Year-by-year annual average price for samarium in USD/kg, sourced from U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), 99% REO, Chinese export price.
Samarium is critical for defense and aerospace applications requiring magnets that perform reliably at extreme temperatures where neodymium magnets would fail. Demand is driven primarily by Samarium-cobalt high-temperature permanent magnets, Defense guidance systems and sensors, Aerospace motors and actuators. Supply is concentrated in China, Russia, United States, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Samarium prices.
Samarium prices held roughly steady at $3.00 per USD/kg (2023 average: $3.00) in 2024.
Samarium prices fell -25.0% from 2022's $4.00 per USD/kg to $3.00 per USD/kg in 2023.
Samarium prices rose +14.3% from 2021's $3.50 per USD/kg to $4.00 per USD/kg in 2022. That was the highest 2022 reading in 7 years.
Samarium prices rose +16.7% from 2020's $3.00 per USD/kg to $3.50 per USD/kg in 2021. That was the highest 2021 reading in 6 years.
Samarium prices held roughly steady at $3.00 per USD/kg (2019 average: $3.00) in 2020.
Movement summaries above are calculated directly from the annual averages shown in the table. Critical Minerals HQ does not attribute price moves to specific events except where backed by sourced reporting.
| Year | Average Price (USD/kg) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.00 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | $3.00 | -25.0% |
| 2022 | $4.00 | +14.3% |
| 2021 | $3.50 | +16.7% |
| 2020 | $3.00 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | $3.00 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | $3.00 | +20.0% |
| 2017 | $2.50 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | $2.50 | -16.7% |
| 2015 | $3.00 | -25.0% |
| 2014 | $4.00 | -50.0% |
| 2013 | $8.00 | -73.3% |
| 2012 | $30 | -62.5% |
| 2011 | $80 | +900.0% |
| 2010 | $8.00 | +33.3% |
| 2009 | $6.00 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | $6.00 | +50.0% |
| 2007 | $4.00 | +33.3% |
| 2006 | $3.00 | +20.0% |
| 2005 | $2.50 | +25.0% |
| 2004 | $2.00 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | $2.00 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | $2.00 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | $2.00 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | $2.00 | — |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), 99% REO, Chinese export price
The most recent annual average we track is $3.00 per USD/kg for 2024. Live spot prices are shown on the Samarium live-price page.
up +0.0% — from $3.00 per USD/kg in 2023 to $3.00 per USD/kg in 2024.
up +0.0% — from $3.00 per USD/kg in 2019 to $3.00 per USD/kg in 2024.
down -25.0% — from $4.00 per USD/kg in 2014 to $3.00 per USD/kg in 2024.
Samarium is critical for defense and aerospace applications requiring magnets that perform reliably at extreme temperatures where neodymium magnets would fail. Demand is driven primarily by Samarium-cobalt high-temperature permanent magnets, Defense guidance systems and sensors, Aerospace motors and actuators. Supply is concentrated in China, Russia, United States, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Samarium prices.
The highest annual average samarium price in our recorded series was $80 per USD/kg in 2011.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), 99% REO, Chinese export price