Rare earth · heavy
What is yttrium? Uses, supply and price
Yttrium (Y, atomic number 39) is a heavy rare earth element used mainly in ceramics and phosphors, with the smaller uses in lasers, fibre optics and optical glass. Among the 15 rare earths with a USGS price, yttrium oxide ranks number 12 by 2025 average price.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Yttrium key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol and atomic number | Y, 39 |
| Class | Yttrium is a heavy rare earth |
| Price, 2025 | Y₂O₃ $9 per kg (up 42% on 2024 per USGS); yttrium metal $40 per kg (up 22%) |
| World mine production, 2025 | 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of Y₂O₃ equivalent in concentrates; China produced most, Burma a significant share |
| China exports, 2025 | About 1,600 tonnes (Y₂O₃ equivalent) of yttrium compounds and metal, to Japan, South Korea, the US and Germany |
| US net import reliance | 100%; 2021–24 imports from China 70%, Germany 11%, Austria 8% |
| US share in Mountain Pass ore | About 0.12% of the rare earths in the bastnaesite |
| Main uses | Ceramics, phosphors, YAG lasers (USGS) |
Yttrium price: oxide, 2021 to 2025
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per kg | 6 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
Y₂O₃ 99.999%, FOB 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 yttrium metal; the weekly prices we track are on the rare earth prices page.
How yttrium 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 yttrium comes from
Where it comes from
Yttrium is found in monazite and xenotime, placer deposits, carbonatites, uranium ores and ion-adsorption clays (USGS). Monazite concentrates with yttrium-rich xenotime come from heavy-mineral-sand operations in Florida, but the US had no fully commercial facility to separate or refine yttrium in 2025.
What yttrium is used for
| End use | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ceramics | Leading use with phosphors; zirconia stabiliser |
| Phosphors | Lighting and displays |
| Lasers | Yttrium-aluminium-garnet crystals for industrial, medical and communication lasers |
| Other | Fibre optics, optical glass, pigments |
Chinese export controls and policy
Licence status: April 2025 list.
Yttrium metal, oxide, alloys and compounds have needed a Chinese export licence since 4 April 2025. As a zirconia stabiliser, calcium or magnesium oxide can substitute but gives lower toughness; in lasers, electronics and phosphors USGS says yttrium is generally not substituted.
See the full export-control timeline, and rare earth stocks for listed companies.
Yttrium: frequently asked questions
What is yttrium?
Yttrium (Y) is a heavy rare earth element used mainly in ceramics and phosphors, with the smaller uses in lasers, fibre optics and optical glass.
What is yttrium used for?
The leading uses are ceramics and phosphors. Smaller uses include yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser crystals, fibre optics, optical glass and pigments (USGS).
Is yttrium a rare earth?
Yes. Yttrium is one of the 17 rare earth elements and is classed as a heavy rare earth, although it is excluded from USGS's heavy rare earths statistics.
Is there a yttrium price chart or live price?
We show the USGS annual average for the oxide above. We do not have a supplier reference price for yttrium metal. Prices we track weekly are on the rare earth prices page.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.