Yttrium Emerges As Resource War Flashpoint As Beijing Squeezes Western Supply Chains

Yttrium Emerges As Resource War Flashpoint As Beijing Squeezes Western Supply Chains China is using its top supplier position in yttrium, a silvery metal used in heat-resistant ceramic coatings for jet engines and power turbine blades, as well as in electronics and optics, to pressure the Trump administration. Disrupted shipments expose another critical material dependency that gives Beijing leverage over Washington as resource wars continue to play out. Reuters reports that Beijing imposed export controls on yttrium and six other rare earths in early 2025. Deliveries to the U.S. halted for several months...