A Significant Drop in China’s Exports of Rare-Earth Minerals to Japan

China’s exports of rare-earth minerals to Japan saw a notable decline in March amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

According to data from the Chinese Customs Administration released on Monday, shipments of magnets to Japan fell by 17% compared with February, reaching about 184 tons—its lowest level in nine months.

Exports of intermediate materials—including oxides—also recorded a sharp drop of nearly 90% during the same month, Bloomberg reported.

The decline comes after escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, following remarks by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan in the late months of last year, prompting China to impose stricter limits on its exports to Japan.