Lanthanum (La, atomic number 57) is a silvery-white metal and the lightest of the lanthanide series — the group of 15 elements that forms the core of what are commonly called rare earth elements. Understanding what is lanthanum means understanding one of the most commercially active light rare earth elements (LREE), with primary demand driven by nickel-metal hydride batteries, petroleum refining catalysts, and high-performance optical glass.
What Is Lanthanum? Properties and Classification
Lanthanum is a soft, malleable metal that oxidises rapidly in air and reacts slowly with water. It sits at the head of the lanthanide series and is classified as a light rare earth element (LREE), grouped with cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, and europium. LREEs are generally more abundant in the Earth’s crust than heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) such as dysprosium and terbium, but supply remains concentrated in China.
In nature, lanthanum does not occur in isolation. It is found alongside cerium and praseodymium in two primary ore minerals: bastnäsite, a fluoro-carbonate found at Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia and Mountain Pass in California; and monazite, a phosphate mineral mined at Mt Weld in Western Australia and ionic clay deposits in southern China. Lanthanum’s crustal abundance — estimated at 32–39 parts per million by the USGS — places it among the more common REEs, but economic extraction remains tied to a small number of deposits.
Lanthanum Uses — NiMH Batteries and Beyond
The largest single end-use for lanthanum is as the anode material in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. The active compound is LaNi₅ — a lanthanum-nickel hydride intermetallic — which stores and releases hydrogen efficiently during charge and discharge cycles. NiMH batteries power hybrid electric vehicles including the Toyota Prius, which uses approximately 10–15 kg of lanthanum per battery pack. Global NiMH demand accounts for roughly 40–50% of lanthanum consumption by volume, according to industry estimates.
The second major application is fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts used in petroleum refining. Lanthanum oxide stabilises the zeolite structure within FCC catalysts, extending catalyst life and improving conversion efficiency when crude oil is cracked into gasoline and other fractions. Refineries globally consume significant lanthanum tonnage annually through catalyst replenishment — an application that is largely independent of the energy transition narrative and provides a stable baseline demand floor.
The third established use is optical glass. Lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) raises the refractive index of glass without increasing dispersion, enabling thinner, lighter lenses with superior optical clarity. Applications include camera lenses, projector optics, telescope elements, and precision scientific instruments. High-end optics manufacturers in Japan, Germany, and China rely on lanthanum for premium glass formulations.
One common misconception is worth addressing directly: lanthanum is not used in NdFeB sintered permanent magnets. Neodymium-iron-boron magnets — the high-performance magnets used in EV drive motors and wind turbine generators — are a neodymium and praseodymium application, with dysprosium and terbium added for high-temperature coercivity. Lanthanum has no role in this supply chain.
Lanthanum Price and Market Position
Lanthanum is among the lowest-priced rare earth elements by weight, reflecting its relative abundance as a co-product of cerium extraction at large-volume LREE deposits. Indicative industrial spot prices for lanthanum oxide (99% La₂O₃) have traded in the range of $1.50–$3.00/kg in recent years, subject to Chinese domestic production quotas and export policy. This compares sharply with neodymium at approximately $125/kg and dysprosium above $220/kg on current Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) benchmarks.
The low price of lanthanum reflects a persistent oversupply condition: cerium and lanthanum are produced together in large quantities at Bayan Obo, and demand has not historically kept pace with the volume generated as a processing by-product. Any significant ramp in NiMH battery demand — or a policy shift reducing refinery catalyst substitutes — would tighten the lanthanum balance faster than new mine supply could respond.
| Form | Indicative Price (USD/kg) | Source / Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Lanthanum oxide (99% La₂O₃) | $1.50–$3.00/kg | SMM indicative range; subject to change |
| Lanthanum metal (99%) | $3.00–$6.00/kg | SMM indicative range; subject to change |
| Neodymium metal (for comparison) | ~$125/kg | SMM April 2026 |
| Dysprosium metal (for comparison) | ~$221/kg | SMM April 2026 |
Prices are indicative only. Industrial spot prices fluctuate with Chinese quota policy and seasonal demand. This table is not investment advice.
