China has quietly issued its first 2025 rare earth mining and smelting quotas without the typical public statement, sources with knowledge of the matter said this week, another sign of Beijing tightening its control over the crucial sector.

Decades of process innovation and industrial policy helped China corner the rare earths market while the US fell behind.

China has released its first set of rare earth mining quotas for 2025 quietly, marking a move to tighten state control over an industry vital to everything