China\u2019s rare earth metals supply to the United States has stalled\nagain in early 2026. Several aerospace and semiconductor industry\nsuppliers are beginning to experience shortages of critical materials\nsuch as yttrium and scandium.<\/p>\n
This situation has emerged despite relatively calmer trade relations\nbetween Washington and Beijing compared to last year. Nevertheless, the\nflow of strategic materials remains unrecovered.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters, a number of suppliers to North American\naerospace industries have already restricted sales as raw materials\nbecome increasingly difficult to obtain. Two suppliers even temporarily\nhalted production. Several companies have chosen to prioritise large\ncustomers to keep operations running.<\/p>\n
Dependence on China represents the primary source of the problem.\nGlobal production of yttrium and scandium is concentrated in the\ncountry. Both elements belong to the rare earth metals group used in\nmilitary technology, aircraft engines, and the semiconductor\nindustry.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s customs authority reported that yttrium shipments to the\nUnited States have declined sharply since export restrictions were\nimplemented in April of last year. In the eight months following the\npolicy, exports reached only approximately 17 tonnes. In the eight-month\nperiod before the restrictions, volumes had reached approximately 333\ntonnes. This shift has tightened raw material supplies for American\nindustry.<\/p>\n
Yttrium is used in protective coatings for aircraft engines and\nturbines. This coating keeps components stable at high temperatures.\nWithout regular maintenance using this material, engines cannot operate.\nAccording to Reuters, yttrium prices have risen approximately 60 per\ncent since the end of last year and are now approximately 69 times\nhigher compared to the previous year. The price surge reflects limited\nmaterial availability in the market.<\/p>\n
Supply pressure has emerged as the aerospace industry continues to\naddress demand. Aircraft engine manufacturers are facing high spare\nparts requirements from airlines. Aircraft manufacturers are also\nincreasing production. Companies such as Boeing and Airbus are expanding\ncommercial aircraft output, making the engine supply chain increasingly\nsensitive to raw material disruptions.<\/p>\n
Shortages have also affected scandium, which is used in chip\nmanufacturing. According to industry sources cited by Reuters, this\nmaterial is used in components installed in fifth-generation network\ndevices. Available supplies are estimated to be sufficient for only\nseveral months. The United States does not yet have domestic scandium\nproduction, so import dependence remains high.<\/p>\n
Global scandium production volumes are extremely small, amounting to\nonly tens of tonnes annually. The narrow market structure means supply\ndisruptions are quickly felt. Several American chip manufacturers have\nreportedly experienced delays in obtaining export permits from China.\nThese companies have subsequently requested government support to\naccelerate access to raw materials.<\/p>\n
This situation has attracted the attention of the US government.\nAmerican officials have stated that efforts to secure strategic mineral\nsupplies are underway, including through negotiations with Beijing and\nthe development of alternative sources.<\/p>\n
The rare earth metals issue is expected to emerge during the planned\nmeeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping scheduled to take place in\nBeijing in March. The meeting occurs as America\u2019s technology and\naerospace industries face increasingly tangible supply pressure.<\/p>\n
The cases of yttrium and scandium demonstrate the fragility of\nstrategic mineral supply chains. Concentrated production in a single\nregion makes it difficult for industries to find alternatives in the\nshort term. Until alternative sources become available, the risk of\nsupply disruptions will continue to shadow America\u2019s technology and\naerospace sectors.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-restricts-critical-metals-supply-us-aerospace-industry-struggles-1772165555", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }