Cerium oxide
CeO₂The primary traded form, standard polishing compound for glass and semiconductor finishing, and a catalyst material.
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Cerium
The most abundant rare earth — and the reason your phone screen is scratch-free.
Cerium is the most abundant rare-earth element by production and, like lanthanum, is largely a co-product of mining for higher-value rare earths, which keeps its price among the lowest of any rare-earth oxide. Its dominant use is as a polishing compound: cerium oxide is the industry-standard abrasive for finishing optical glass, semiconductor wafers, and display glass. It is also used in automotive catalytic converters and diesel fuel-borne catalysts to reduce emissions.
Key Applications
- Cerium oxide polishing for optical, semiconductor, and display glass
- Automotive catalytic converters and diesel fuel-borne catalysts
- UV-absorbing glass and ceramic coatings
- Mischmetal alloys for lighter flints
Key Facts
- Atomic number
- 58
- Primary supply
- Abundant co-product of bastnaesite and monazite processing
- Key constraint
- Oversupplied; output is driven by NdPr extraction
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Pricing & Market Trends
Market Context
$1.71/kgup trend
Cerium oxide, 99.5% minimum, free on board • As of 2025 average
The USGS-reported average declined from $1.54/kg in 2021 to $1.03/kg in 2023, then rose to $1.21/kg in 2024 and $1.71/kg in 2025. Despite that increase, cerium remains a structurally oversupplied co-product.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare Earths (February 2026)
Key Drivers
- Glass, display, and semiconductor polishing demand
- Automotive catalyst demand
- Co-product supply tied to NdPr production
Common Cerium Compounds
Cerium carbonate
Ce₂(CO₃)₃A precursor used in catalyst preparation and glass and ceramic processing.
Mischmetal
Ce–La alloyA cerium-lanthanum alloy used in lighter flints and other pyrophoric applications.
Direct Answers
Cerium questions, answered
What is cerium used for?
Cerium’s largest use is as cerium oxide, the industry-standard polishing compound for optical glass, semiconductor wafers, and display glass. It is also widely used in automotive catalytic converters and diesel emission-control catalysts.
How much does cerium cost?
The USGS reported a 2025 average of $1.71/kg for cerium oxide at 99.5% minimum purity, free on board. This is historical context rather than a live quote.
What is cerium carbonate used for?
Cerium carbonate is used as a precursor in catalyst preparation and in glass and ceramic processing.