China boosts yttrium exports to US ahead of trade talks

Investing.com -- China shipped 29 metric tons of yttrium oxide to the United States in July, marking the second-highest monthly volume since Beijing imposed export controls on rare earths in April 2025, according to Chinese customs data released Thursday.

The increase in shipments provides some relief to U.S. aerospace manufacturers who rely on the material for engine components and high-temperature coatings in aircraft applications.

The exports come ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the White House for trade discussions in September.

China controls the majority of global rare earth production and has previously used export restrictions as a diplomatic tool. The country first limited rare earth exports in April 2025, raising concerns about supply shortages.

While exports to the U.S. have increased, China maintains tight restrictions on shipments to Japan. The country has largely cut off exports of yttrium, terbium, gallium and dysprosium to Japan since November, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan that led to diplomatic tensions.

July marked the ninth consecutive month without dysprosium oxide exports to Japan and the eighth month without terbium oxide shipments. Both materials are used in small amounts in high-performance magnets.

China exported 647 tons of rare earth permanent magnets to the U.S. in July, the second-largest monthly amount since export controls began.

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