Customs data show that in November 2025, China’s rare earth imports totaled 5,221.0 tons, decreased by 25.32% month-on-month and decreased by 53.91% year-on-year; import value amounted to RMB 900 million, decreased by 7.78% month-on-month and increased by 18.57% year-on-year. Rare earth exports totaled 5,493.9 tons, increased by 26.49% month-on-month and increased by 24.42% year-on-year; export value amounted to RMB 350 million, decreased by 12.50% month-on-month and increased by 34.62% year-on-year.
It can be seen that the month-on-month decline in rare earth import volume in November was greater than the decline in import value, indicating that the average import price of rare earth products in November did not fall significantly; rare earth import volume decreased significantly year-on-year in November, while import value increased year-on-year, indicating that the average import price of rare earth products in November this year was higher than in November last year. Rare earth export volume increased month-on-month in November, but export value decreased month-on-month, indicating that the average export price of rare earth products in November was lower than in October; the year-on-year increase in rare earth export volume in November was smaller than the year-on-year increase in export value, indicating that the average export price of rare earth products in November was higher than in November last year.
According to the official website of CTIA GROUP LTD, in November 2025 the prices of most rare earth products in China decreased month-on-month but increased year-on-year. Among them, praseodymium oxide averaged RMB 571,700/ton, decreased by approximately 2.12% month-on-month and increased by 32.92% year-on-year; neodymium oxide averaged RMB 568,600/ton, decreased by approximately 2.42% month-on-month and increased by 32.60% year-on-year; praseodymium-neodymium oxide averaged RMB 550,600/ton, increased by approximately 4.68% month-on-month and increased by 31.10% year-on-year; praseodymium-neodymium metal averaged RMB 675,050/ton, increased by approximately 5.01% month-on-month and increased by 29.92% year-on-year; terbium oxide averaged RMB 6,611/kg, decreased by approximately 4.34% month-on-month and increased by 11.77% year-on-year; dysprosium oxide averaged RMB 1,542,500/ton, decreased by approximately 4.29% month-on-month and decreased by 10.53% year-on-year; dysprosium-iron alloy averaged RMB 1,491,500/ton, decreased by approximately 3.84% month-on-month and decreased by 11.89% year-on-year.
Rare earth elements are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but their mineable enrichment levels are lower than most other mineral commodities. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as of the end of 2024 global rare earth reserves were approximately 90 million tons, decreased by 18.18% year-on-year. Among them, China has the highest rare earth reserves at 44 million tons, accounting for 48.89% of the global total. In 2024, global rare earth production was approximately 390,000 tons, increased by 3.72% year-on-year. Among them, China had the highest rare earth production at 270,000 tons, accounting for 69.23% of global total production.
