Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Range | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastnasite-(Ce) | 70-75% REO, ~49% Ce | Variable | China, USA, Australia | Fluorocarbonate mineral, easier to process |
| Monazite-(Ce) | 65-70% REO, ~45-48% Ce | Variable | India, Brazil, Australia | Phosphate mineral, contains thorium |
| Ion-adsorption clays | 0.05-0.2% REO | Variable | China, Myanmar | Easier extraction but lower grades |
| Cerium Metal (99.5%) | 99.5% Ce | $3,910/MT | China, USA | Q1 2025 CFR San Diego price |
Bastnasite and Monazite - Primary Raw Materials
Current Market Price: $995-1,023/MT for Cerium Metal (Q4 2023) Cerium Oxide Price: $1,610/MT (2025 forecast) Major Global Reserves: China: Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia - World's largest deposit USA: Mountain Pass, California - Highest grade bastnaesite Australia: Mt Weld - One of the highest grade rare earth deposits India: Kerala beach sands - Monazite deposits 2025 Production Leaders: China: 56% of global production Australia: Major producer via Lynas Corporation USA: Mountain Pass mine (MP Materials) Myanmar: Ion-adsorption clays Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Range Major Sources Notes Bastnasite-(Ce) 70-75% REO, ~49% Ce Variable China, USA, Australia Fluorocarbonate mineral, easier to process Monazite-(Ce) 65-70% REO, ~45-48% Ce Variable India, Brazil, Australia Phosphate mineral,
⚠️ Seawater Cerium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 1.5 parts per trillion (0.0000015 ppm) - extremely low Chemical Form: Ce(OH)₃⁰ and Ce(OH)₄⁻ complexes at seawater pH Status: No commercial concentrated seawater cerium form exists anywhere globally. The extremely low concentration makes extraction completely uneconomical compared to mineral mining. Note: Cerium concentration in seawater is about 1,000 times lower than aluminum, making extraction even more impractical.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Material (Ore) | 15-25% | Bastnasite or monazite concentrate |
| Energy | 20-30% | Roasting, acid digestion, separation |
| Chemicals & Reagents | 25-35% | H₂SO₄, NaOH, HCl, solvent extraction reagents |
| Labor | 10-15% | Varies by country |
| Environmental & Waste Management | 10-15% | Radioactive waste handling (thorium) |
| Selling Price (2025) | $3,910/MT (Cerium Metal) |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|
| Ore Beneficiation | Mechanical/Electrical | Crushing, grinding, flotation, magnetic separation |
| Roasting (Bastnasite) | Thermal (Natural Gas) | 500-700°C to drive off CO₂, oxidize Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺ |
| Acid Digestion | Thermal/Chemical | H₂SO₄ digestion at 200-230°C (monazite) or HCl leaching (bastnasite) |
| Solvent Extraction | Mechanical/Chemical | Multi-stage separation, pumping, mixing |
| Precipitation & Calcination | Thermal | Oxalate precipitation, calcination at 700-900°C to CeO₂ |
| Metal Production (if needed) | Electrical | Metallothermic reduction or molten salt electrolysis |
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerium Metal | Ce | 140.12 g/mol | 99.0-99.99% | $3.91 | Alloys, lighter flints, reducing agent |
| Cerium(IV) Oxide | CeO₂ | 172.11 g/mol | 99.5-99.99% | $1.61 | Polishing, catalysts, fuel cells |
| Cerium(III) Oxide | Ce₂O₃ | 328.24 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $2.00-3.00 | Glass decolorizing, ceramics |
| Cerium Hydroxide | Ce(OH)₃ | 191.14 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $5.00-10.00 | Catalyst precursor, water treatment |
| Cerium Carbonate | Ce₂(CO₃)₃·xH₂O | 460.26 g/mol (anhydrous) | 99.0-99.9% | $3.00-5.00 | Auto catalysts, glass |
| Cerium Nitrate | Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 434.22 g/mol | 99.0-99.99% | $8.00-15.00 | Catalyst, oxidizing agent |
| Cerium Chloride | CeCl₃·7H₂O | 372.58 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $10.00-20.00 | Catalyst, petroleum cracking |
| Cerium Sulfate | Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O | 404.30 g/mol | 98-99% | $5.00-10.00 | Oxidizing agent, analytical chemistry |
| Cerium Fluoride | CeF₃ | 197.11 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $50.00-100.00 | Optical materials, arc-lamp electrodes |
| Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles | CeO₂ | 172.11 g/mol | 99.5-99.99% | $100-500 | Catalysis, UV absorption, fuel additives |
