February 2025: The State issued export control policies for tungsten and molybdenum, ushering in a new landscape for the industry

On 4 February 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued Announcement No. 10 of 2025, announcing the imposition of export controls on items related to tungsten, molybdenum, tellurium, bismuth, indium and other such materials. This policy came into force on the date of its publication, marking a new phase in the state’s management of strategic metal resources.

Key Provisions of the Policy

The tungsten-related items subject to these controls primarily include:

•    Primary tungsten products such as ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxide and tungsten carbide

•    Solid-state tungsten with specific characteristics (tungsten alloys with a tungsten content of ≥97 per cent, tungsten-copper alloys, tungsten-silver alloys, etc.)

•    Tungsten-nickel-iron alloys and tungsten-nickel-copper alloys (with a density > 17.5 g/cm³ and elastic limit > 800 MPa, amongst other criteria)

•    Technical data relating to the production of the above products, including production technologies and process parameters, are also subject to control

With regard to molybdenum-related items, controls are primarily imposed on high-purity molybdenum powder with a molybdenum content of ≥97% and a particle size of ≤50 μm, as well as the production technology for such powder.

According to the announcement, export operators must apply for an export licence from the competent commercial authority of the State Council in accordance with the ‘Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China’ and other relevant regulations.

From a long-term perspective, the policy will drive industrial upgrading: experts point out that export controls will accelerate the transition of the tungsten and molybdenum industries from the export of low-value-added raw materials to high-value-added products; enterprises with deep-processing capabilities will see new opportunities, whilst trade models that rely solely on the export of primary products will face pressure to adjust.