Worldwide inventories of yttrium — a key metal derived from rare earth minerals — are rapidly shrinking following China’s export restrictions, intensifying concerns that supply deficits and steep price spikes could soon impact the aerospace, energy, and semiconductor industries.
China, which dominates global production of this element used in high-performance alloys for engines and in protective coatings designed to withstand extreme heat, enacted export limits in April on yttrium and six other rare earth materials. The move was widely viewed as a countermeasure to U.S. tariff actions.
The meeting last month between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping briefly lifted hopes that a steadier flow of critical minerals might resume, but the underlying tensions remain unresolved.
While Beijing has eased certain restrictions on other rare earth exports, the April rules on yttrium remain fully in force. This continues to cast doubt over U.S. industry access to the material in the absence of a broader, long-term trade agreement between Washington and Beijing.
These controls require Chinese exporters to apply for government licenses, creating significant bottlenecks for shipments, according to four rare earth sector participants and Argus analyst Ellie Saklatvla.
Saklatvla noted that the licenses approved so far have only allowed small quantities to be shipped, and delays in securing delivery remain extensive.
Scramble to Secure Yttrium
“China’s export controls have undoubtedly sparked a rush for yttrium,” Saklatvla said.
Argus data shows European prices for yttrium oxide — used in high-temperature thermal coatings — have skyrocketed 4,400% since January, reaching $270 per kilogram. In contrast, Chinese domestic prices, at roughly $7 per kilogram, have risen only 16% this year and have recently begun to ease.
The U.S. Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) emphasized yttrium’s importance for next-generation jet engines and said it is working with policymakers in Washington to broaden domestic sourcing efforts.
“Currently, our supply chain is heavily dependent on imports from China – a dependence that has fueled rising costs in the face of growing shortages,” said Dak Hardwick, the AIA’s vice president for international affairs.
Semiconductor producers are also feeling the pinch. Two industry insiders told reporters that yttrium — used as both an insulator and a protective coating in chipmaking — has become increasingly hard to secure, with one source describing the severity as “9 out of 10.”
Beyond its role in aircraft engines and microchips, yttrium-based thermal coatings are widely used in gas-fired power plants, where they protect turbine blades operating in extreme temperatures.
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