Industry
Japan's Yttrium Supply Lasts Only Months, Requests US Mediation to Ease China's Rare Earth Controls
2026-10-20
According to an exclusive report by the UK's Financial Times on October 20, Japan's supply of yttrium—a critical metal for high-tech manufacturing—can only last a few months, and Japan has asked the United States to help persuade China to relax its rare earth export controls to avoid manufacturing stoppages. After China imposed export licensing on yttrium, its exports of yttrium oxide to Japan plunged 97.7% year-on-year from January to May this year, while overseas yttrium oxide prices soared to about $1,150/kg (only about $9/kg domestically). Yttrium is an important alloy/powder additive element, and its supply stability directly affects the production of high-end alloy powders.
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日本钇供应仅够数月，请求美方斡旋放松中国稀土管制
据英国《金融时报》10月20日独家报道，日本高科技制造所需关键金属钇的供应仅能维持数月，已请求美国协助劝说中方放宽稀土出口管制，以避免制造业停产。中国对钇实施出口许可管理后，今年1-5月对日氧化钇出口同比骤降97.7%，境外氧化钇价格飙升至约1150美元/公斤（境内仅约9美元/公斤）。钇是重要合金/粉末添加元素，其供应稳定性直接关系高端合金粉末生产。