Uses & Applications

Applications and End-Uses for Holmium

Holmium (Ho) is a high-criticality rare earth element with a diverse range of industrial and technological applications. As global demand for advanced materials intensifies, understanding where and how Holmium is consumed provides essential context for supply chain planning, investment analysis, and policy development.

Key Applications

The primary end-uses of Holmium span multiple sectors, each contributing to its classification as a critical material. The following applications represent the most significant sources of global demand:

• Strongest permanent magnets — Holmium plays a vital role in strongest permanent magnets, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Medical lasers for surgery — Holmium plays a vital role in medical lasers for surgery, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Nuclear reactor components — Holmium plays a vital role in nuclear reactor components, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Microwave equipment — Holmium plays a vital role in microwave equipment, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.

Sector Breakdown

The largest consuming sector for Holmium is strongest permanent magnets, which accounts for a substantial share of global demand. The second most significant application is medical lasers for surgery, which has shown strong growth in recent years driven by technology adoption and regulatory requirements. Emerging applications across clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing are expected to expand the demand profile for Holmium in the coming decade.

Demand Outlook

With a criticality level of high and a supply risk rating of high, the demand trajectory for Holmium is closely monitored by governments and industry analysts. Its inclusion on the USGS critical minerals list underscores the strategic importance of securing stable supply for domestic industries. The European Union has similarly recognized its importance through inclusion on the EU Critical Raw Materials list. Growing demand from electrification, digitalization, and defense modernization programs is expected to place additional pressure on existing supply chains.