The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Photo: VCG

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs have jointly issued an announcement, introducing export controls on specific lithium battery and graphite anode material items, effective November 8, 2025, according to a MOFCOM statement on Thursday. 

This decision, authorized under the Export Control Law, Foreign Trade Law, Customs Law, and Dual-Use Items Export Control Regulations, aims to safeguard national security, protect national interests, and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations, per the statement. 

The export controls apply to a range of items critical to lithium battery production and graphite anode materials. 

For lithium batteries, the measures cover rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, including cells and battery packs, with an energy density of 300 Wh/kg or higher, as well as some specialized manufacturing equipment, the statement said. Additionally, technologies used in producing these controlled lithium-ion battery items are subject to the new restrictions, per the statement.

For cathode materials, the controls include lithium iron phosphate cathode materials with a tap density of 2.5 g/cm³ or higher and a specific capacity of 156 mAh/g or higher, as well as precursors for ternary cathode materials, such as nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide and nickel-cobalt-aluminum hydroxide. Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials are also included, along with manufacturing equipment like roller kilns, high-speed mixers, sand mills, and air jet pulverizers, the statement said.

The controls extend to graphite anode materials, encompassing artificial graphite anode materials and mixtures of artificial and natural graphite anode materials. Equipment for producing these materials, such as vertical and continuous granulation reactors with a capacity of 5 m³ or greater, graphitization equipment like box furnaces, Acheson furnaces, internal series furnaces, and continuous graphitization furnaces, as well as some coating and modification equipment are also subject to the restrictions. 

Furthermore, specific technologies for producing graphite anode materials, including granulation processes, continuous graphitization, and liquid-phase coating technologies, fall under the export control measures, said the statement.

Exporters of these items are required to apply for permits from the competent authorities at the Ministry of Commerce, in line with relevant law and regulations, it said.

Exporters must ensure the accuracy of their customs declarations, noting "dual-use item" along with the relevant export control code for controlled items. For items with parameters or performance close to those of controlled items but not subject to control, exporters must indicate "not a controlled item" and provide specific parameters or performance details in the customs declaration, per MOFCOM statement.

Customs authorities will verify the completeness and accuracy of these declarations, and goods will not be released during any inquiry period, it added.

Global Times