China has cut Japan off from several heavy rare earths and other materials for at least four months, coinciding with a dispute between the two countries over Taiwan, suggesting Beijing is using its control over critical minerals as diplomatic leverage.
Japan is the largest rare earth magnet maker outside China but like the rest of the world, it is overwhelmingly dependent on Beijing for imports of certain so-called heavy rare earths used in magnet-making, aerospace and defence, as well as gallium, a minor metal vital for chip-making.
Since December, Chinese exports of rare earth minerals like dysprosium, terbium and yttrium oxide, as well as speciality metal gallium, to Japan have stopped except for a few tiny shipments of yttrium, shows Chinese custom data.
Major Japanese magnet maker Shin-Etsu 4063.T has stopped accepting new orders for dysprosium-containing magnets, according to a customer.
The halt to exports, which began shortly after a diplomatic row over Taiwan erupted in November, is similar to Beijing’s throttling of exports of such materials to the U.S. during the current trade war.
Beijing tightened export controls to Japan in January, and then twice again the following month, targeting major conglomerates including the shipbuilding and aero engine divisions of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T.
High-Level Talks Underway
Japan’s Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa, currently in China, is scheduled to attend meetings on Saturday. He is the most senior Japanese official to visit China since the dispute erupted.
Tokyo is taking measures such as releasing stockpiled supplies where necessary, said an official at the Japanese industry ministry, adding that the government is aware of concerns over rising prices and tightening supplies.
Japan Better Prepared This Time
Japanese companies are better insulated from the pressure campaign after a similar slowdown in Chinese exports of rare earth minerals in 2010 prompted the building of stockpiles, said David Merriman, research director at Project Blue.
They have also sought to curb usage of heavy rare earths in magnets and look for alternatives.
China continues to export normal quantities of the finished rare earth magnets used by the automotive industry and other industrial companies.
Components manufacturer TDK 6762.T told reporters it currently doesn’t expect any major impact and is diversifying its supply sources.
Mitsubishi Motors said in February it had secured rare earths until mid-year.
Japan has helped fund alternative producers such as Australia-based Lynas Rare Earths, which last year became the first commercial producer of separated terbium and dysprosium outside of China. It has also launched rare earth projects in Australia and France and a gallium project in Australia.
However, it is likely to take years to replace Chinese supply for heavy rare earths. In the first quarter of 2026, Lynas produced 8 metric tons of dysprosium and terbium. China exported about 14 tons a month of the two minerals to Japan in 2024.
(with input from Reuters)