Rare earth · neither group
What is scandium? Uses, supply and price
Scandium (Sc, atomic number 21) is a rare earth element recovered only as a byproduct, mainly from nickel and titanium process streams, and used in aerospace aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel cells. Among the 15 rare earths with a USGS price, scandium oxide ranks number 3 by 2025 average price.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Scandium key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol and atomic number | Sc, 21 |
| Class | Scandium is neither a light nor a heavy rare earth in USGS usage |
| World consumption of oxide, 2025 | 60 tonnes (USGS estimate) |
| World production, 2025 | About 80 tonnes of oxide; capacity over 90 tonnes per year; China the leading producer |
| Prices, 2025 | Oxide $640 per kg; metal ingot $5,200 per kg; scandium-aluminium alloy (2% Sc) $30 per kg |
| US net import reliance | 100% (oxide imports 4 tonnes in 2025; 2021–24 sources Japan 89%, China 11%) |
| Reserves | Not quantified globally; Australia accessible demonstrated resources about 34,000 tonnes of scandium |
| Main uses | Aerospace aluminium alloys, solid oxide fuel cells (USGS) |
Scandium price: oxide, 2021 to 2025
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per kg | 890–1,000 | 820–880 | 700–740 | 660–670 | 640 |
Oxide 99.99%, 5–100 kg lots, ex-works China. 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 scandium metal; the weekly prices we track are on the rare earth prices page.
How scandium 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 scandium comes from
Byproduct only
Scandium was produced exclusively as a byproduct, primarily from nickel and titanium process streams and from previously processed tailings and residues (USGS). Philippine scandium oxalate is refined into oxide in Japan.
Project pipeline
The US had no commercial scandium mining in 2025 and small-scale metal refining in Ames, Iowa, and Tolleson, Arizona. Capacity was under development in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Elk Creek project in Nebraska. Canada's Sorel-Tracy operation is expanding to 9 tonnes per year of oxide with an $18 million commitment from the Canada Growth Fund, and Australia granted a mining licence for the Nyngan project in New South Wales.
What scandium is used for
| End use | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aerospace alloys | Scandium-aluminium alloys |
| Solid oxide fuel cells | Power generation and backup power for critical infrastructure |
| Other | Electronics, military equipment and sporting goods (minor) |
Chinese export controls and policy
Licence status: April 2025 list.
China added scandium metal, alloys, oxides and compounds to its export-licence list on 4 April 2025. In September 2025 the US Defense Logistics Agency announced plans to buy more than 6,000 kg of scandium oxide for the National Defense Stockpile from Sorel-Tracy over five years, with a minimum commitment of $2 million.
See the full export-control timeline, and rare earth stocks for listed companies.
Scandium: frequently asked questions
What is scandium?
Scandium (Sc) is a rare earth element recovered only as a byproduct, mainly from nickel and titanium process streams, and used in aerospace aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel cells.
What is the price of scandium?
USGS gives a 2025 average of $640 per kg for 99.99% scandium oxide, $5,200 per kg for scandium metal ingot and $30 per kg for scandium-aluminium alloy with 2% scandium.
Why is scandium so expensive and so little used?
It is recovered only as a byproduct and world oxide production was about 80 tonnes in 2025, so supply is thin. USGS notes titanium and aluminium high-strength alloys and carbon fibre can substitute in some alloy uses.
Is there a scandium price chart or live price?
We show the USGS annual average for the oxide above. We do not have a supplier reference price for scandium metal. Prices we track weekly are on the rare earth prices page.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.