Yttrium Becomes China's Precision Lever Over U.S. Aerospace and Global Industry

Highlights

• China halted U.S. yttrium shipments after April 2025 controls, then approved intermittent flows of 60 tonnes in March and 29 tonnes in July 2026.
• Yttrium prices spiked 6,900% in twelve months while direct Chinese shipments to the U.S. collapsed 95% in the eight months following export controls.
• REEx identifies the 'Missing Molecules Problem': small upstream yttrium volumes can disrupt enormous downstream aerospace and defense asset values.
• China is running a two-speed supply chain—rebounding permanent-magnet exports while keeping heavy rare-earth compounds constrained for overseas competitors.
• The Pentagon sought new yttrium supply proposals, underscoring that stockpiles buy time but only qualified industrial ecosystems create lasting security.