Latest news with #exportrestrictions
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
China's spy agency attacks foreign efforts to 'steal' rare earths
BEIJING, July 18 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of State Security on Friday said foreign spy agencies had tried to "steal" rare earths and pledged to crack down on infiltration and espionage targeted at its critical mineral sector. Foreign intelligence agencies and their agents had colluded with "domestic lawbreakers" to steal rare earth-related items from China, posing a serious threat to China's national security, the spy agency said in a statement on its WeChat account without naming any specific country. The ministry said it had detected attempts by an unnamed country to bypass export restrictions by forging labels, falsifying cargo manifests and transshipping cargoes, where products are routed through third countries before going to their final destination. Reuters reported exclusively this month that unusually large quantities of antimony - a metal used in batteries, chips and flame retardants - appeared to have been transshipped into the United States via Thailand and Mexico after China banned U.S. exports. China added several rare earths and related magnets to its export restriction list in early April in retaliation for U.S. tariffs. The decision rattled global supply chains key to electric vehicles, robots and defence, forcing some automakers outside China to partially suspend production due to shortages. However, China's rare earths exports rose 32% in June from the month before in a potential sign that agreements reached last month between Washington and Beijing to free up the flow of the metals are bearing fruit. Nvidia's (NVDA.O), opens new tab planned resumption of sales of its H20 AI chips to China was part of the rare earth negotiations.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
China puts new restrictions on EV battery technology in latest move to consolidate dominance
By John Liu , CNN A worker from Chinese electric vehicle company NIO sits in a car during its final inspection at the end of the automated production. Photo: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images via CNN Newsource China has put export restrictions on technologies critical for producing electric vehicle batteries, in a move to consolidate its dominance in the sector that has contributed to the country's lead in the global EV race. Several technologies used to manufacture EV batteries and process lithium, a critical mineral for batteries, were added to the government's export control list. Inclusion on the list means transferring the technologies overseas - such as through trade, investment, or technological cooperation - will require a government-issued license, according to a statement by the country's Commerce Ministry. The new controls mirror similar restrictions introduced just three months ago on certain rare earth elements and their magnets - critical materials used not only in EV production, but also in consumer electronics and military equipment such as fighter jets. China's dominance of the rare earths supply chain has emerged as among its most potent tools in a renewed trade war with the United States. China has emerged as a leading player in the competitive global EV market, thanks in part to its ability to develop high-performance, cost-effective batteries through its comprehensive supply chain, from raw material processing to battery manufacturing. Huge numbers of car manufacturers around the world use Chinese EV batteries in their vehicles. Chinese EV battery makers accounted for at least 67 percent of the global market share, according to SNE Research, a market research and consultancy firm. First proposed in January, the latest licensing requirements have cast uncertainty over Chinese EV makers' overseas expansion plans, particularly as markets like the European Union have employed tariffs on Chinese car exports to push them to set up shop there. Many Chinese battery makers also have plans to localise production in markets such as Southeast Asia and the US. The Commerce Ministry said the restrictions "aim to safeguard national economic security and development interests, and promote international economic and technological cooperation." Liz Lee, an associate director at Counterpoint Research, said the move "deepens the emerging geopolitical tech decoupling beyond materials to process IP (intellectual property)." She added that this could accelerate efforts by the US, EU and others to boost localisation of precursor materials and metal refining capabilities. China's CATL, the world's largest EV battery producer and a key supplier of Tesla, has plants in Germany and Hungary and has plans for a joint venture factory in Spain with Stellantis, the owner of Fiat and Chrysler. It is also licensing its technology to be used in a Ford EV battery plant under construction in Michigan. Meanwhile, Chinese EV giant BYD, which manufactures its own battery and surged past Tesla in 2024 sales to become the world's largest EV maker, has EV production facilities around the world, from Hungary and Thailand to Brazil. And Gotion, another major EV battery maker in China, has plans to build a production plant in Illinois. Analysts said the true impact of the new export controls remains uncertain, as details are still unclear. Lee noted the restrictions "appear to target upstream process technologies .. rather than battery cell and module manufacturing." Since CATL's plants in Germany and Hungary focus on cell and module production and do not appear to replicate the restricted