Rare earth · heavy
What is erbium? Uses, supply and price
Erbium (Er, atomic number 68) is a heavy rare earth used in fibre-optic amplifiers and lasers, with an oxide price of $46 per kg in 2025. Among the 15 rare earths with a USGS price, erbium oxide ranks number 8 by 2025 average price.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Erbium key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol and atomic number | Er, 68 |
| Class | Erbium is a heavy rare earth |
| Oxide price, 2025 | $46 per kg, up 7% on 2024 ($43) |
| US import sources, 2021–24 | Germany 51%, China 40%, Netherlands 9% (material from Germany and the Netherlands derived from concentrates processed elsewhere) |
| Chinese export licence | October 2025 package, suspended for one year |
| Main uses | Fibre-optic amplifiers, lasers |
Erbium price: oxide, 2021 to 2025
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per kg | 36 | 53 | 41 | 43 | 46 |
Oxide 99.5%. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (Argus Media, Asian Metal), dollars per kilogram, FOB. Annual averages, not live prices. We have no supplier reference price for erbium metal; the weekly prices we track are on the rare earth prices page.
How erbium compares with the other rare earths
| Rank | Element | 2025 oxide, USD/kg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terbium | 1,010 |
| 2 | Lutetium | 888 |
| 3 | Scandium | 640 |
| 4 | Dysprosium | 239 |
| 5 | Praseodymium | 74 |
| 6 | Neodymium | 73 |
| 7 | Holmium | 70 |
| 8 | Erbium | 46 |
| 9 | Gadolinium | 30 |
| 10 | Europium | 27 |
| 11 | Ytterbium | 15 |
| 12 | Yttrium | 9.00 |
| 13 | Samarium | 2.82 |
| 14 | Cerium | 1.71 |
| 15 | Lanthanum | 1.00 |
Forms and purities differ by element (oxide 99.5% to 99.99%; scandium is a range midpoint of the USGS lot-size average). Promethium and thulium have no USGS price.
Where erbium comes from
Supply
Erbium is the only heavy rare earth in this group whose US imports in 2021 to 2024 came mainly from outside China, but USGS notes that compounds from Germany and elsewhere were derived from mineral concentrates and intermediates produced elsewhere.
What erbium is used for
| End use | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fibre optics | Amplifiers in telecommunication cables |
| Lasers | Medical and industrial |
Chinese export controls and policy
Licence status: October 2025 package (suspended).
Erbium was in the October 2025 Chinese package suspended for one year on 7 November 2025.
See the full export-control timeline, and rare earth stocks for listed companies.
Erbium: frequently asked questions
What is erbium?
Erbium (Er) is a heavy rare earth used in fibre-optic amplifiers and lasers, with an oxide price of $46 per kg in 2025.
What is the price of erbium?
USGS gives a 2025 average of $46 per kg for erbium oxide at 99.5% purity.
What is erbium used for?
Fibre-optic amplifiers and lasers, among other uses.
Is there a erbium price chart or live price?
We show the USGS annual average for the oxide above. We do not have a supplier reference price for erbium metal. Prices we track weekly are on the rare earth prices page.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.