Lutetium
The heaviest rare earth; used in PET-scan detectors and cancer radiotherapy.
Minimal — medical imaging and catalysts.
Among the seven heavy rare earths China placed under export controls in April 2025; China still supplies most separated output.
Where it's produced
Share of 2025 world mine production (rare-earth oxide equivalent) (metric tons) · figures are for Rare earths (total, REO). Source: USGS MCS 2026.
Where the reserves are
Share of known economic reserves (metric tons). World total: 85M t. ≈ 218 years at 2025 output.
Who calls it critical
Membership on each government list. “Strategic” marks a higher tier where the list has one; “group” means included as part of a group such as rare earths or PGMs.
Lutetium: key questions
- Where is lutetium mined or produced?
- According to USGS 2025 data, the largest producers are China (69%), United States (13%) and Australia (7.4%) of world mine production (rare-earth oxide equivalent).
- Is lutetium a critical mineral?
- Lutetium appears on 8 of the 10 official lists we track (United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, India, Australia, Canada).
- Is lutetium in short supply?
- Our supply status: Tight / restricted. Among the seven heavy rare earths China placed under export controls in April 2025; China still supplies most separated output.
- Why does lutetium matter for AI infrastructure?
- Minimal — medical imaging and catalysts.
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