Rare earth price
Terbium price today: $4,593.75 per kg
Price as of 27 October 2026 · checked 28 October 2026 · USD per kg, metal
Summary
The terbium reference price is $4,593.75 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, +131.61% year to date and +587.68% since January 2020. Terbium is the most expensive rare earth we track at $4,594 per kg, +131.61% this year, and every US import of terbium compounds and metal in 2021–24 came from China.
Terbium price in every unit and over time
| Measure | USD | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Per kilogram | $4,593.75 | Reference price, metal, 27 October 2026 |
| Per gram | $4.594 | kg price divided by 1,000 |
| Per troy ounce | $142.88 | 1 kg = 32.1507 troy ounces |
| Per pound | $2,083.69 | 1 kg = 2.2046 pounds |
| Per tonne | $4,593,750 | kg price times 1,000 |
| 1 January 2026 | $1,983.40 | Derived from the year-to-date change |
| Year to date | +131.61% | Rank 2 of 12 metals |
| January 2020 | $668.01 | Derived from the change since January 2020 (+587.68%) |
- January 2020 (derived) $668
- 1 January 2026 (derived) $1,983
- 27 October 2026 $4,594
Source: supplier reference prices for private investors, USD per kg of metal. Derived values back-calculate from the stated percentage changes and are rounded. How we price
What is moving the terbium price
Single-source supply under licence
USGS records China as the source of 100% of US terbium compound and metal imports in 2021–24. Terbium oxide was among the elements China put under export licence on 4 April 2025. The October 2025 package that would have covered all heavy rare earths was suspended for one year on 7 November 2025.
Reference price against the 2025 oxide benchmark
USGS gives a 2025 average of $1,010 per kg for terbium oxide (99.99%), up 24% from $812 in 2024 but 51% below the 2022 average of $2,050. The $4,594 reference price is for metal, in small lots, in 27 October 2026, about 4.5 times the 2025 oxide average.
Volume is tiny, so each tonne matters
Heavy rare earths are a small share of any rare earth ore. US heavy rare earth imports (all seven elements from terbium to lutetium) were an estimated 100 tonnes of oxide equivalent in 2025 against 74 tonnes in 2024. A shift of a few tonnes moves price.
Terbium price context: USGS annual oxide averages
| Year | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,340 | terbium oxide 99.99%, per kg |
| 2022 | $2,050 | |
| 2023 | $1,300 | |
| 2024 | $812 | |
| 2025 (est.) | $1,010 | Argus Media / Asian Metal, FOB |
The reference price is a private-investor metal price at a single date. The benchmarks above are annual averages for a different form (oxide or an import value) and a different channel, so the gap between them is context, not an arbitrage. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Terbium supply facts (USGS)
| Item | Finding | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| US terbium imports, 2021–24, by origin | China, 100% | compounds and metals |
| US imports of heavy rare earths, 2025 | 100 t | estimated oxide equivalent, up from 74 t |
| US net import reliance | 100% | heavy rare earths |
| US DoW loan to Mountain Pass operator | $150 million | heavy rare earth separation facility, August 2025 |
What terbium is used for
| End use | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| NdFeB magnets | Main use | Terbium, like dysprosium, keeps coercivity at temperature |
| Phosphors | Established | Green phosphors in lighting and displays |
| Magnetostrictive alloys | Niche | Sonar and precision actuators |
Dates and signals to watch
- About 10 November 2026Reported expiry of the one-year suspension of the October 2025 heavy rare earth controls.
- OngoingStart-up of non-Chinese terbium separation: Mountain Pass heavy circuit, Malaysian heavy rare earth facility, Brazilian ionic clay output.
These are scheduled or reported events, not forecasts. We do not publish price targets. Chinese announcement dates should be checked against the original MOFCOM text; see the export-control timeline.
Compared with related metals
| Metal | USD per kg | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Terbium | $4,593.75 | +131.61% |
| Dysprosium price | $2,166.15 | +377.23% |
| Neodymium price | $174.45 | +16.85% |
All 12 prices · What is terbium? · Rare earth stocks exposed to heavy rare earths · Price calculator
Terbium price: frequently asked questions
What is the terbium price per kilogram?
$4,593.75 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, +131.61% year to date and +587.68% since January 2020.
Why is terbium so expensive?
Terbium occurs in tiny proportions in rare earth ore, is separated almost only in China, and has been under Chinese export licence since 4 April 2025. USGS puts world terbium oxide prices at $1,010 per kg for 2025, among the highest of any rare earth.
Is terbium a rare earth or a technology metal?
A rare earth, one of the heavy lanthanides (atomic number 65). In this table it sits with dysprosium among the heavy rare earths that China licenses.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare Earths (Heavy) — February 2026, 2025 estimates
- China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), export control announcements 23/2023, 33/2024, 46/2024, 18/2025, 70/2025 and 72/2025 — check the original text for the current licence status
Reference prices are indicative, not offers to buy or sell, and not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.