SMM April 30 — Recently, the General Administration of Customs released import and export data for January-March 2026. According to the latest data, China's imports of thorium ore and concentrates from January to March 2026 totaled 17,363 mt, down 5% YoY. March imports were 3,336 mt, down 21% MoM but up 47% YoY.
Currently, as China's light rare earth separation enterprises experienced significant production cuts and suspensions in Q1 this year, market demand for thorium ore and concentrates declined notably. Actual transaction prices also continued to fall, reducing ore traders' enthusiasm for imports, which in turn led to the YoY decline in actual imports of thorium ore and concentrates.
According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China's imports of unlisted rare earth oxides from January to March 2026 totaled approximately 21,607 mt, up 242% YoY.
In terms of reasons, on one hand, at the beginning of last year, rare earth ore exports from Myanmar — the primary source country for unlisted rare earth oxide imports — were affected by a series of negative factors, resulting in relatively low exports of unlisted rare earth oxides during the same period last year. On the other hand, from January to March this year, changes in tax policies in Myanmar prompted some ore traders to rush imports, causing a notable increase in imports of unlisted rare earth oxides.
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