AsianFin -- China has discreetly released its first batch of 2025 rare earth mining and smelting quotas without the usual public announcement, according to people familiar with the matter — a move seen as further tightening control over the strategically vital sector.

The quotas, typically issued twice a year to state-owned enterprises, serve as a key indicator of global rare earth supply. Their delayed release this year had drawn attention from industry watchers.

Rare earth elements — a group of 17 critical minerals — are essential in the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, and defense systems. As the world’s dominant supplier, China’s quota decisions carry significant weight in global markets and are increasingly viewed through the lens of geopolitical risk and supply chain security.