China's revised drone export controls: what is covered from 18 November

Terasor TeamOctober 26, 2026
Illustration of a drone flying over patchwork farm fields.

China has revised its export controls on drones and drone parts. From 18 November 2026, exporters in China need a licence from the Ministry of Commerce to send certain aircraft, motors, speed controllers, propellers, radios, autopilots, software and technology abroad. Everything here is correct as at 26 October 2026.

What was announced

On 19 October 2026 the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission issued Announcement No. 49 of 2026. Its title describes it as an optimisation and adjustment of existing controls on drone-related items, not a new regime. It takes effect on 18 November 2026, and China's dual-use export control list is updated on the same day.

A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said the same day that the items have clear dual civil and military uses and that applications which meet the rules will be approved. The spokesperson also said some products that were once advanced are now mass consumer products, and that the changes reflect information from industry.

Aircraft

Entry 9A012.a covers drones that can be flown under control beyond the operator's natural line of sight and that meet either of these:

  • a maximum endurance of at least 30 minutes and under 3 hours, and the ability to take off and fly stably in gusts of 46.3 km/h (25 knots) or more
  • a maximum endurance of 3 hours or more

Endurance is measured at sea level in zero wind, in standard atmosphere conditions.

Entry 9A112 covers other drones with a range of 300 km or more, and drones that can fly autonomously or be controlled beyond natural line of sight and carry, or are designed to carry, an aerosol dispensing system of more than 80 litres. Model aircraft designed for recreation or competition are excluded from this entry.

Parts

Entry 9A901 covers three kinds of part:

  • Motors: brushless motors specially designed to drive drone propellers, meeting all of a rated voltage of 48 V or more, a rated power of 3 kW or more, a power density of 3 kW/kg or more and a rated speed of 3,000 rpm or less.
  • Speed controllers: controllers specially designed for those motors, rated at 48 V or more and 3 kW or more.
  • Propeller blades: carbon fibre composite blades of 762 mm or more from the centre of rotation to the tip, where the blade passes through the hub; 648 mm or more from the root face to the tip, where it does not; or any blade with a variable pitch root.

Entry 9A012.e covers radios specially designed for 9A012.a drones that have an airborne EIRP of 30 dBm or more, or let one ground station control more than 10 aircraft. Autopilots specially designed for drones (7A103.b) are listed too, along with engines, software and technology.

What exporters must do

Exporters need a licence for listed items and must say on the customs declaration that the goods are controlled. Goods that are not listed but have similar specifications must still be declared with their specifications and marked as not controlled. If customs doubts a declaration, it can hold the goods while it checks.

There are lighter routes. Aircraft listed under the 30 minute to 3 hour entry (9A012.a.1) can be exported after the exporter registers the details before each shipment. Exporters with a well-run internal compliance programme, a record of exporting these items and fairly stable export channels and end users may qualify for general licences.

Where typical camera drones sit

Every camera drone checked for this article has a published flight time of 30 minutes or more, so for them the gust figure is the one that matters. On DJI's published figures, these models have a rated maximum wind speed resistance below 46.3 km/h:

  • Mini 4 Pro: flight time 34 minutes, wind rating 10.7 m/s (38.5 km/h)
  • Air 3S: flight time 45 minutes, wind rating 12 m/s (43.2 km/h)
  • Mavic 4 Pro: flight time 51 minutes, wind rating 12 m/s (43.2 km/h)
  • Matrice 4 series: flight time 49 minutes (standard propellers), wind rating 12 m/s (43.2 km/h) for takeoff and landing
  • Matrice 400: flight time 59 minutes, wind rating 12 m/s (43.2 km/h) for takeoff and landing

A manufacturer's wind rating is not the same test as the gust test in the announcement. Whether any product needs a licence is for the exporter and the ministry to decide, not for us.

Who is most likely to notice

The parts and sprayer entries describe heavy-lift and agricultural equipment. On DJI's published figures, the Agras T100 has a 100 litre spray tank, a 150 litre spreading tank, 62 inch carbon fibre propellers and a 52 V battery.

Pilots who build or repair heavy-lift aircraft, and buy large motors, speed controllers or long carbon propellers from China, are the most likely to see longer lead times. The same goes for operators buying large crop sprayers. Prices may change as suppliers add licensing and customs steps.

If you rely on parts shipped from China, ask your supplier now whether any of them fall under the listed entries, and allow extra time for orders that need a licence.

Where to read more

Terasor Team

Notes on drone regulation, equipment and the working side of aerial services, for the people who fly and the people who hire them. Terasor is a platform for professional drone services and aerial content.

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