Market Chatter: China Resumes Yttrium Exports to US in March
China shipped 60 tons of yttrium oxide to the U.S. in March, marking its first major rare earth export since imposing tight controls in April 2025 at the height of trade tensions, Reuters reported Thursday.The volume is 50% higher than all yttrium sent to the U.S. since restrictions began, according to the report.Even after a trade truce, yttrium shipments had remained largely blocked, causing shortages and halting production for aerospace and semiconductor firms, which rely on the mineral for heat-resistant coatings, Reuters wrote.Prices surged 6,900% in the year through February, pushing affected companies to press Washington to act, according to the report. Even with the March shipment, exports over the past 12 months are down 75% from the previous year.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)