I've noticed that serious problems are beginning in the U.S. with the supply of rare earth elements. This directly affects the aerospace and semiconductor industries — two major supplier companies have already started refusing customer orders due to shortages.

It turns out, the issue isn't with all rare earth elements, but specifically with two — yttrium and scandium. These are less well-known elements from the rare earth family, but they are critically important for defense technologies, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing. Their role is apparently underestimated until supply problems start to emerge.

According to supply chain experts, the situation with yttrium is not yet critical — jet engine production remains unaffected. But manufacturers are clearly nervous and monitoring the situation closely. The situation with scandium in the semiconductor industry is much more concerning. Experts warn that American chipmakers are beginning to experience a scandium shortage, which could seriously impact the production of next-generation semiconductors, especially 5G technology.

Overall, the shortage of rare earth elements is not just a logistics issue; it’s a matter of national competitiveness. If this problem isn’t addressed, the entire critical technology supply chain could be at risk.