Rare earth · light
What is lanthanum? Uses, supply and price
Lanthanum (La, atomic number 57) is the first lanthanide and a light rare earth, the cheapest rare earth by price per kilogram, used in refining catalysts, optical glass and batteries. Among the 15 rare earths with a USGS price, lanthanum oxide ranks number 15 by 2025 average price.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Lanthanum key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol and atomic number | La, 57 |
| Class | Lanthanum is a light rare earth |
| Oxide price, 2025 | $1.00 per kg, flat on 2024 ($0.97) |
| Related price | Mischmetal (65% cerium, 35% lanthanum) $5.62 per kg in 2025 |
| US National Defense Stockpile | Potential acquisition of 1,100 tonnes in fiscal 2025 |
| US net import reliance, all rare earth compounds and metals | 67% in 2025 (53% in 2024) |
| Main uses | Refining catalysts, optical glass, batteries |
Lanthanum price: oxide, 2021 to 2025
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per kg | 1.51 | 1.39 | 0.96 | 0.97 | 1.00 |
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 lanthanum metal; the weekly prices we track are on the rare earth prices page.
How lanthanum 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 lanthanum comes from
Light rare earth supply
Light rare earths make up most of every ore and are cheap (USGS and market data). Mountain Pass, California, mined bastnaesite as the primary rare earth product in 2025, and China mined 270,000 tonnes of the world's 390,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide equivalent.
What lanthanum is used for
| End use | Detail |
|---|---|
| Refining catalysts | Petroleum cracking |
| Optical glass | Camera and other lenses |
| Batteries | Nickel-metal hydride |
Chinese export controls and policy
Licence status: Not listed.
Lanthanum is not on China's export-licence lists. It remains exposed indirectly because most separation capacity for all rare earths is in China.
See the full export-control timeline, and rare earth stocks for listed companies.
Lanthanum: frequently asked questions
What is lanthanum?
Lanthanum (La) is the first lanthanide and a light rare earth, the cheapest rare earth by price per kilogram, used in refining catalysts, optical glass and batteries.
What is the price of lanthanum?
USGS gives a 2025 average of $1.00 per kg for lanthanum oxide at 99.5% purity, against $1.51 per kg in 2021.
Is lanthanum under Chinese export controls?
No. Lanthanum is not on the April 2025 or October 2025 licence lists.
Is there a lanthanum price chart or live price?
We show the USGS annual average for the oxide above. We do not have a supplier reference price for lanthanum metal. Prices we track weekly are on the rare earth prices page.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.