Rare earth shortage hits electronic component companies

Uncertainty over rare earth mineral supply has led some applicants under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) to warn the government that they may miss incentive-linked targets for the first year, if shortages persist for another six months.

While applications under the scheme have surged past 110 now, at least 10 firms have sounded out worries at a time when the industry is keen on expanding its production and export footprint, officials at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and industry executives told ET.