New restrictions on China's rare earths will likely disrupt tech and defense industries

China has tightened control over the global rare earth supply by introducing new export restrictions that could disrupt industries dependent on these materials. The latest measures, announced late last week, target seven elements – including scandium and dysprosium – used in smartphones, electric vehicles, and military tech. Rather than a blanket ban, the rules require exporters to obtain licenses and specify how buyers intend to use the materials, creating bureaucratic friction that could delay shipments and drive up costs. Rare earth minerals play a critical role in modern technology thanks to their unique chemical and physical properties. Scandium, for instance, enables high-performance RF front-end modules in telecom devices by forming Scandium Aluminum Nitride, which boosts signal strength and efficiency. Manufacturers use this material in high-frequency wave filters for 5G smartphones, Wi-Fi systems, and base stations. Although each semiconductor wafer requires only a small amou ... Read full article.