China shipped 29 metric tons of yttrium oxide to the United States in July, a rise that may ease near-term supply pressure for U.S. aerospace buyers reliant on the material for high-temperature alloys and protective coatings. The volume was the second-highest since Beijing imposed export controls in April 2025, offering a limited reprieve to manufacturers managing critical-material procurement.
Yttrium is used in engine alloys and coatings that must withstand extreme heat, making it a strategic input for aviation and defence supply chains. The July customs figures also showed 647 tons of rare-earth permanent magnets sent to the U.S., the second-largest monthly volume since the controls took effect. Even with the increase, dependence on Chinese supply remains a commercial risk for aerospace buyers, and the monthly data do not point to a formal policy shift or a durable easing of restrictions.