Duties on rare earth exports to be ended

Move expected to stimulate shipments of minerals crucial to the technology sector

Export duties on rare earths will be eliminated on May 1, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Thursday, a move that analysts said would stimulate China's exports of the limited resource.

Rare earths - a group of minerals that are crucial to the technology and defense industries - as well as tungsten and molybdenum will be exempt from tariffs, and wrought aluminum products will also enjoy a zero rate, the statement said.