Rare earth · heavy
What is thulium? Uses, supply and price
Thulium (Tm, atomic number 69) is a heavy rare earth used in medical lasers and portable X-ray sources, with no price reported by USGS.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Thulium key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol and atomic number | Tm, 69 |
| Class | Thulium is a heavy rare earth |
| Price | Not reported by USGS |
| Chinese export licence | October 2025 package, suspended for one year |
| Main uses | Medical lasers, portable X-ray sources |
Thulium price: oxide, 2021 to 2025
USGS reports no thulium price, and there is no reliable public price series.
How thulium 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 thulium comes from
Supply
Heavy rare earths including thulium are used in catalysts, fibre optics, high-strength magnets, lasers and medical equipment such as portable X-rays (USGS). Thulium volumes are too small for a public price series.
What thulium is used for
| End use | Detail |
|---|---|
| Medical lasers | Surgical and dental lasers |
| Portable X-ray sources | Radiation source material |
Chinese export controls and policy
Licence status: October 2025 package (suspended).
Thulium 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.
Thulium: frequently asked questions
What is thulium?
Thulium (Tm) is a heavy rare earth used in medical lasers and portable X-ray sources, with no price reported by USGS.
What is the price of thulium?
USGS does not report a thulium price, and we do not have a supplier reference price.
What is thulium used for?
Medical lasers and portable X-ray sources.
Is there a thulium price chart or live price?
No public price exists for it. Prices we track weekly are on the rare earth prices page.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.