AsianFin -- China’s rare earth ore imports from the United States surged in July, likely reflecting the final customs tally of shipments from U.S. supplier MP Materials, according to customs data released Wednesday.

Imports jumped to 4,719 metric tons last month after falling to zero in June, fueling speculation over their origin. MP Materials, operator of the only U.S. rare earth mine, has long exported ore to China for processing by its minority shareholder Shenghe Resources.

However, the company announced in April it would halt shipments amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, and confirmed it fully ceased exports in July after the U.S. Department of Defense became its largest effective shareholder.

MP told Reuters on Thursday that its final exports were completed in the second quarter, noting that “shipments over water, warehousing and other factors can contribute to reporting delays.”

The July surge in ore imports coincided with a rebound in China’s exports of rare earth magnets — critical for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense systems. Magnet shipments to the U.S. rose 75.5% from June to 619 tons, up 4.8% year-on-year, customs data showed.