The German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) published an article coining the term "Volumetric State"

The German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) published an article coining the term "Volumetric State" to describe China's evolution into a power that integrates control over physical volumes, data, and technological standards. The article suggests that traditional export control mechanisms are insufficient to address China's ability to modulate supply and demand of strategic inputs. This is not an official measure, but an analysis with future implications.

China is the world's top producer of rare earths, lithium, and other critical materials. Its 2020 Export Control Law allows for supply restrictions. The "Volumetric State" concept highlights the erosion of multilateral agreements like the Wassenaar Arrangement or the MTCR. For European and Latin American companies, this means Chinese decisions could impact the availability and conditions of access to inputs and value chains.