Price

Rubidium Pricing and Market Data

Rubidium is priced at approximately $12,000-15,000/kg, reflecting its extreme scarcity and specialized production. The market is one of the smallest of any element (~4 tonnes/year) with no public price benchmarks. All sales are through private contracts. Rubidium is so scarce and the market so small that it is barely a commodity in the traditional sense.

Pricing Mechanisms

Rubidium is priced using benchmarks from Dealer / lab-grade (99.75% metal). Rubidium 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 Rubidium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Rubidium prices include production levels in Canada (50% of global supply), demand from atomic frequency standards and gps and telecommunications timing, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Rubidium 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 $12,500 per kg.