Overview
Suppliers serving U.S. aerospace and semiconductor companies report intensifying shortfalls of select rare earth elements, according to industry insiders. The squeeze centers on yttrium and scandium - elements used in high-temperature coatings, specialised alloys and certain chip processing steps - and has prompted at least two firms to turn away some clients in order to prioritise larger, existing customers.
These developments come only weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The meeting will include discussion of the partial easing Beijing has made to its critical mineral export restrictions after it introduced controls last April. Despite those measures being relaxed for many products, Chinese customs data indicate that shipments of these materials to the United States remain very limited.
Supply and trade data
Industry sources and customs figures show that China continues to dominate production of these niche rare earths. In the eight months following the introduction of export controls last April, China exported 17 tons of yttrium products to the United States, compared with 333 tons in the eight months before the measures. The discrepancy illustrates how exports to the U.S. have narrowed sharply despite the wider resumption of shipments for other items.
Market signals also point to tight availability: since last November, when concerns about yttrium first surfaced publicly, prices have risen 60% and are now reported to be approximately 69 times their level a year earlier. Some coatings manufacturers have moved to ration their remaining yttrium supplies, the sources said.
Impact on aerospace supply chains
Yttrium is a critical input in protective coatings that allow turbine and engine components to withstand extreme temperatures. Without regular application of these coatings, engines cannot be used. Executives at two North American companies that buy yttrium-based materials to produce coatings told Reuters they had to temporarily halt production because of shortages. One of those companies has begun to refuse smaller and offshore customers to conserve supply for larger engine makers.
An additional supplier in the coatings chain reportedly exhausted its stock of yttrium oxide and stopped selling yttrium-containing products, according to a source with direct knowledge. While current shortages have not yet forced a reduction in jet engine or chip manufacturing, the limited availability of key inputs is already creating production pressure and concern across the sector.
Kevin Michaels, an aerospace supply chain specialist, described the situation as a tangible example of China exercising influence over rare earth supplies. He said the issue is a watch item for engine makers, who are already under strain to meet demand for spare parts from airlines and higher assembly rates from planemakers.
Major U.S. aircraft engine manufacturers contacted for comment declined to respond.
Pressure on semiconductor production
Beyond aerospace, scandium shortages are pressing on U.S. semiconductor makers, according to industry analysts. Dylan Patel, founder and CEO of SemiAnalysis, said that scandium - of which global production amounts to only several tens of tons each year - plays small but important roles in fuel cells, specialty aluminium alloys for aerospace and advanced chip processing and packaging.
Patel told Reuters that major U.S. chip manufacturers rely on scandium for components that go into virtually every 5G smartphone and base station. Some U.S. firms report delays in receiving new export licences for scandium from China, and have sought assistance from Washington.
A U.S. official told Reuters that many firms had obtained scandium via third-country suppliers, but that Chinese licensing procedures require applicants to declare their end-users. The official suggested that the semiconductor industry may be a particular focus under those controls.
Patel also noted that the United States currently has no domestic scandium production and no operational alternative sources outside China. He estimated that remaining stockpiles would likely last months rather than years.
U.S. government response and industry alarm
A U.S. government official said manufacturers now face "shortages" of certain rare earths imported from China. A White House official stated that the administration remains committed to ensuring access to critical minerals for U.S. businesses. That commitment includes negotiating with China, monitoring compliance with the agreement between President Trump and President Xi, and developing alternative supply chains if warranted, the official said.
Reuters spoke with two U.S. government officials as well as 14 company executives, staff, traders and analysts across the aerospace and semiconductor sectors. All requested anonymity except for the analysts quoted. Chinese authorities did not respond to questions.
Market and operational implications
At present, the shortages have not yet forced a halt to engine assembly or chip fabrication lines, but they have led to temporary production pauses, rationing of inputs and selective customer prioritisation by suppliers. Engine makers and chip manufacturers are watching inventories closely, with some companies having to reallocate scarce materials to key clients.
Given the highly specialised uses of yttrium and scandium and the small global production volumes for one of them, the market remains vulnerable to further supply interruptions. Companies dependent on these materials are seeking government assistance and exploring third-country suppliers, but the record shows that shipments to the United States remain well below pre-controls levels for yttrium.
What remains uncertain
It is unclear how rapidly shipments to the United States might increase even as Beijing has allowed many exports to resume. The degree to which license delays, end-user declaration requirements and continuing prioritisation by suppliers will shape supply over coming months is also uncertain. For now, industry participants continue to monitor inventory levels and the diplomatic track between Washington and Beijing ahead of the leaders' meeting in Beijing.
Conclusion
Yttrium and scandium shortages have tightened supply lines for critical aerospace coatings and components used in advanced semiconductors. The constraints have translated into rationing, temporary production interruptions and selective customer service by suppliers. While production of engines and chips has not yet broadly faltered, manufacturers, suppliers and government officials view the situation as a material supply-chain pressure point that will be watched closely as trade-related discussions continue between the U.S. and China.