Summary: China’s rare-earth exports reached 4,269.8 tonnes in September 2026, up 6.7% from a year earlier, while cumulative exports for January through September remained 9.6% below the comparable 2025 period. The monthly rebound does not by itself show that every magnet material or controlled product became easier to source.
September exports rise as year-to-date volume stays lower
Shanghai Metals Market reported customs data showing that China exported 4,269.8 tonnes of rare earths in September 2026, an increase of 6.7% year on year. For the first nine months of the year, exports totaled 43,711.2 tonnes, down 9.6% from the same period in 2025.
The two comparisons describe different time frames. September improved against both the prior month and September 2025, but the cumulative total still shows that export volume across the first three quarters remained below last year’s level. Buyers should therefore avoid treating one stronger month as proof of a sustained recovery.
Imports also edged lower
China imported 6,804.7 tonnes of rare earths in September, 0.9% less than a year earlier. January-through-September imports totaled 76,982.5 tonnes, a decline of 2.4% year on year, according to the same SMM summary.
These figures aggregate rare-earth trade by customs categories. They do not show the availability of a specific oxide, alloy or finished magnet grade, and they should not be used as a direct proxy for neodymium-iron-boron magnet shipments. Licensing, product specifications, contract terms and destination-specific requirements can still affect individual supply chains.
What procurement teams can take from the data
For B2B magnet buyers, the report is most useful as a broad flow indicator. A monthly increase may ease some immediate concern, but the lower year-to-date export total supports continued attention to lead times and qualified alternatives.
Companies using NdFeB or SmCo magnets should track the materials that matter to their own grades, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium, samarium and cobalt where applicable. They should also confirm whether supplier quotations depend on export licensing or other controls, and maintain realistic safety-stock and second-source plans rather than relying on headline tonnage alone.
Source: Shanghai Metals Market summary of customs data, October 16, 2026.