Chinese rare-earth dealers find ways to dodge Beijing’s export restrictions

atures up to around 300 degrees Fahrenheit, sufficient for use in many types of home appliances.

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Carmakers, aircraft manufacturers and others will often require magnets with even greater heat tolerance.

Chinese companies marketing magnets free of the regulated heavy rare earths include Yonjumag, Anhui Hanhai New Material, Zhaobao Magnet and X-Mag. X-Mag has posted detailed charts showing its progress in developing new heat-resistant magnets that don’t require export licenses.

“As global supply chains for heavy rare earth elements tighten,” X-Mag said in a social-media post in October, developing magnet grades free of restricted heavy rare earths “has become increasingly critical.”

Zhaobao Magnet said on LinkedIn in October that, in response to export-control regulations, the company was “continuously developing new high-performance magnet series free of restricted elements.”

After China announced its initial export controls in April, Yonjumag published a brochure for foreign buyers listing “counter measures,” including selling magnets that are free of restricted heavy rare earths. It said it aims to develop even higher-grade magnets free of the restricted elements by the end of the year.