China Yttrium Exports to US Rise

China’s July export data show 29 metric tons of yttrium oxide shipped to the United States, the second-highest monthly volume since Beijing began restricting rare-earth exports in April 2025, potentially easing pressure on U.S. aerospace manufacturers reliant on the material for engine alloys and heat-resistant coatings. The shipments underscore China’s continued dominance in rare earth supplies and its use of export controls as a diplomatic lever, even as it books sizable exports of rare earth permanent magnets to the U.S. during the same period. While the uptick to the United States provides relief for some American buyers, Beijing has simultaneously tightened supplies to Japan, with no dysprosium oxide for nine months and no terbium oxide for eight months, tied to a security-focused rationale and post-Taiwan remarks by Japan’s leader. The overall pattern highlights China’s significant influence over global supply chains for strategic materials, a reality amplified as discussions with the United States loom ahead of Xi Jinping’s planned White House meeting. The trend of limited but meaningful export activity to key partners occurs alongside ongoing commentary about national security and geopolitical frictions affecting trade and defense-related industries.