Chinese export restrictions limits Russia's access to key technologies

Industry insiders report that China has scaled back exports to Russia of several mid-tier precision machine tools commonly used to manufacture components requiring sub-10-micron tolerances — a move that could hinder Russia’s ability to produce certain missile parts, engines, and precision-guided systems.

Some Chinese suppliers now demand special export licenses for equipment that previously required none. According to the Russian industrial outlet MashTekh and industry participants cited by Newsweek, this, in practice, has made it significantly more difficult for Russian buyers to acquire machines capable of 3–4 micron accuracy — a precision level that Russian machine-tool manufacturers say is essential for producing specific high-precision defense components.

Ildar Nuriev, owner of the Russian machine-tool company Tatpromstan, told MashTekh: “The PRC has restricted the supply of high-tech equipment, although this is rarely discussed publicly. If before it was possible to obtain machines with an accuracy of 3 to 4 microns, now it’s no longer possible. You have to obtain a special export license.”

Chinese customs data also reflect a notable contraction in trade with Russia. China’s exports to Russia fell 16.4% year-on-year in August 2025 — nearly double July’s decline — and total bilateral trade for the first eight months of the year amounted to roughly $145 billion, down almost 9% compared to the same period in 2024, according to Reuters’ analysis of Chinese customs figures.

Further analysis cited by Newsweek shows that China has also reduced purchases of several Russian raw materials in early 2025. Oil imports were down around 11%, and liquefied natural gas purchases fell approximately 13% between January and May — suggesting a broader slowdown in trade flows between the two countries.

The export restrictions come as Beijing moves to tighten controls over five additional rare-earth metals, on top of the seven it restricted in April. The announcement, made this week by China’s Ministry of Commerce, precedes a planned meeting later this month between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

By Nazrin Sadigova