| Mischmetal (50% Ce) | Mixed RE metals | Variable | 50% Ce, 25% La, 25% other RE | $5.00-8.00 | Lighter flints, steel additives |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| China Northern Rare Earth Group | Cerium oxide, metal, compounds | World's largest rare earth producer, Bayan Obo mine |
| China Minmetals Rare Earth | Cerium products, mixed RE | Separation facilities, ion-adsorption clay processing |
| Shenghe Resources | Cerium concentrates, oxides | Mining and separation, strategic partnerships |
| Baotou Hefa Rare Earth | Cerium metal, compounds | Integrated producer in Inner Mongolia |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lynas Rare Earths | Cerium oxide, carbonate, chloride | Largest producer outside China, Mt Weld mine |
| Iluka Resources | Monazite concentrate | Heavy mineral sands, planned RE refinery |
| Northern Minerals | Mixed RE concentrates | Browns Range heavy rare earths project |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| MP Materials | Cerium concentrate, planning separated products | Mountain Pass mine, highest-grade bastnaesite |
| Energy Fuels | Mixed RE carbonate | Monazite processing from heavy mineral sands |
| USA Rare Earth | Planning cerium products | Round Top project development |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) | Cerium compounds, mixed RE | Monazite processing from beach sands |
| Kerala Minerals and Metals | Cerium products | Integrated rare earth processing |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| CBMM (Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração) | Cerium as byproduct | World's largest niobium producer, RE byproducts |
| Serra Verde | Planning cerium production | Ion-adsorption clay deposit development |
🇲🇾 Malaysia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lynas Malaysia (LAMP) | Separated cerium products | World's largest RE separation plant outside China |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon Advanced Materials | Planning cerium production | Nechalacho rare earth project |
| Canada Rare Earth Corporation | Cerium products (trading) | Supply chain development |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Market Share | Key Applications | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerium Oxide (CeO₂) | 45-50% | Polishing, catalysts, UV filters | 7.0% |
| Cerium Metal & Mischmetal | 20-25% | Alloys, lighter flints, steel additives | 4.5% |
| Cerium Compounds (Other) | 15-20% | Catalysts, glass additives, phosphors | 5.8% |
| Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles | 10-15% | Fuel additives, biomedical, coatings | 15.3% |
Market trends
Supply Chain Diversification: Major efforts to develop non-Chinese supply chains, with Lynas becoming first heavy RE producer outside China Nanoparticle Growth: Cerium oxide nanoparticles market growing at 15.3% CAGR due to fuel additives and biomedical applications Environmental Regulations: Stricter emission standards driving demand for cerium in catalytic converters Recycling Initiatives: Increasing focus on recovering cerium from spent catalysts and polishing waste Price Stabilization: After 2011 price spike ($98,217/MT), market has stabilized around $1,600/MT for oxide Technology Applications: Growing use in solid oxide fuel cells and water-splitting for hydrogen production Geopolitical Factors: China's export restrictions driving investment in new projects globally
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerium Metal | Ce | 140.12 | 7.14 |
| Cerium(IV) Oxide | CeO₂ | 172.11 | 5.81 |
| Cerium(III) Oxide | Ce₂O₃ | 328.24 | 3.05 |
| Cerium Hydroxide | Ce(OH)₃ | 191.14 | 5.23 |
| Cerium Carbonate (anhydrous) | Ce₂(CO₃)₃ | 460.26 | 2.17 |
| Cerium Nitrate (hexahydrate) | Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O | 434.22 | 2.30 |
| Cerium Chloride (heptahydrate) | CeCl₃·7H₂O | 372.58 | 2.68 |
| Cerium Sulfate (tetrahydrate) | Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O | 404.30 | 2.47 |
| Cerium Fluoride | CeF₃ | 197.11 | 5.07 |
References
Explore on Amazon
Explore Cerium-related materials, books, and lab gear on Amazon. Selections are search-based; results refresh on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, nanos earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.