Screenshot of the MOFCOM's website

Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued new rules governing the state-traded exports of tungsten, antimony and silver exports for 2026-27 with the aim to step up the protection of resources and the environment, according to a statement published on the MOFCOM's website on Thursday. 

The document was proposed by the Department of Foreign Trade of MOFCOM, based on the regulations outlined by the Foreign Trade Law of and the Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Goods. It aims to protect resources and the environment and enhance the export management of rare metals, said the MOFCOM.

The new rules specified the requirement for domestic manufacturers and traders that want to apply for export qualifications, including credit loan quotas and 2022-24 exports that exceeded designated levels. They also detailed the application process, ensuring that only qualified and responsible companies are granted export rights.
 
For exports classified as high-technology products, the standards can be lowered, it said.
 
China's exports of tungsten products - excluding cemented carbide tools and tungsten halogen lamps - totaled 12,000 tons from January to September of this year, representing a year-on-year decrease of 13.75 percent compared with the same period in 2024, according to the Chinatungsten Online reports, citing data from the General Administration of Customs. The material can be used for manufacturing light filaments and optical instruments.

As a major exporter of rare metals China produced more than 80 percent of global tungsten supply in 2023, according to data from the United States Geological Survey, the Reuters reported.
 
Global Times