bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Igor Patrick

Brazil’s rare earth exports to China tripled in the first half of 2025 just as Chinese imports surged to a record high, fuelling concerns that Beijing-Washington trade tensions may be quietly re-routing the world’s supply chains through emerging economies.
The figures are part of a report released on Thursday by the China-Brazil Business Council (CBBC) that shows Brazil’s exports to China fell 7.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, reaching US$47.7 billion.
Imports from China rose 22 per cent to US$35.7 billion. As a result, Brazil’s trade surplus with China narrowed to US$12 billion. It was the lowest since 2019 and half the total recorded in 2024.
Rare earth compound exports reached US$6.7 million, a threefold increase over the first half of 2024. While small in absolute terms, analysts see the growth as a sign of China’s bid to diversify its access to strategic minerals.
Tulio Cariello, research director at CBBC and the report’s author, said the shifting numbers reflected not only China’s evolving industrial policy but also the ripple effects of global trade tensions.
“As the United States and China harden their trade barriers, Brazil ends up absorbing part of that shock,” he said.
“It becomes a destination for Chinese goods, but also a potential supplier of what China no longer wants to depend on domestically.”
Cariello said the trend may also reflect Beijing’s bid to reduce the environmental cost of domestic processing.
“We’re seeing China apply the same logic it used in energy and food security to its access to critical minerals,” he noted. “That means looking outward, and Brazil has quietly entered that radar.”

The report also found that Brazil’s exports of manufactured goods to China rose sharply. Items like taps, rubber tubing and gas-measuring devices posted gains of more than 1,000 per cent. The total value reached US$55 million, twelve times higher than in the same period last year.
These gains, however, were dwarfed by the growing volume of Chinese goods entering Brazil. Imports of hybrid vehicles rose 52 per cent in units and 14 per cent in value, totalling US$1.38 billion. China now accounts for 84 per cent of Brazil’s hybrid vehicle imports.
Cariello noted that the spike appears to reflect a strategy by importers to accelerate shipments before tariff increases took effect. Earlier this year, Brazil reinstated duties on electric and hybrid vehicles to protect local industry, but Chinese brands remain dominant.
In February, Brazil registered a rare trade deficit with China. The shortfall was attributed to a US$2.6 billion offshore platform purchase and falling commodity prices, and officials framed it as an exception. But the new data suggests the imbalance is becoming a pattern.
Brazil’s top exports to China remain soy, iron ore and crude oil, but while they have maintained volume, they have lost value due to declining global prices.
Meanwhile, Chinese goods are penetrating new areas of the Brazilian market, including those previously served by local industry.
The automotive and steel sectors are among the most exposed. In January, Brazil’s carmakers association and 25 foreign manufacturers requested an anti-dumping investigation targeting Chinese carmakers BYD and Great Wall Motors, contending the companies were undercutting prices and benefiting from local tax regimes despite limited domestic production.
Last year, Brazil also imposed anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese steel products after exporters were found to be altering specifications to evade existing duties.
Yet in the first half of 2025, imports of flat-rolled steel wider than 600 millimetres rose 318 per cent. Imports of semi-manufactured steel grew by more than 2,000 per cent.
Cariello warned that such numbers suggest traditional tariff tools might no longer be sufficient. He argued that China was likely to turn to markets like Brazil as access to the United States and Europe tightens.
While trade disparities with China are widening, diplomatic stalemates with the United States in recent days have reduced Brazil’s hedging options.
During the Brics leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro this month, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all bloc members that aligned themselves with what he called “anti-US policies”.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sharply criticised Trump, saying that the world did not “want an emperor”.


A few days later, the White House announced a 50 per cent tariff on all Brazilian exports, citing what Trump described as a political “witch hunt” against Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is facing trial over his alleged role in a failed 2023 coup plot and the attempted assassination of then president-elect Lula and a Supreme Court justice.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s posture. “The president is certainly not trying to be the emperor of the world,” she said. “He is a strong president for the United States of America, and he’s also the leader of the free world.”
Leavitt also confirmed that Trump had sent a letter to the Brazilian government and ordered the US Trade Representative to launch a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s trade practices – including digital regulation, data governance, intellectual property enforcement, tariff preferences granted to countries like India and Mexico, and Brazil’s environmental standards.
The letter accused Brazil of tolerating illegal deforestation and intellectual property violations, arguing that these practices give its exporters an unfair edge.
Cariello said that Brazil’s position as both a supplier to China and a regional partner of the US is becoming more exposed to the consequences of global fragmentation. He warned that the country might soon face difficult choices in balancing political alignment with economic opportunity.
He also noted that agriculture, long Brazil’s strongest link to China, may face new challenges. Beijing’s economic plan prioritises food security and reduced import dependency, something that could undermine Brazil’s dominance in soy, maize and beef exports.
“China is not cutting us off, but it is clearly reducing overexposure to any single supplier,” he said. “If Brazil doesn’t diversify its buyers with the same urgency, it will end up more vulnerable than strategic.”
He also believed the rise in rare earth exports and complex manufactured goods could open new opportunities, but only if backed by long-term policy.
“These are promising signals, but they won’t amount to much unless Brazil builds capacity and resilience,” he said.


Brazil triples rare earth exports to China as Washington-Beijing rift ripples through trade

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after a meeting ahead of the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 5. Trade between the two countries grew in the first half of 2025, with Chinese imports growing 22 per cent. Photo: AFP 

A rare earths mine in Ganxian County in central China’s Jiangxi province. Photo: Chinatopix via AP

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In first half of 2025, exports reach US$6.7 million, which analysts view as sign of China’s bid to diversify access to strategic minerals


In first half of 2025, exports reach US$6.7 million, which analysts view as sign of China’s bid to diversify access to strategic minerals.


Brazil triples rare earth exports to China as Washington-Beijing rift ripples through trade

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In first half of 2025, exports reach US$6.7 million, which analysts view as sign of China’s bid to diversify access to strategic minerals

In first half of 2025, exports reach US$6.7 million, which analysts view as sign of China’s bid to diversify access to strategic minerals