China's Unlisted Rare Earth Oxide Imports Surge 23% in September, Driven by Myanmar Supplies

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 5,021 t of unlisted rare earth oxides in September 2026, up 23% month on month from 4,070 t in August and up 2% from 4,909 t a year earlier. Cumulatively, January-September imports reached 46,466 t, up 14% year on year, easing from 16% growth in the first eight months.

The September increase came almost entirely from Myanmar. Shipments from Myanmar rose to 3,509 t from 1,346 t in August, accounting for about 70% of the month's total; arrivals from Laos fell to 1,369 t from 2,602 t, cutting its share to 27%; Malaysia supplied 138 t, while other origins were effectively nil. Together, Myanmar and Laos accounted for more than 97% of September imports. The heavy concentration on Southeast Asia is unchanged, but the shift between the two countries now dictates the month-to-month swings in the headline figure.

Two factors underpinned the rebound. On one side, the impact of the Southeast Asian rainy season faded, improving mine shipments and border crossings from Myanmar and allowing the previously slow arrival pace to recover. On the other, domestic smelting and separation utilisation rates continued to recover gradually, steadily releasing demand for ion-ore feedstock. The drop in Lao shipments partly offset the Myanmar increase, which is why September's YoY gain was limited to 2%, well below the pace seen in earlier months.

For the fourth quarter, with the rainy season behind the market and feedstock inventories at separation plants being drawn down, unlisted rare earth oxide imports look set to hold around 5,000 t. But with supply concentrated in Myanmar and Laos, changes in border policy, mine operations or transport conditions in either country could still produce sizeable monthly swings; whether cumulative growth stays in double digits will depend on the durability of Myanmar shipments and the pace at which domestic separation plants ramp up.