Rare earth elements (REEs) are powerful tools to track oceanic biogeochemical processes. However, our understanding of REE sources is incomplete, leading to controversial interpretations regarding their oceanic cycling. Continental margin sediments are often assumed to be a major source, but the sediment pore water data required to understand the processes controlling that potential source are scarce. Here, we measure and compile pore water and estuarine REE data from the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary-East China Sea shelf. We show that release of REEs, from shallow pore water to overlying seawater, is coupled to Mn reduction. In contrast, REEs are removed in deep pore water, perhaps via formation of an authigenic REE-bearing phase. This sedimentary source can potentially explain REE addition in the estuary at mid-high salinity. Our calculations suggest that the benthic flux is the largest Nd source (∼40 %) on the East China Sea shelf. Globally, however, despite a higher benthic Nd flux on the advection-dominated shelf, the much more extensive deep ocean still dominates the total area-integrated benthic flux. Our results call for a more extensive investigation of the magnitude of the benthic flux of REEs to the oceans.