# Lanthanum Price per kg (United States)

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of lanthanum is $1.17 per kg contained.

Source: https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/lanthanum-price-us
Category: Critical Minerals (https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/critical-minerals)
Lists: US Critical Minerals List, EU Critical Raw Materials Act

## Key figures

| Figure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price per kg contained | $1.17 |
| Price type | Stockatomics monthly benchmark |
| Price month | October 2026 |
| 1-month change | - |
| 6-month change | - |
| 1-year change | +2.6% |
| 5-year change | - |
| 12-month high | $1.17 |
| 12-month low | $1.17 |
| Last updated | 18 October 2026 |

## Price summary

In the past year the monthly price has moved between $1.17 and $1.17. Measured over the past year, lanthanum is +2.6%.

## Lanthanum monthly prices

USD per kg contained, newest first.

| Month | Price | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| October 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| September 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| August 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| July 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| June 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| May 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| April 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| March 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| February 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| January 2026 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| December 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| November 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| October 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| September 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| August 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| July 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| June 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| May 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| April 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| March 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| February 2025 | $1.17 | 0.0% |
| January 2025 | $1.17 | +2.6% |
| December 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| November 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| October 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| September 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| August 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| July 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| June 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| May 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| April 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| March 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| February 2024 | $1.14 | 0.0% |
| January 2024 | $1.14 | +0.9% |
| December 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| November 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| October 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| September 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| August 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| July 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| June 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| May 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| April 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| March 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| February 2023 | $1.13 | 0.0% |
| January 2023 | $1.13 | −30.7% |
| December 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| November 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| October 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| September 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| August 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| July 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| June 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| May 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| April 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| March 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| February 2022 | $1.63 | 0.0% |
| January 2022 | $1.63 | −7.9% |
| December 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| November 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| October 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| September 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| August 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| July 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| June 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| May 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| April 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| March 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| February 2021 | $1.77 | 0.0% |
| January 2021 | $1.77 | - |

## What lanthanum is used for

Lanthanum (La) is a light rare earth used heavily in **oil refining**, where it stabilises the fluid catalytic cracking catalysts that turn heavy crude into petrol and diesel. It also forms the negative electrode of **nickel-metal hydride batteries**, still common in hybrid cars, and gives **optical glass** the high refractive index needed for camera and telescope lenses.

### Other uses

- Lanthanum carbonate, a medicine for kidney patients
- Hydrogen storage alloys
- Lighter flints, through mischmetal
- Phosphors and specialty ceramics

## Lanthanum supply and demand factors

Lanthanum is one of the most plentiful rare earths and is often in surplus, as producers separate it while chasing neodymium and praseodymium. Demand from refining catalysts, optical glass and batteries is steady, so its price follows the overall pace of rare earth production more than its own markets.

### What moves the price

- Chinese mining quotas and separation volumes
- Oil refinery catalyst demand
- Optical glass and battery demand
- Chinese export policy

## Lanthanum price history

Lanthanum spiked with the rest of the rare earths in 2011, then fell back and has mostly been in surplus since, as producers separate more of it than the market needs while chasing neodymium and praseodymium.

As of October 2026, the Stockatomics benchmark price is $1.17 per kg contained.

## Where lanthanum is produced

**China** mines and separates most of the world's lanthanum, alongside cerium and other light rare earths. The **United States**, **Australia** and Myanmar mine rare earth concentrate.

## Why lanthanum is a critical mineral

Lanthanum is on the **US critical minerals list**, and the light rare earths are on the **EU critical raw materials list**. Refinery catalysts and optical glass depend on it, and separation capacity, rather than ore, is the constraint.

## How the lanthanum benchmark price is calculated

Stockatomics publishes a US benchmark price for lanthanum in US dollars per kg contained, reading as of October 2026. The price is quoted per kg of oxide, not for a cracking catalyst. US trade in lanthanum is thin, so its price moves less often than those of the higher-volume minerals.

### Converting the price

- Lanthanum oxide contains about 85% lanthanum

## FAQ

### What is the price of lanthanum per kg today?

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of lanthanum is $1.17 per kg contained. Stockatomics updates it every month.

### What is lanthanum used for?

Mainly the catalysts that crack heavy crude oil into petrol and diesel, plus nickel-metal hydride batteries in hybrid cars, high-refractive optical glass for camera lenses and a medicine that controls phosphate in kidney patients.

### Is lanthanum a rare earth?

Yes. It is one of the most abundant light rare earths, the first element of the lanthanide series.

### Why is lanthanum cheap compared with neodymium?

Rare earth ores contain far more lanthanum and cerium than the market needs, and producers separate them anyway while chasing the more valuable magnet metals, which keeps lanthanum in surplus.

### How is the lanthanum benchmark price calculated?

The Stockatomics benchmark for lanthanum is a monthly US price in US dollars per kg contained, published every month and current as of October 2026.

## Related commodities

- [Lithium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/lithium-price-us): $89.62 per kg contained
- [Copper price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/copper-price-us): $13.92 per kg contained
- [Cobalt price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/cobalt-price-us): $56.81 per kg contained
- [Nickel price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/nickel-price-us): $17.24 per kg contained
- [Graphite price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/graphite-price-us): $1.17 per kg graphite
- [Gallium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/gallium-price-us): $1,530 per kg contained

## Sources

- U.S. trade data: the monthly lanthanum price.
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the US critical minerals list.
- Company filings: the listed companies and their roles.

Last updated 18 October 2026.