Price

Holmium Pricing and Market Data

Holmium oxide prices range from $70-120/kg. The market is tiny (~15 tonnes/year), making it one of the smallest rare earth markets. No exchange-traded contracts exist. Pricing follows the broader rare earth market with Chinese domestic transactions as the benchmark. Medical laser demand provides the most stable consumption base. Holmiums extreme scarcity (it is one of the least abundant lanthanides) keeps prices elevated relative to lighter rare earths despite limited industrial demand.

Pricing Mechanisms

Holmium is priced using benchmarks from Asian Metals. Holmium pricing operates through a combination of exchange-based benchmarks, price reporting agency assessments, bilateral negotiation, and long-term offtake contracts. The specific mechanism depends on product form, grade, and the buyer-seller relationship.

Price History and Notable Market Events

The Holmium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Holmium prices include production levels in China (95% of global supply), demand from strongest permanent magnets and medical lasers for surgery, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Holmium market features both spot transactions and longer-term contracts. Spot prices reflect current conditions and are more volatile, while multi-year offtake agreements provide supply security for both producers and consumers. Current spot pricing is in the range of 80-130 $/kg oxide.