Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs: Export Controls Imposed on Lithium Batteries and Artificial Graphite Anode Materials

On October 9, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued Announcement No. 58 of 2025, deciding to implement export controls on certain items related to lithium batteries and artificial graphite anode materials (see full text of the announcement in the appendix). The new regulations will officially take effect on November 8, 2025.

Among the controlled items, the lithium battery-related substances include the following:

I. Lithium Battery-Related Items

(1) 3A001 Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (including cells and battery packs) with a gravimetric energy density ≥ 300 Wh/kg (Reference HS code: 85076000).

(2) 3B901.a Equipment used for manufacturing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

Export operators must apply for a license from the competent department of commerce under the State Council before exporting the above items.

For controlled items, exporters must specify “Dual-use Item” in the remarks column of the customs declaration form and include the dual-use item control code.

For items not subject to control but with similar parameters, specifications, or performance, exporters must specify “Not a controlled item” and include detailed parameters and specifications in the remarks column.

Official Announcement Text:

In accordance with the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-use Items, and for the purpose of safeguarding national security and interests as well as fulfilling non-proliferation international obligations, the State Council has approved the decision to impose export controls on the following items:

I. Lithium Battery-Related Items

(1) 3A001 Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (including cells and battery packs) with a gravimetric energy density ≥ 300 Wh/kg (Reference HS code: 85076000).

(2) 3B901.a Equipment used for manufacturing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

1. Winding machines (Reference HS code: 84798999);

2. Stacking machines (Reference HS code: 84798999);

3. Electrolyte filling machines (Reference HS code: 84798999);

4. Hot pressing machines;

5. Formation and grading systems;

6. Formation cabinets.

(3) 3E901.a Technology used to produce the controlled items under 3A001.

II. Cathode Material-Related Items

(1) 3C901.a.1 Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials with a compacted density ≥ 2.5 g/cm³ and specific capacity ≥ 156 mAh/g (Reference HS code: 28429040).

(2) 3C901.a.2 Precursors for ternary cathode materials:

a. Nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide (Reference HS code: 28539030);

b. Nickel-cobalt-aluminum hydroxide (Reference HS code: 28539050).

(3) 3C901.a.3 Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials.

(4) 3B901.b Equipment used for manufacturing cathode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

1. Roller kilns;

2. High-speed mixers;

3. Sand mills;

4. Jet mills.

III. Graphite Anode Material-Related Items

(1) 3C901.b.1 Artificial graphite anode materials.

(2) 3C902.b.2 Mixed anode materials made from artificial graphite and natural graphite.

(3) 3B901.c.1 Granulation equipment used for producing graphite anode materials:

a. Vertical granulation kettles with a volume ≥ 5 m³;

b. Continuous granulation kettles with a volume ≥ 5 m³.

(4) 3B901.c.2 Graphitization equipment used for producing graphite anode materials:

a. Box furnaces;

b. Acheson furnaces;

c. Inner series furnaces;

d. Continuous graphitization furnaces.

(5) 3B901.c.3 Coating and modification equipment used for producing graphite anode materials:

a. Fusion coating equipment with a volume ≥ 300 L;

b. Spray drying equipment with a volume ≥ 60 m³;

c. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) rotary kilns with a drum diameter > 0.5 m.

(6) 3E901.b Processes and technologies used for producing graphite anode materials:

1. Granulation process;

2. Continuous graphitization technology;

3. Liquid-phase coating technology.

Export operators intending to export the above-listed items must apply for an export license from the competent department of commerce under the State Council in accordance with the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-use Items.

Exporters must ensure the authenticity of the declared goods and strengthen the identification of export items.

For controlled items, the customs declaration form must clearly state “Dual-use Item” and include the control code.

For items not under control but with similar parameters, specifications, or performance, the declaration must specify “Not a controlled item” and provide detailed parameters and specifications.

If the customs authority has doubts about the completeness, accuracy, or authenticity of the declared information, it may raise a formal inquiry, during which the export goods will not be cleared for export.

This announcement shall take effect on November 8, 2025.

The List of Controlled Dual-use Items of the People’s Republic of China will be updated simultaneously.

Article Source: China ONESUN' Lithium battery manufacturer