Ytterbium (Yb): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Ytterbium is a heavy rare earth element and one of the cheapest, with an oxide price of $15 per kilogram in 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 ytterbium in 2025 was 100% for heavy rare earth compounds and metals. Ytterbium 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
$15/kg
ytterbium oxide, 99.99% minimum, average in 2025
Which countries produce ytterbium?
| 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 ytterbium used for?
- 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.
How much does ytterbium cost?
| Price | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ytterbium oxide, 99.99% minimum, average | dollars per kilogram | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare earths (heavy). The 2025 figures are USGS estimates. Prices are annual averages of the series named in each row, so they are not live quotes.
Is ytterbium a critical mineral?
Ytterbium 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 October 2025 (europium, holmium, erbium, thulium and ytterbium), which China suspended for one year in November 2025; the April 2025 controls remained in effect.
See the export controls tracker for dates and current status.
What are the substitutes for ytterbium?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Several applications | Light rare earths can substitute for heavy rare earths, though substitutes are generally less effective |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare earths (heavy). USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
What are the supply risks and recent events for ytterbium?
- October to November 2025. China added ytterbium to its rare earth export controls in October 2025 and suspended that expansion for one year in November. The April 2025 controls remained in effect.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Ytterbium compounds and metals: China, 86%; Germany, 4%; Chile, 4%; Republic of Korea, 3%; and other, 3%. (USGS)
Which companies produce or process ytterbium?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Rare Earth Group Resource Technology | China | Ionic clay rare earth separator (SZSE: 000831) | Its 2025 annual report, in Chinese, names ytterbium among the elements its Yongzhou Rare Earth plant can separate to 99.99% to 99.999% purity, from a 5,000 tonne a year project now in production. China Rare Earth Group Resource Technology: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (April 2026) |
| IPG Photonics | United States | Fiber laser maker, a user of ytterbium-doped fiber (Nasdaq: IPGP) | Its 10-K names ytterbium as one of three gain media for its fiber lasers, with erbium and thulium, and says its ytterbium fiber lasers reach power levels of up to 125,000 watts. IPG Photonics, Form 10-K for 2025 (filed 23 February 2026) |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is ytterbium used for?
Ytterbium is used in heavy rare earth uses. 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 country produces the most ytterbium?
USGS does not report ytterbium 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 ytterbium a critical mineral?
Yes. Ytterbium is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Ytterbium was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for ytterbium in 2025 was 100% for heavy rare earth compounds and metals.
How much does ytterbium cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of ytterbium at $15/kg (ytterbium oxide, 99.99% minimum, average).
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 (heavy). 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)
- 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
- China Rare Earth Group Resource Technology: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (April 2026)
- IPG Photonics, Form 10-K for 2025 (filed 23 February 2026)
Related topics
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.
Cerium
Profile of cerium.
Dysprosium
Profile of dysprosium.
