Samarium (Sm): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
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Samarium is a rare earth element used in permanent magnet alloys, and China added it to export licensing in April 2025. USGS reports production only for all rare earths combined: in 2025 China produced an estimated 270,000 t of rare earth oxide equivalent, 69% of the world total (USGS world total: 390,000 t). US net import reliance for samarium in 2025 was 67% for rare earth compounds and metals as a group. Samarium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian.
390,000 t
estimated world production of all rare earths combined in 2025
$2.82/kg
samarium oxide, 99.5% minimum, average in 2025 (+40% on 2024)
Which countries produce samarium?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world | Reserves (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 270,000 | 270,000 | 69% | 44,000,000 |
| United States | 45,500 | 51,000 | 13% | 1,900,000 |
| Australia | 29,000 | 29,000 | 7.4% | 6,300,000 |
| Burma | 27,000 | 22,000 | 5.6% | NA |
| All other countries | 12,500 | 17,310 | 4.4% | NA |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 380,000 | 390,000 | 100% | >75,000,000 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare earths. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data. USGS reports mine production only for all rare earths combined (as rare earth oxide equivalent), not for individual elements.
What is samarium used for?
- Permanent magnets: alloys containing neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium or praseodymium (USGS, 2002); the EU lists samarium among the rare earths for permanent magnets
How much does samarium cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of samarium at $2.82/kg (samarium oxide, 99.5% minimum, average; +40% on 2024). Full samarium price page.
Is samarium a critical mineral?
Samarium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Each government builds its list with its own method, so a mineral can be critical in one place and not in another.
| Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Critical mineral (final 2025 list) |
| European Union | Critical and strategic |
| Australia | Critical minerals list |
| Canada | Critical (priority) |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
Export controls and trade measures
- China has required export licenses for rare earths since 2025. USGS lists this element among those added in the April 2025 measures: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium.
See the export controls tracker for dates and current status.
What are the substitutes for samarium?
USGS says substitutes for rare earths are available for many applications but generally are less effective. Full samarium substitutes page.
Can samarium be recycled?
Limited quantities of rare earths were recovered from batteries, permanent magnets and fluorescent lamps.
What are the supply risks and recent events for samarium?
- March 2026. Lynas achieved first production of samarium oxide at Lynas Malaysia, its third separated heavy rare earth product after dysprosium and terbium. Initial customer orders were expected to be fulfilled in the first quarter of its 2027 financial year, and it expects to increase samarium capacity in calendar 2028 (Lynas, 26 August 2026).
- April to November 2025. China added samarium to its export controls in April 2025. The April controls remained in effect as of December 2025, although China began to issue general export licenses to selected exporters.
- 2025. The average samarium oxide price rose 40% from $2.01 to $2.82 per kilogram.
Which companies produce or process samarium?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynas Rare Earths | Australia and Malaysia | Rare earth miner and separator, producing separated samarium oxide (ASX: LYC) | Its 2026 annual report says first production of samarium oxide at Lynas Malaysia was achieved in March 2026, that customer qualification had begun, that initial customer orders are expected to be filled in the first quarter of FY27, and that more samarium capacity is expected in CY28. Lynas Rare Earths: 2026 Annual Report and Appendix 4E (26 August 2026) |
| Solvay | France (La Rochelle) | Rare earth separator | Its roadshow presentation after the first quarter of 2026 puts the second half of 2025 on its timeline for becoming first producer in Europe for samarium. Solvay: roadshow presentation after first-quarter 2026 results |
| MP Materials | United States | Rare earth miner and refiner at Mountain Pass (NYSE: MP) | Its second-quarter 2026 release links a Department of War loan from July 2025 to the build-out of samarium oxide production. MP Materials: second quarter 2026 results (6 August 2026) |
| Aclara Resources | Canada (Carina project in Brazil) | Developer of an ionic clay heavy rare earth project (TSX: ARA) | Its April 2026 release expects an average of 173 tonnes a year of samarium from the Carina project over an 18-year mine life. Aclara Resources: release on the Carina and Project Dynamo technical reports (13 April 2026) |
| NioCorp Developments | United States (Elk Creek, Nebraska) | Developer of a niobium, scandium and titanium project with rare earth by-products (Nasdaq: NB) | Its project page lists a samarium-europium-gadolinium carbonate among the products expected from Elk Creek. NioCorp: Elk Creek project page (2026 technical report of 10 August 2026) |
| China Northern Rare Earth | China | Rare earth producer (SSE: 600111) | Its 2025 annual report, in Chinese, lists samarium oxide among its main products, for magnetic materials, ceramics, glass and electronic components. China Northern Rare Earth: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (17 April 2026) |
| Arnold Magnetic Technologies | United States | Samarium cobalt magnet maker, a user of samarium | Its website describes its RECOMA samarium cobalt magnets, and a second page says it agreed with Solvay and Less Common Metals to secure Western-origin rare earth materials for permanent magnets. Arnold Magnetic Technologies: RECOMA samarium cobalt magnets Arnold Magnetic Technologies: supply agreement with Solvay and Less Common Metals |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is samarium used for?
Samarium is used in permanent magnets. Permanent magnets: alloys containing neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium or praseodymium (USGS, 2002); the EU lists samarium among the rare earths for permanent magnets.
Which country produces the most samarium?
USGS does not report samarium separately; China produced the most rare earths of any country in 2025, an estimated 270,000 t (69%) of the world's 390,000 t of rare earth oxide equivalent.
Is samarium a critical mineral?
Yes. Samarium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Samarium was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for samarium in 2025 was 67% for rare earth compounds and metals as a group.
How much does samarium cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of samarium at $2.82/kg (samarium oxide, 99.5% minimum, average; +40% on 2024).
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: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 4, export controls by country)
- Lynas Rare Earths: 2026 Annual Report and Appendix 4E (26 August 2026). Company statements on its heavy rare earth products and plans
- 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
- Solvay: roadshow presentation after first-quarter 2026 results
- MP Materials: second quarter 2026 results (6 August 2026)
- 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)
- Arnold Magnetic Technologies: RECOMA samarium cobalt magnets
- Arnold Magnetic Technologies: supply agreement with Solvay and Less Common Metals
Related topics
Samarium price
The price page for samarium.
Samarium substitutes
The substitutes page for samarium.
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.
