# China's expanding critical-material export controls > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/china-tungsten-export-curbs > Updated: 2026-08-10T06:19:57.000Z. Sources: 57. Developments: 15. Since July, Beijing’s tightened export-licence regime has deepened pressure on a range of strategic commodities. In June, China halted high-purity tungsten shipments to Japan, driving the price of tungsten hexafluoride (WF 6) – a key gas for 3- to 7-nm AI chip production – up more than 200% year-on-year and prompting Japanese firms Showa Denko Kanto and Central Glass to suspend output. The broader curtailment of tungsten exports pushed global tungsten prices to roughly three times their early-2026 level and raised production costs for automotive, aerospace and defence sectors, while threatening chipmakers in South Korea, Germany and elsewhere. Japan’s own critical-mineral exports to China fell sharply after a political dispute, with tungsten, dysprosium and terbium shipments dropping to near-zero and semiconductor-equipment sales to China slipping about 10%. Beijing responded with a new reporting system for illegal dual-use mineral exports and detained two Japanese nationals accused of smuggling rare-earth goods. Japanese photoresist producers also suspended new orders for advanced ArF and EUV resists to Chinese fabs, cutting technical support and logistics. The export-control wave spread further: the EU warned that China’s dominance in tungsten, carbide and other metals could cripple European manufacturers, prompting a €64 billion G7 diversification pledge. In July, China added refined silver to a strict licensing regime; the United States subsequently listed silver as a critical mineral, driving price forecasts toward $100 per ounce. A provisional helium export ban, triggered by the Qatar plant shutdown, remained in force, protecting domestic chip and medical-sector needs. By early August, the helium supply crisis intensified as Middle East production was hit by conflict following U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran, alongside Russian export controls and Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy assets. While Canada’s untapped reserves could help close the gap, a lack of supportive government policies hampers rapid development. ## Claims - Sunrise Energy Metals is receiving a $400 million loan for scandium production. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The US administration has committed over $2 billion to companies producing batteries and critical minerals. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Department of Defense is providing a $1.4 billion loan to Sila Nanotechnologies for silicon battery development. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Niron Magnetics is receiving a $150 million loan to produce rare-earth-free magnets. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The US government is making an $85.5 million equity investment in Strategic Bauxite. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The U.S. Export-Import Bank is lending $58 million to three critical-mineral companies. (single source) - The US administration has completed approximately 160 mineral-related deals. (single source) - The US government will hold priority purchasing rights for the output of certain projects. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-10: US administration commits billions to secure critical mineral supply chains The US government has committed billions in loans and equity to secure domestic critical mineral and battery supply chains, targeting materials for defense and electronics to reduce reliance on China. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-launches-3-billion-critical-minerals-initiative ### 2026-08-05: Canada and EU push to curb China’s grip on critical‑minerals processing Canada and the EU are coordinating mid‑stream critical‑minerals processing to lessen dependence on China, which dominates about 70 % of global refining, a concern highlighted by metallurgist Phillip Mackey. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canada-and-eu-push-to-curb-chinas-grip-on-criticalminerals-processing ### 2026-08-03: US and Australia advance critical mineral supply chain to counter China The US and Australia are boosting critical‑mineral supply chains to lessen reliance on China, while Utah offers a $357.7 M incentive to Anson Resources’ lithium project to strengthen domestic battery production 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-and-australia-advance-critical-mineral-supply-chain-to-counter-china ### 2026-08-02: Canada poised to fill global helium shortfall as Middle East supplies wane Helium demand surges for AI chips while Middle‑East supplies falter after war damage and Strait of Hormuz blockages. Canada’s Avanti Helium Corp. sees export prospects, but policy gaps impede development. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canada-poised-to-fill-global-helium-shortfall-as-middle-east-supplies-wane ### 2026-07-30: Hedge funds increase shorts on US critical minerals firms amid China supply concerns Hedge funds are expanding short positions in US Antimony, American Resources, MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, questioning whether US government support can overcome China's dominance in critical minerals. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hedge-funds-increase-shorts-on-us-critical-minerals-firms-amid-china-supply-concerns ### 2026-07-20: China Tightens Fuel and Helium Export Controls Amid Middle East Conflict China tightens fuel export oversight and bans helium exports, citing domestic security amid heightened US‑Iran tensions; the moves impact global fuel markets, semiconductor supply chains and crypto mining costs 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-tightens-fuel-and-helium-export-controls-amid-middle-east-conflict ### 2026-07-10: China imposes temporary helium export ban amid Middle East tensions China has temporarily halted all helium exports from July 10, 2026, citing a global shortage after a Qatar plant shutdown. The ban aims to safeguard domestic chip production, raising concerns for semiconductor 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-imposes-temporary-ban-on-helium-exports ### 2026-07-09: China curtails silver exports while US labels metal a critical mineral China restricts refined silver exports via licensing while the US adds silver to its critical minerals list; both actions tighten supply amid a 46‑67 million‑ounce annual deficit and heightened strategic demand 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-curtails-silver-exports-while-us-labels-metal-a-critical-mineral ### 2026-07-08: China’s domination of critical metals threatens European industry China’s control of critical metals like tungsten and new export licences threaten European manufacturing and defence, prompting the EU to seek diversified supplies and bilateral guarantees. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-domination-of-critical-metals-threatens-european-industry ### 2026-07-07: China’s export controls tighten global critical‑minerals supply chains Australia’s tungsten output drops as China’s export bans and upcoming US DFARS restrictions tighten supply, while South Korea pushes for broader critical‑minerals resilience amid global refining concentration. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-export-controls-tighten-global-criticalminerals-supply-chains ### 2026-06-25: Japanese photoresist giants halt new orders to Chinese chipmakers Japan’s top photoresist makers have stopped new ArF/EUV orders to China, slashed KrF shipments, delayed logistics and withdrawn on‑site engineers, choking Chinese advanced‑node chip production. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japanese-photoresist-giants-halt-new-orders-to-chinese-chipmakers ### 2026-06-24: China Strengthens Reporting System for Strategic Mineral Export Violations China’s Ministry of Commerce unveiled stricter reporting and reward rules for violations of export controls on strategic mineral dual‑use items, effective July 1, and referenced the detention of two Japanese sm 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-strengthens-reporting-system-for-strategic-mineral-export-violations ### 2026-06-20: Japan sees sharp fall in critical mineral and semiconductor equipment exports to China Japan’s exports of critical minerals and semiconductor equipment to China have plunged, with key rare‑earths at zero and chip‑maker sales down 10% after new export controls. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-sees-sharp-fall-in-critical-mineral-and-semiconductor-equipment-exports-to-china ### 2026-06-14: China's tungsten export restrictions tighten auto, aerospace and chip supply China's export limits on tungsten raise prices and threaten auto, aerospace, defence and semiconductor production, prompting calls for strategic reserves. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-tungsten-export-curbs-spark-chip-and-industry-price-surge ### 2026-06-12: China's tungsten export curbs threaten Japan's AI chip gas supply China's tungsten export ban forces Japanese producers to halt WF6 gas production, threatening chipmakers like Samsung, TSMC and SK Hynix and driving price spikes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-tungsten-export-curbs-threaten-japans-ai-chip-gas-supply --- Cite as: China's expanding critical-material export controls. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/china-tungsten-export-curbs