China suspends rare earth exports to Japan in June

Key facts

• China exported no gallium, dysprosium, terbium, or yttrium to Japan in June 2026.
• The export restrictions followed a diplomatic rift triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan in November 2025.
• China introduced export controls on heavy rare earths in April 2025 and tightened them against Japan in January and February 2026.
• Japan hosts the world's largest rare earth magnet sector outside China and relies on Chinese inputs.
• Yttrium shortages caused by the controls are impacting the production of aircraft engine turbine blades.
• China's overall rare earth magnet exports rose to 5,649 metric tons in June 2026 from 4,730 tons in May.
• The United States (US) also received no rare earth exports from China for the second consecutive month in June 2026.