China Hits Pause on Tougher Graphite Export Rules for the U.S.

Between 9 November 2025 and 27 November 2026, Chinese synthetic graphite and four other sensitive materials may be exported to the United States under an ordinary export licence, free of last year's stricter end-user vetting. Licences are still mandatory and must confirm civilian end-use, but the simplified review shortens processing time and reduces documentation risk.

On 9 November 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 72, suspending the most restrictive provisions of last year's graphite-export regime for the United States. From now until 27 November 2026, dual-use items incorporating gallium, germanium, antimony, superhard materials, and graphite may be exported to the U.S. provided a valid export license is obtained. China had previously stipulated that graphite dual-use items would be subject to stricter end-use and end-user reviews and that export licenses for dual-use items made with the other materials and destined for the U.S. would generally not be granted.

The suspension is part of a broader one-year trade-confidence package agreed in Seoul last month; Washington simultaneously halted expansion of Entity-List controls on certain Chinese subsidiaries. Shipments of synthetic graphite anodes, precision machined parts and related process technologies to U.S. civilian customers no longer require the individual end-user and end-use permits that had stretched delivery times to 4-6 weeks. A standard general licence is once again sufficient, though dual-use classifications (HS 380110, 854511, 681510) and destination-control statements remain in force.

Market sources say the pause has already unlocked at least three spot cargoes totalling 1,800 t of battery-grade anode material that had been parked at Chinese ports awaiting permits. Freight forwarders report a 15-20% month-on-month increase in U.S.-bound graphite bookings for December loading, and at least two European cathode producers are negotiating 2026 H1 contracts "while the window is open."