed that Chinese exports of rare-earth magnets totaled 45,290 tons, a 5.2% decline compared to the previous year.
What happens next depends on how many customers are added to the approved lists over the coming months. Because the licences are assigned to specific buyers, relief will arrive unevenly both across sectors and within them. Some larger manufacturers may see faster turnaround immediately, while others remain subject to slower reviews.
It’s also important to remember that while licenses are being granted, the underlying export-control framework remains intact. The first approvals provide a new track through it rather than an exemption from it, and any wider easing will become visible only as additional firms are granted licenses.
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Luke James is a freelance writer and journalist. Although his background is in legal, he has a personal interest in all things tech, especially hardware and microelectronics, and anything regulatory.