processes locally, the near-term effect may be limited, she said. For BYD, which only assembles battery packs overseas and does not manufacture battery cells abroad, the controls do not appear to affect operations at this stage, Lee added. Vincent Sun, senior equity analyst at Morningstar covering China's EV sector, said the ultimate impact would depend on how easily companies can obtain permits - something that "may take some extra time to see." CNN has reached out to CATL, BYD, Gotion and Ford for comment. One part of the newly announced restrictions surrounds the battery cathode production technology for the making of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, a type of lithium-ion battery that has become increasingly popular in EVs in the last five years for its lower price and greater safety. Another part focuses on the processing, refinement and extraction of lithium. China dominates the production of LFP batteries and the processing of lithium globally, according to Fastmarkets, a United Kingdom-based research company. Last year, it held 94 percent market share for LFP production capacity and provided 70 percent of global processed lithium production. But while LFP batteries amounted to 40 percent of the global EV market by capacity, adoption of them is more prevalent in EVs made by Chinese manufacturers than elsewhere, according to Adamas Intelligence, a data analysis and consultancy firm focusing on critical minerals and batteries. James Edmondson, vice president in research at IDTechEx, a research firm, told CNN that despite LFP's lower energy density, its much lower cost, compared with its common alternative battery made of nickel, manganese, and cobalt, has made it "a staple in lower-cost vehicles" and there are plans for greater adoption by EU and US automakers. China's dominance in LFP production means that "even for LFP produced outside of China, Chinese suppliers would still often play a part in the production of precursors to LFP cathodes," he said. China holds a "significant lead" in the technology itself, as shown by BYD's "Super E-Platform" that promised a 250-mile (402km) range on just a five-minute charge, Edmondson added. The technology outperforms Tesla's Superchargers, which take 15 minutes to deliver 200 miles. Not to be outdone, CATL followed in April with a more competitive product, an upgraded LFP battery that provides an even longer range of 320 miles with the same charging time. -CNN
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What the China export easing means for Nvidia, AMD, and other chips stocks
Nvidia (NDVA) and AMD (AMD) may soon get the green light to sell AI chips to China again, potentially reviving a key growth market. The US government is reportedly considering loosening export restrictions, which could allow the tech giants to resume sales of some lower-end AI chips to China. This policy shift comes after April's export ban blocked chips such as Nvidia's H20 AI accelerator and AMD's MI308. 'This is a game changer,' Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities, told Yahoo Finance. 'Nvidia stands to gain billions in annual revenue from China, and every Nvidia supplier is going to benefit, as well as second and third derivative plays.' Bank of America (BAC) raised its price targets for Nvidia and AMD to $220 and $175, respectively, in anticipation of license approval. Favorable regulation could boost Nvidia's earnings per share by 5%-7% and AMD's by 3%-5%, its analysts estimate. But it's not just Nvidia and AMD that stand to gain. "It's a silver bullet positive for the AI buildout sector,' Ives said. If China's cloud and data center buildouts ramp back up, companies like Broadcom (AVGO) and Marvell Technology (MRVL), whose custom chips support AI infrastructure, could benefit. Credo Technology Group (CRDO), a high-speed interconnect supplier, may also see demand rise alongside broader server deployments. All three stocks carry a Buy rating from BofA. The clearest beneficiaries may be at the heart of chip manufacturing. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces Nvidia and AMD's chips, and Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), a key supplier of high-bandwidth memory, are well-positioned to capture a rebound. Read more: How does Nvidia make money? 'If I'm pointing to derivatives, I'm pointing to Samsung and TSMC,' Matt Bryson, managing director of research at Wedbush Securities, told Yahoo Finance. 'They're literally working on the parts Nvidia and AMD are shipping.' Bryson said that before April's export ban, Chinese server build activity was the 'number one positive inflection' the industry was watching. The momentum stalled in the second quarter, but could quickly return if policy changes are confirmed. The semiconductor market is rapidly expanding as AI advances. Gaining approval and reopening the key Chinese market, even partially, shifts sentiment across the sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang estimated the Chinese AI market is worth $50 billion. Still, the exact effect on balance sheets will be hard to pin down in the near term. Nvidia's first quarter earnings reported a $2.5 billion drop in China revenue and a $4.5 billion inventory write-off. An additional $8 billion loss is anticipated in the second quarter. The semiconductor market is rapidly expanding as AI advances. Gaining approval and reopening the key Chinese market, even partially, shifts sentiment across the sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang estimated the Chinese AI market is worth $50 billion. 'China is one of the best areas they [AMD] could break into,' Ives said. Bryson pointed out that even if the chipmakers get the green light to resume shipments and see some revenue bounce back, it's a big question mark whether the demand is even still there. Chinese customers might have already found other suppliers or simply moved on. Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. He can be reached on LinkedIn and X, or via email at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What the China export easing means for Nvidia, AMD, and other chips stocks
