Yttrium
Used in YAG lasers, phosphors, thermal-barrier coatings and yttria-stabilized zirconia.
Yttria coatings protect plasma-etch chambers in chip fabs; yttrium-stabilized zirconia in solid-oxide fuel cells.
Among the seven heavy rare earths China placed under export controls in April 2025; China still supplies most separated output.
Where it's produced
Share of 2025 world mine production (rare-earth oxide equivalent) (metric tons) · figures are for Rare earths (total, REO). Source: USGS MCS 2026.
Where the reserves are
Share of known economic reserves (metric tons). World total: 85M t. ≈ 218 years at 2025 output.
Who calls it critical
Membership on each government list. “Strategic” marks a higher tier where the list has one; “group” means included as part of a group such as rare earths or PGMs.
Yttrium: key questions
- Where is yttrium mined or produced?
- According to USGS 2025 data, the largest producers are China (69%), United States (13%) and Australia (7.4%) of world mine production (rare-earth oxide equivalent).
- Is yttrium a critical mineral?
- Yttrium appears on 8 of the 10 official lists we track (United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, India, Australia, Canada).
- Is yttrium in short supply?
- Our supply status: Tight / restricted. Among the seven heavy rare earths China placed under export controls in April 2025; China still supplies most separated output.
- Why does yttrium matter for AI infrastructure?
- Yttria coatings protect plasma-etch chambers in chip fabs; yttrium-stabilized zirconia in solid-oxide fuel cells.
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