Thulium
Overview
Thulium is one of the rarest rare earth elements. It's used in portable X-ray devices and specialized laser systems. The element's isotopes are used in small, portable X-ray sources for medical and dental applications. Despite its high cost, thulium's unique properties make it valuable for specific technological applications.
Appearance
Silvery-gray
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f¹³6s²
Density
9.32 g/cm³
Melting Point
1545°C
Discovery
Discovery Timeline
Primary Uses
- Portable X-ray devices
- Metal halide lamps
- Laser technology
- Radiation devices
Application Sectors
Economic Value
Current Price
$3000 per kg
Price Trend
Supply Risk
Primary Producers
Investing in Thulium
- Thulium oxide (99.9%) trades at US $3000-3200 /kg FOB China (≈ US $3.10 /g) as of May 2025.
- European spot prices reach US $3800-4200 /kg due to extreme scarcity and specialized certification requirements.
- Asian Metal's index shows high volatility driven by medical device demand and ultra-limited supply.
- Small-lot investors face 60-80% premiums above bulk prices due to extreme rarity.
- Metal prices carry 70-85% premium over oxide due to complex processing and ultra-high purity requirements.
How to Get Exposure
Route | Why It Appeals | Watch-outs |
---|---|---|
Physical metal/oxide | Direct exposure to medical X-ray technology growth | Extreme scarcity, very high storage costs |
Mining stocks | Operational leverage to medical technology demand | Virtually no pure-play options |
ETFs | Broader rare earth exposure | Negligible Tm-specific exposure |
Market Outlook
- Portable X-ray device demand driving premium medical applications growth.
- Metal halide lamp applications providing specialized lighting market exposure.
- Laser technology applications creating niche but high-value markets.
- Radiation source applications in medical and industrial sectors showing steady growth.
- Supply extremely limited - second rarest rare earth element after lutetium.
- Medical device certification requirements creating additional supply bottlenecks.
- Recycling virtually impossible due to minute quantities and specialized applications.
- Research applications in quantum computing and advanced materials showing early promise.
FAQs
Why invest in Thulium?
Thulium is one of the rarest rare earth elements, offering exposure to high-end medical imaging technology and specialized laser applications with extremely limited supply.
How volatile is the Thulium market?
Extremely volatile due to ultra-thin markets, limited supply sources, and specialized demand - price swings of 40-80% are common based on medical device production cycles.
What are the main investment risks?
Extreme scarcity, virtually no market liquidity, potential substitution by alternatives, concentration in highly specialized medical applications, and astronomical entry costs.
What drives Thulium demand?
Portable X-ray devices, specialized laser systems, metal halide lamps, and radiation sources for medical and industrial applications are the primary demand drivers.
Is Thulium suitable for most investors?
No - only for ultra-high-net-worth investors with extreme risk tolerance and deep rare earth market knowledge. Consider it purely speculative due to market illiquidity and extreme rarity.
Disclaimer: Market data is indicative and updates frequently; nothing here constitutes financial advice.