China's Yttrium Exports to Japan Plunge 98% in First Nine Months

China's rare earth exports to Japan have fallen sharply, with yttrium exports plunging 98% in the first nine months of the year.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs reported by Japan's Kyodo News on Wednesday (November 4), China exported only 18 tons of yttrium to Japan from January to September, down from 887 tons in the same period last year—a striking decline.

Yttrium is an indispensable raw material for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and other applications, and is one of seven rare earths subject to China's export controls.

These rare earths are widely used in aircraft engines, medical equipment and more, and China holds the majority of the global market share in yttrium production and refining.

After Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi made remarks in the Diet last November about a "Taiwan contingency," China tightened export controls on dual-use items to Japan, including rare earths, starting in January this year.

A major Japanese electronic components company said, "We are currently maintaining production with inventory, but sourcing raw materials is becoming more difficult, and the outlook is worrying." China's global yttrium exports fell by only 26% to 934 tons, but the drop in exports to Japan was particularly pronounced.

Exports to Germany and South Korea increased.

Exports to the United States roughly doubled, but this is mainly a base effect after U.S.-China trade friction caused a sharp decline in exports to the U.S. in 2025, and they have not actually recovered to previous levels.

Because Japanese and U.S. supply chains are closely linked, the Trump administration has asked China to increase exports not only to the U.S. but also to Japan.

The UK's Financial Times reported on October 20 that Japan's yttrium stockpile "will be depleted within months." Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara denied this at a press conference on October 22, saying, "There is no truth to the claim that our country's yttrium is about to run out." China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the purpose of the controls is to "stop Japan's remilitarization," stressing that China's position of safeguarding the stability of global supply chains remains unchanged.