Japan faces rare earth yttrium shortage amid Chinese supply squeeze

Japan seeks US intervention as tightening Chinese supplies threaten to exhaust its yttrium reserves.

Japan is reportedly months away from exhausting its reserves of the critical rare earth metal yttrium as supplies from China stall. Tokyo has requested diplomatic assistance from the United States to urge Beijing to ease export restrictions and prevent a manufacturing shutdown.

• The crunchTokyo faces a severe shortage of yttrium, a rare earth metal vital for manufacturing.
• The responseThe Japanese government has asked the United States to help persuade Beijing to release supplies.
• The riskOfficials warn that without intervention, industries reliant on the metal face potential shutdowns.