Terbium Substitutes: Alternatives and Trade-offs

Terbium can be replaced in some applications and not in others. For several applications, USGS names light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective.

What is terbium used for?

• High-strength magnets: among the heavy rare earth uses USGS lists
• Fluorescent lamps: energy-efficient lamps use yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, europium, gadolinium and terbium (USGS, 2002)
• Other heavy rare earth uses: USGS says heavy rare earths are used in catalysts for petroleum refining, fiber optics, high-strength magnets, industrial and medical lasers, and medical and scientific equipment such as portable X-rays, and that end use varies by element.

Which materials can replace terbium?

Frequently asked questions

What can replace terbium?

Several applications: light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective.

What is terbium used for?

Terbium is used in high-strength magnets, fluorescent lamps and other heavy rare earth uses. High-strength magnets: among the heavy rare earth uses USGS lists.

Can terbium be recycled?

Small quantities of heavy rare earths were recovered from permanent magnets.

Is terbium a critical mineral?

Yes. Terbium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Terbium was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for terbium in 2025 was 100% for heavy rare earth compounds and metals.

Sources

Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.

1. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare earths. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
2. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Rare earths (heavy)
3. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
4. Lynas Rare Earths: 2026 Annual Report and Appendix 4E (26 August 2026). Company statements on its heavy rare earth products and plans
5. Iluka Resources: 2026 Half Year Results presentation (19 August 2026). Company statements on the Eneabba refinery design
6. 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
7. Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Annex I. Lists neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, gadolinium, samarium and cerium as rare earths for permanent magnets
8. Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
9. EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
10. Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
11. Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
12. EarthRarest price list. Dealer list price, read October 14, 2026; our sister business
13. Energy Fuels, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026
14. Neo Performance Materials: heavy rare earth line commissioned at Silmet (10 April 2026)
15. Solvay: roadshow presentation after first-quarter 2026 results
16. MP Materials, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026
17. Aclara Resources: release on the Carina and Project Dynamo technical reports (13 April 2026)
18. NioCorp: Elk Creek project page (2026 technical report of 10 August 2026)
19. China Northern Rare Earth: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (17 April 2026)
20. China Rare Earth Group Resource Technology: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (April 2026)
21. Xiamen Tungsten: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (24 April 2026)