Lavanya
Oct 30, 2025
Date Published: October 9, 2025
Effective Date: November 8, 2025
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has announced a major update to its Rare Earth Elements (REE) export control regime, adding five additional high-value elements to the restricted list. This move strengthens China’s strategic position across global high-tech and clean energy supply chains, directly impacting industries from electric vehicles to semiconductors.
Key Update: Five Rare Earth Elements Added to China’s Export Control List
As of November 8, 2025, the following heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) are now subject to export restrictions under MOFCOM’s expanded control measures:
Element | Symbol | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Holmium | Ho (67) | 7440-60-0 | HREE | Effective November 8, 2025 |
Erbium | Er (68) | 7440-52-0 | HREE | Effective November 8, 2025 |
Thulium | Tm (69) | 7440-30-4 | HREE | Effective November 8, 2025 |
Europium | Eu (63) | 7440-53-1 | HREE | Effective November 8, 2025 |
Ytterbium | Yb (70) | 7440-64-4 | HREE | Effective November 8, 2025 |
Source: MOFCOM Official Notice
Overview of the Regulation
Name of Regulation: Rare Earth Elements Export Control Expansion
Framework Affected: Rare Earth Elements (REE)
Regions Affected: Global
China’s latest move extends its export controls to cover additional rare earth elements critical to high-tech manufacturing. This decision reinforces China’s dominant influence over global supply chains for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, semiconductors, and defense applications.
By expanding restrictions, MOFCOM aims to tighten oversight on materials considered vital for strategic technologies including AI, optics, and advanced manufacturing systems.
Industries Affected
This regulatory shift affects a wide range of high-value industries, including:
Automotive (particularly electric vehicles and battery production)
Defense and Aerospace
Optics and Telecommunications
Medical Devices
Lighting and Display Technologies
Electronics and Semiconductors
Renewable Energy and Wind Turbines
Industry Impact and Strategic Implications
1. Supply Chain Disruptions
Manufacturers reliant on Chinese rare earth exports may face delays, increased costs, and restricted access to key materials.
2. Sector-Specific Effects
Industries such as electronics, EVs, defense, and renewable energy are expected to experience the greatest pressure due to the critical role of REEs in component manufacturing.
3. Global Sourcing Shifts
Expect a surge in sourcing diversification, recycling initiatives, and material substitution research as companies reduce dependency on Chinese suppliers.
4. Geopolitical Context
The timing of this announcement aligns with ongoing international trade negotiations, underscoring the geopolitical leverage of rare earth materials in technology and defense economies.
How Companies Can Prepare
With regulation changes accelerating across global markets, manufacturers must act quickly to:
Identify impacted materials within their Bill of Materials (BOM)
Communicate with suppliers for updated sourcing certifications
Model supply risk scenarios to evaluate potential disruptions
Leverage AI-powered compliance systems like Certivo for continuous regulatory monitoring
Certivo’s CORA, the AI compliance assistant, tracks evolving regulations like MOFCOM’s export controls in real time — giving teams actionable visibility into how changes affect sourcing, production, and market access.
Stay Ahead of Rare Earth Regulation Changes
Regulatory dynamics around rare earth elements are reshaping global manufacturing and trade strategy. Companies that maintain proactive compliance visibility will be better equipped to mitigate risk and sustain production continuity.
Stay informed. Stay compliant. Stay ahead with Certivo.
Lavanya
Lavanya is an accomplished Product Compliance Engineer with over four years of expertise in global environmental and regulatory frameworks, including REACH, RoHS, Proposition 65, POPs, TSCA, PFAS, CMRT, FMD, and IMDS. A graduate in Chemical Engineering from the KLE Institute, she combines strong technical knowledge with practical compliance management skills across diverse and complex product portfolios.
She has extensive experience in product compliance engineering, ensuring that materials, components, and finished goods consistently meet evolving international regulatory requirements. Her expertise spans BOM analysis, material risk assessments, supplier declaration management, and test report validation to guarantee conformity. Lavanya also plays a key role in design-for-compliance initiatives, guiding engineering teams on regulatory considerations early in the product lifecycle to reduce risks and streamline market access.
Her contributions further extend to compliance documentation, certification readiness, and preparation of customer deliverables, ensuring transparency and accuracy for global stakeholders. She is adept at leveraging compliance tools and databases to efficiently track regulatory changes and implement proactive risk mitigation strategies.
Recognized for her attention to detail, regulatory foresight, and collaborative approach, Lavanya contributes significantly to maintaining product compliance, safeguarding brand integrity, and advancing sustainability goals within dynamic, globally integrated manufacturing environments.