China Export Licence for Dy/Tb Magnets: Buyer's Guide

1. Who this is for

This guide is for buyers of sintered neodymium (NdFeB) magnets from China who want to understand the export licence that can apply to some grades. It explains the principle, not the legal text. The rules change, so treat the dates below as a snapshot and check the current MOFCOM and Chinese customs texts or ask a trade lawyer before you commit to a large order.

2. What is controlled

Under China's Announcement No. 18 of 2025 (4 April 2025), seven medium and heavy rare earths need an export licence: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium [1][2]. For magnet buyers the two that matter most are dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb), which are added to sintered NdFeB to raise coercivity and temperature resistance. Samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets are also affected because they contain samarium [2].

3. Which grades are exposed

Standard grades with no or very little Dy/Tb (typically the plain N series and many M grades) are the least exposed. The high-coercivity grades (H, SH, UH, EH, AH) usually rely on Dy or Tb and are the most exposed [2]. This is a tendency, not a rule: the exact recipe differs from factory to factory, and one source describes a batch sold as ordinary NdFeB that tested at 1.2% dysprosium [2]. Ask the factory to state in writing whether the grade you want contains Dy or Tb.

4. Who applies, and what the buyer provides

The licence is applied for by the Chinese exporter, not by the buyer. The authority decides on the file the exporter assembles, which normally includes technical details of the product, and end-user and end-use information from the buyer [1][2]. In practice you should expect to be asked who will use the magnets, for what, and in which country. Giving incomplete or vague answers is the quickest way to a delay.

5. Time and uncertainty

No source we reviewed gives a reliable licence time. Chinese rules are generally reported to allow a review period of up to 45 working days, and trade sources report real-world delays of several months for heavy rare earth licences. Plan the delivery date with this in mind and do not assume it will be quick. The exporter also carries the risk: in May 2026 a Chinese magnet maker was reported fined after a Dy-containing shipment was declared as a non-controlled item [2].

6. The suspended October 2025 measures

In October 2025 China announced a wider package (Announcements Nos. 55 to 58, 61 and 62), including an extraterritorial rule that would reach foreign-made products containing 0.1% or more Chinese-origin rare earth by value, and a technology control. On 7 November 2025 Announcement No. 70 suspended that package [1][3][4]. Several sources report that the suspension runs until 10 November 2026 [2]; we have not verified that date against the official text. It may be extended, lapse or return in a changed form. If your orders will ship near or after that date, build this uncertainty into the contract.

7. How to protect your order

• Ask whether the grade contains Dy or Tb, in writing, before you place the order.
• If it does, agree who applies for the licence, what documents you must supply, and from which date the delivery time starts.
• If you can accept a different grade without Dy/Tb, ask for it: it may avoid the licence step altogether.
• Ask for a composition test on a sample from the finished batch when the licence decision depends on it.
• Do not accept a fixed delivery date from a supplier that has not mentioned the licence.
• Keep your end-use documents ready and consistent with what you tell the supplier.

8. How Rami Technics handles it

When a grade may need a licence, we say so in the quotation and state the lead time including the licence step. We ask for the end-use information early and do not ship magnets that fail the agreed inspection. If you are unsure whether your grade is affected, send us the application, grade and quantity.

Frequently asked questions

Do my NdFeB magnets need a Chinese export licence?

It depends on the composition, not on the grade name or the HS code. Under China’s Announcement No. 18 of 2025, seven medium and heavy rare earths need a licence, including dysprosium and terbium. A magnet with Dy or Tb in it is in scope; the same shape without them is not. The high-coercivity grades (H, SH, UH, EH, AH) are the most exposed, so ask the factory to state in writing whether your grade contains them.

How long does the export licence take?

No source we reviewed gives a reliable time. Chinese rules are generally reported to allow a review period of up to 45 working days, and trade sources report real-world delays of several months for heavy rare earth licences. Plan the delivery date with this in mind and do not assume it will be quick.

How can I protect my order?

Ask in writing whether the grade contains Dy or Tb, agree who applies for the licence and from which date the delivery time starts, and accept a grade without Dy/Tb if you can. Do not accept a fixed delivery date from a supplier that has not mentioned the licence, and keep your end-use documents ready and consistent.

References

1. [1]  Landed Math (2026). China's rare earth controls are a licence regime, not a ban. https://landedmath.com/blog/china-rare-earth-export-controls-licence-regime/
2. [2]  MainRich Magnets (2026). Rare earth magnet export compliance in 2026. https://mainrichmagnets.com/rare-earth-magnet-export-compliance
3. [3]  Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. China suspends export controls on certain critical minerals and related items. https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/china-suspends-export-controls-certain-critical-minerals-related-items.html
4. [4]  Clark Hill. China hits “pause” on rare-earth export controls and what it means for supply chains. https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/china-hits-pause-on-rare-earth-export-controls-and-what-it-means-for-supply-chains/

Important notice: This guide is general information based on public secondary sources and is not legal advice. Chinese export control rules and their dates change often, and some details above (including the 10 November 2026 date) have not been verified against the official MOFCOM text. Confirm the current position with the competent Chinese authority or a qualified trade lawyer before you rely on it. It does not bind Rami Technics.