Dysprosium Substitutes: Alternatives and Trade-offs
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Dysprosium can be replaced in some applications and not in others. For several applications, USGS names light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective.
390,000 t
estimated world production of all rare earths combined in 2025
$239/kg
dysprosium oxide, 99.5% minimum, average in 2025 (-7% on 2024)
What is dysprosium used for?
- Permanent magnets: alloys containing neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium or praseodymium (USGS, 2002); high-strength magnets are among the heavy rare earth uses USGS lists
- Other heavy rare earth uses: USGS says heavy rare earths are used in catalysts for petroleum refining, fiber optics, high-strength magnets, industrial and medical lasers, and medical and scientific equipment such as portable X-rays, and that end use varies by element.
Which materials can replace dysprosium?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Several applications | Light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare earths. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Frequently asked questions
What can replace dysprosium?
Several applications: light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective.
What is dysprosium used for?
Dysprosium is used in permanent magnets and other heavy rare earth uses. Permanent magnets: alloys containing neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium or praseodymium (USGS, 2002); high-strength magnets are among the heavy rare earth uses USGS lists.
Can dysprosium be recycled?
Small quantities of heavy rare earths were recovered from permanent magnets.
Is dysprosium a critical mineral?
Yes. Dysprosium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Dysprosium was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for dysprosium in 2025 was 100% for heavy rare earth compounds and metals.
Sources
Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare earths. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare earths (heavy)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- Lynas Rare Earths: 2026 Annual Report and Appendix 4E (26 August 2026). Company statements on its heavy rare earth products and plans
- Iluka Resources: 2026 Half Year Results presentation (19 August 2026). Company statements on the Eneabba refinery design
- USGS Fact Sheet 087-02: Rare Earth Elements, Critical Resources for High Technology (2002). Used for the uses of individual elements; it dates from 2002
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Annex I. Lists neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, gadolinium, samarium and cerium as rare earths for permanent magnets
- Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
- Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
- EarthRarest price list. Dealer list price, read October 14, 2026; our sister business
- Energy Fuels, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026
- MP Materials, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026
- Neo Performance Materials: heavy rare earth line commissioned at Silmet (10 April 2026)
- Solvay: second quarter and first half 2026 financial report (29 July 2026)
- Northern Minerals: Browns Range feasibility study presentation (15 September 2025)
- Aclara Resources: release on the Carina and Project Dynamo technical reports (13 April 2026)
- NioCorp: Elk Creek project page (2026 technical report of 10 August 2026)
- China Northern Rare Earth: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (17 April 2026)
- Xiamen Tungsten: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (24 April 2026)
Related topics
Dysprosium: full profile
Uses, producers, price, substitutes and critical list status for dysprosium.
Dysprosium price
The price page for dysprosium.
China profile
Production, policy and projects in China.
Critical Minerals Lists Compared
The US, EU, Australian and Canadian lists side by side.
Export Controls and Restrictions
China, Indonesia, DR Congo and other measures with dates.
The 17 Rare Earth Elements
Every rare earth with its group, price and control status.