Lanthanum Supply Chain — China’s Dominance
China accounts for approximately 60–70% of global lanthanum production, with the majority originating from Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia — the world’s largest rare earth deposit by volume. China Northern Rare Earth Group, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, is the primary operator at Bayan Obo and the dominant producer of LREE including lanthanum, cerium, and praseodymium.
Outside China, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) at Mt Weld in Western Australia is the most significant producer. Mt Weld’s ore is rich in NdPr but also generates substantial lanthanum and cerium as co-products through Lynas’s Malaysian processing facility (LAMP) and its developing Kalgoorlie facility in Western Australia. However, Western downstream separation and refining capacity for lanthanum remains limited relative to the volumes produced upstream.
MP Materials (NYSE: MP) at Mountain Pass, California, produces a mixed rare earth carbonate that includes lanthanum, though the company’s commercial focus is on NdPr separation for the magnet supply chain. Western lanthanum separation into oxide and metal form at commercial scale is nascent and will require further investment to reduce dependence on Chinese refining capacity.
Is Lanthanum a Critical Mineral?
Lanthanum’s designation as a critical mineral varies by jurisdiction. The European Union Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) lists lanthanum-group elements on its strategic raw materials list, citing supply concentration risk despite relative crustal abundance. The US Department of Energy and USGS assessments treat lanthanum as a mineral of concern due to refining concentration rather than geological scarcity.
Lanthanum does not attract the same strategic urgency as the heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for high-performance permanent magnets and face genuine supply tightness. But any sustained disruption to Chinese LREE output — through export controls, quota reductions, or processing bottlenecks — would affect lanthanum supply alongside more commercially prominent elements. For broader context on how lanthanum fits within the rare earth family, see What Are Rare Earth Elements?
According to USGS Mineral Resources, global rare earth production was approximately 350,000 tonnes (REO basis) in 2024, with China accounting for around 220,000 tonnes. Lanthanum and cerium together represent the largest fraction of that output by weight.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Prices and data are subject to change without notice.
What is lanthanum used for?
Lanthanum’s primary uses are as the anode material (LaNi₅) in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, as a stabiliser in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts used in petroleum refining, and as lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) in high-refractive-index optical glass for camera and projector lenses. It is not used in NdFeB permanent magnets.
Is lanthanum used in electric vehicle batteries?
Lanthanum is used in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which power hybrid electric vehicles such as the Toyota Prius — typically 10–15 kg per battery pack. It is not used in lithium-ion batteries, which power most fully electric vehicles. As the automotive industry shifts toward lithium-ion chemistry, NiMH demand is concentrated in hybrid rather than pure-electric platforms.
What is the current lanthanum price?
Lanthanum oxide (99% La₂O₃) has historically traded in the range of $1.50–$3.00 per kg at Chinese industrial spot, making it one of the lowest-priced rare earth elements by weight. Prices fluctuate with Chinese domestic production quotas and export policy. For comparison, neodymium currently trades around $125/kg and dysprosium above $220/kg on SMM benchmarks.
Where is lanthanum mined?
The majority of global lanthanum supply originates from Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia, China, operated by China Northern Rare Earth Group. Outside China, the most significant source is Mt Weld in Western Australia, operated by Lynas Rare Earths, where lanthanum and cerium are produced as co-products of NdPr extraction. Mountain Pass in California (MP Materials) also produces lanthanum as part of its mixed rare earth carbonate output.
Is lanthanum a rare earth element?
Yes. Lanthanum (La, atomic number 57) is both the lightest lanthanide and the element after which the entire lanthanide series is named. It is classified as a light rare earth element (LREE), along with cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. Despite the “rare” label, lanthanum is relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust — supply risk stems from geographic concentration of processing, not geological scarcity.
