China Rare-Earth Exports Hit Six-Month High as Power Output Climbs

China’s outbound shipments of rare-earth products climbed to their strongest level in six months, according to trade data cited by market services on 18 August. The increase suggests a revival in global demand for the critical minerals, which are essential for electronics and clean-energy technologies, and follows a period of subdued volumes earlier in the year. Separately, China’s fossil-fuel power generation in July rose to an 11-month high, underlining the country’s continued reliance on coal and natural gas to meet electricity demand during the summer peak. The parallel upticks in both rare-earth exports and thermal power output point to a broader rebound in industrial activity despite persistent external headwinds.