China’s Magnet Export Restrictions: What Amazon and E-Commerce Sellers Must Know in 2025
Introduction
2025 has already been a year of dramatic changes in global trade. For Amazon and e-commerce sellers, one of the most disruptive developments is not tariffs, not shipping delays, but something hidden inside countless everyday products: magnets.
From small fridge magnets to advanced neodymium (NdFeB) components used in electronics, motors, toys, and packaging, any product containing magnets is now at the center of strict export controls introduced by Chinese authorities.
The result: confusion, shipment suspensions, and serious risk to sellers who depend on China as the primary source of magnet-related goods. In this blog, we break down what is happening, why it matters, and what proactive steps you can take to protect your business.
1. Background: Why Magnets Became a Target
China is the dominant global supplier of rare earth elements and magnets. Neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and other rare earth materials are essential to modern technology, powering everything from electric vehicles to smartphones to MRI machines.
Because of their strategic importance, rare earths are frequently used as a geopolitical tool. In April 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs (GACC) introduced Announcement No. 18, imposing strict licensing requirements on magnet exports.
The official reasoning included:
National security and supply chain control
Preventing misuse of rare earths in sensitive industries (for example, defense)
Increasing government oversight of strategic resources
For sellers, however, the result is straightforward: delays, uncertainty, and higher compliance costs.
2. What the New Rules Require
Under Announcement No. 18 (2025), the following controls are in place:
Mandatory Export Licenses: Every shipment of magnetic products or rare earth-related items must obtain a MOFCOM license.
No Blanket Licenses: Each shipment requires its own approval. Bulk or long-term authorizations are not granted.
Extended Processing Times: Approval can take 20–45 working days. Incomplete or unclear documentation may extend this further.
Detailed Documentation: Exporters must provide technical specifications, end-use certificates, and full disclosure of the final recipient.
Strict Customs Inspections: Physical checks and lab testing are increasingly common.
What makes this so impactful for e-commerce? Even if a product is not a magnet itself, but merely contains a magnet, such as a clasp in a box, a magnetic charging connector, or a speaker, it falls under these controls.
3. Recent Developments: Suspension Rumors and Tightened Enforcement
Officially, the regulations require licensing, not an outright ban. However, as of August 2025, multiple exporters have reported temporary suspension of magnet shipments.
Why this sudden escalation?
Chinese authorities discovered hidden rare earth goods in e-commerce containers.
Customs responded by increasing supervision and stopping even basic items like fridge magnets.
At the same time, U.S.–China tensions spiked, with President Trump threatening a 200% tariff on Chinese magnets if exports continue to be restricted.
This combination has created an atmosphere of uncertainty. While not all suspensions are formally confirmed, the rumor mill itself is already enough to disrupt supply chains, causing sellers to rethink their Q4 planning.
4. How This Impacts Amazon and E-Commerce Sellers
The implications go far beyond policy discussions. Sellers are already experiencing:
Severe Shipping Delays: Shipments stuck in customs for weeks or months
Inventory Risk: Products with magnets such as toys, accessories, electronics, and packaging may miss deadlines for Prime Day, Black Friday, or Q4 peak season
Cost Increases: Added compliance fees, documentation costs, and potential tariffs
Uncertainty in Fulfillment: Even approved shipments are subject to last-minute checks
For Amazon sellers, the timing could not be worse. Q4 accounts for up to 40–50% of annual sales for many brands. Losing control over shipments because of a small magnet inside a product could devastate profitability.
5. Compliance Requirements in Practice
Here is what exporters now need to provide:
A detailed End-Use Statement explaining where and how the magnet will be used
Identification of the ultimate end user, not just the distributor
Signed assurances that the product will not be diverted to military use
Technical specifications, compositions, and product diagrams
For many small and mid-sized sellers, this level of documentation is impractical, making compliance a significant barrier to entry.
6. Global Reactions and the Bigger Picture
This is not only a China story. The U.S., EU, Japan, and India are all watching closely, as these restrictions highlight the risk of relying too heavily on Chinese supply chains.
United States: Threatening tariffs, holding back sensitive exports in retaliation
European Union: Increasing funding for rare earth mining and recycling
Japan and South Korea: Looking to diversify sources, including Australia and Vietnam
The broader trend is clear: supply chains for strategic materials are fragmenting, and e-commerce sellers are caught in the middle.
7. What Sellers Should Do Now
At Proboxx, we are actively guiding clients through this environment. Here are key steps to consider:
Audit Your Products: Identify all SKUs that contain magnets, even small components
Talk to Your Supplier: Confirm whether licenses are being applied for and how long the process may take
Build Buffer Stock: Use 3PL warehouses in the U.S. or Europe to hold inventory in advance of peak season
Diversify Sourcing: Explore non-Chinese suppliers where possible, or negotiate for alternative product designs that avoid magnets
Stay Updated: Regulations are evolving weekly. Monitoring reliable sources and partnering with logistics providers who track changes is critical
8. How Proboxx Can Help
Proboxx is not just a freight forwarder. We are a supply chain partner for Amazon and e-commerce sellers. Our role is to:
Navigate compliance with Chinese export licensing
Manage end-to-end logistics, ensuring you hit Amazon deadlines
Provide flexible 3PL solutions in the U.S. and EU to protect against unexpected suspensions
Advise strategically, helping you reduce risk and plan inventory around uncertain regulations
We have already seen clients save their Q4 by moving part of their stock into our warehouses, instead of waiting for Chinese export approvals that may never arrive on time.
Conclusion
Magnets might seem small, but in 2025 they represent one of the biggest risks in global trade. With Chinese export controls tightening and geopolitical tensions rising, sellers cannot afford to ignore this issue.
If your product contains magnets, now is the time to act. Audit your supply chain, build flexibility into your logistics, and consider 3PL solutions to stay competitive.
At Proboxx, we believe preparation is the best defense. While you cannot control Chinese regulations, you can control how resilient your supply chain is.
Are magnets part of your supply chain?
Let’s talk. Reach out to Proboxx today and we will help you build a plan that keeps your business moving, even when regulations change overnight.