If I told you that yttrium had surged in price by nearly 1,500% this year, I bet your next question would be: "What the hell is yttrium and how do I pronounce it?"
In the case of the latter, it's "it-ree-uhm", apparently. Yes, I had to look it up. In the case of the former, this rare earth element is vital for a number of engineering processes, including semiconductor manufacturing—and as a result of an export-related supply shortage, prices have risen from $8 per kilogram at the end of last year to $126 per kg in 2025 (via Bloomberg).