Nvidia (NDVA) and AMD (AMD) may soon get the green light to sell AI chips to China again, potentially reviving a key growth market. The US government is reportedly considering loosening export restrictions, which could allow the tech giants to resume sales of some lower-end AI chips to China. This policy shift comes after April's export ban blocked chips such as Nvidia's H20 AI accelerator and AMD's MI308. 'This is a game changer,' Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities, told Yahoo Finance. 'Nvidia stands to gain billions in annual revenue from China, and every Nvidia supplier is going to benefit, as well as second and third derivative plays.' Bank of America (BAC) raised its price targets for Nvidia and AMD to $220 and $175, respectively, in anticipation of license approval. Favorable regulation could boost Nvidia's earnings per share by 5%-7% and AMD's by 3%-5%, its analysts estimate. But it's not just Nvidia and AMD that stand to gain. "It's a silver bullet positive for the AI buildout sector,' Ives said. If China's cloud and data center buildouts ramp back up, companies like Broadcom (AVGO) and Marvell Technology (MRVL), whose custom chips support AI infrastructure, could benefit. Credo Technology Group (CRDO), a high-speed interconnect supplier, may also see demand rise alongside broader server deployments. All three stocks carry a Buy rating from BofA. The clearest beneficiaries may be at the heart of chip manufacturing. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces Nvidia and AMD's chips, and Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), a key supplier of high-bandwidth memory, are well-positioned to capture a rebound. Read more: How does Nvidia make money? 'If I'm pointing to derivatives, I'm pointing to Samsung and TSMC,' Matt Bryson, managing director of research at Wedbush Securities, told Yahoo Finance. 'They're literally working on the parts Nvidia and AMD are shipping.' Bryson said that before April's export ban, Chinese server build activity was the 'number one positive inflection' the industry was watching. The momentum stalled in the second quarter, but could quickly return if policy changes are confirmed. The semiconductor market is rapidly expanding as AI advances. Gaining approval and reopening the key Chinese market, even partially, shifts sentiment across the sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang estimated the Chinese AI market is worth $50 billion. Still, the exact effect on balance sheets will be hard to pin down in the near term. Nvidia's first quarter earnings reported a $2.5 billion drop in China revenue and a $4.5 billion inventory write-off. An additional $8 billion loss is anticipated in the second quarter. The semiconductor market is rapidly expanding as AI advances. Gaining approval and reopening the key Chinese market, even partially, shifts sentiment across the sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang estimated the Chinese AI market is worth $50 billion. 'China is one of the best areas they [AMD] could break into,' Ives said. Bryson pointed out that even if the chipmakers get the green light to resume shipments and see some revenue bounce back, it's a big question mark whether the demand is even still there. Chinese customers might have already found other suppliers or simply moved on. Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. He can be reached on LinkedIn and X, or via email at
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
What you need to know about China's export restrictions on 8 key EV battery technologies
China's latest export restrictions on eight key electric vehicle (EV) battery technologies officially took effect this week, about half a year after it announced its intention to implement them. According to the rules announced by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology, manufacturers using the technologies in the production of EV batteries must now obtain government licences before transferring them abroad. In this explainer, the Post takes a look at the technologies involved and the potential impact of the restrictions. Which technologies are subject to export restrictions? The restrictions primarily cover technologies for battery cathodes, a critical component that sets the ceiling for a battery's energy density and lifespan. Restrictions are being applied to three technologies used to make intermediate substances needed for battery cathodes – including those used to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), and other phosphate-based precursors with defined chemical compositions and performance standards. Five technologies related to lithium extraction and processing – essential upstream steps for producing materials such as LFP – are also included on the export restriction list. The announcement also specified that export restrictions on gallium extraction technologies – used in the production of a key semiconductor material – now focus on ion exchange and resin techniques, replacing the broader 'dissolution method' mentioned in previous rules. Why are these technologies so important?
