Export Control · Compliance & alternative solutions
Overview of the regulatory situation
In 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce introduced new export-control and licensing requirements for certain heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and certain products made from them. These measures have had a noticeable impact on international supply chains for high-performance magnets and, in some cases, have resulted in longer lead times and increased administrative effort.
To provide our customers with the most reliable possible supply and stable supply chains under these conditions, Spacemagnets Europe GmbH follows a two-track approach tailored to the relevant technical, logistical and commercial requirements.
Track 1: Products containing regulated elements – support with compliance and export approval
If your application necessarily requires magnets containing regulated heavy rare earth elements, we provide comprehensive support in preparing and managing the required export-approval or licensing process.
Documentation and compliance support
Applying for export approval can involve considerable administrative effort. Our team therefore supports you throughout the documentation process:
- We prepare and coordinate the required documents, except where forms must be completed or signed by the customer.
- We provide clear instructions, templates and guidance for the required application documents.
- We actively track processing status and work to identify and prevent incomplete submissions or avoidable delays at an early stage.
- For magnet grades that do not currently require an export license, we can also prepare supporting evidence, such as material or chemical certificates, to facilitate customs clearance as effectively as possible.
Our goal is to minimize the administrative burden for our customers while helping ensure that export formalities are handled as smoothly as possible.
Track 2: Alternative product and sourcing solutions
To reduce the sometimes difficult-to-plan lead times associated with export licensing procedures, we work with our customers to evaluate alternative technical and product-specific solutions.
HREE-free NdFeB magnets up to grade 48SH
Through optimized material compositions and manufacturing processes, we can produce certain high-performance NdFeB magnets up to grade 48SH without the use of regulated heavy rare earth elements.
For suitable applications, an HREE-free design can significantly simplify export handling while reducing dependence on regulated materials.
Our engineering teams help you assess whether an HREE-free magnet grade is technically suitable for your application.
Conversion to magnetic assemblies
Depending on the application, supplying complete magnetic assemblies instead of individual magnets can also be an attractive alternative.
In addition to technical and logistical benefits, this may lead to a different regulatory assessment depending on the product design, material composition and customs or export-control classification.
Together with our customers, we therefore assess whether converting to a magnetic assembly is technically appropriate and commercially advantageous.
Alternative materials and material concepts
For applications with particularly demanding requirements for temperature resistance, corrosion protection or long-term stability, we also support the evaluation of alternative magnetic materials and material concepts.
This may include assessing whether adjustments to the magnet grade, magnet geometry, magnetic circuit or entire motor design can reduce dependence on regulated HREE-containing NdFeB magnets.
Our goal is to ensure the required technical function reliably while enabling the most stable and predictable supply chain possible.
Technical consulting from the development phase
The effects of export controls can often be reduced during product development. Our engineering teams in Hürth support you with:
- selecting a suitable magnet grade,
- evaluating HREE-free alternatives,
- designing and optimizing the magnetic circuit,
- selecting suitable coatings and material concepts,
- developing magnetic assemblies, and
- planning a secure and flexible supply chain at an early stage.
Early technical coordination allows potential risks to be considered in many cases before serial production begins.
Our goal: security of supply and planning
Even under changing regulatory conditions, our aim is to offer you a technically suitable, commercially sound and predictable supply solution.
Our two-track strategy combines:
We combine materials expertise, engineering support, export-processing experience and flexible sourcing strategies to develop the right solution for your application together with you.