Cerium
About Cerium
Cerium is the most abundant rare earth element and a key component in automotive catalytic converters and glass polishing powders. It is a light rare earth element predominantly produced in China. Cerium oxide is widely used in petroleum fluid cracking catalysts and as a precision glass polishing agent in the optics industry.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Ce
- Atomic Number
- 58
- Category
- Rare Earth Element
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- China
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Cerium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Cerium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Cerium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Cerium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Cerium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Cerium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Cerium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Cerium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Cerium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Cerium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Cerium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Cerium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Cerium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.