Samarium Substitutes: Alternatives and Trade-offs
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Samarium can be replaced in some applications and not in others. For most applications, USGS names USGS says substitutes for rare earths are available for many applications but generally are less effective.
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)
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
Which materials can replace samarium?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Most applications | USGS says substitutes for rare earths are available for many applications but generally are less effective |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare earths. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Frequently asked questions
What can replace samarium?
Most applications: USGS says substitutes for rare earths are available for many applications but generally are less effective.
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.
Can samarium be recycled?
Limited quantities of rare earths were recovered from batteries, permanent magnets and fluorescent lamps.
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.
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
- 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: full profile
Uses, producers, price, substitutes and critical list status for samarium.
Samarium price
The price 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.
