The abrupt halting of rare mineral exports to the US by officials in China helped push the share price of Australian producers sharply higher with investors forecasting tight supply as a major trade war brews.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said it would immediately halt sales of gallium, germanium, antimony, and so-called superhard materials to the United States, citing their dual-use potential for military and civilian applications. Exports of graphite, another critical material, will also face tighter scrutiny.