Summary China’s export controls have caused a dramatic collapse in yttrium shipments, exposing vulnerabilities in global rare earth supply chains. These materials, critical for jet engines and semiconductors, highlight how midstream processing dominance is becoming a powerful geopolitical tool. Key Takeaways China’s export controls on rare earth elements like yttrium demonstrate how control over midstream … Continue reading China’s Yttrium Export Controls Shock: How Midstream Rare Earth Is Reshaping Global Technology and Defense Supply Chains