Uses & Applications

Applications and End-Uses for Ruthenium

Ruthenium (Ru) is a high-criticality platinum group metal with a diverse range of industrial and technological applications. As global demand for advanced materials intensifies, understanding where and how Ruthenium is consumed provides essential context for supply chain planning, investment analysis, and policy development.

Key Applications

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

• Hard disk drive coatings — Ruthenium plays a vital role in hard disk drive coatings, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Electrical contacts and resistors — Ruthenium plays a vital role in electrical contacts and resistors, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Chemical catalysts — Ruthenium plays a vital role in chemical catalysts, where its unique physical and chemical properties provide performance advantages that are difficult to replicate with alternative materials.
• Electrochemistry for hydrogen — Ruthenium plays a vital role in electrochemistry for hydrogen, 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 Ruthenium is hard disk drive coatings, which accounts for a substantial share of global demand. The second most significant application is electrical contacts and resistors, 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 Ruthenium in the coming decade.

Demand Outlook

With a criticality level of high and a supply risk rating of high, the demand trajectory for Ruthenium 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.