Hafnium price
Hafnium is a dense, silvery metal that occurs only with zirconium. It is a by-product of making nuclear-grade zirconium, which must have the hafnium removed, so hafnium supply depends on the nuclear industry rather than on hafnium demand. It is sold as crystal bar, sponge or lumps.
By RareMetals.net Editorial Team · Prices checked
Current hafnium price
- Europe and US, June 2026
- $14,000-14,500/kg
- Western public quotes passed $14,000/kg in June 2026
Sources: Our Elements, hafnium market, Jun 2026. Minor-metal and rare earth markets are thin and assessments differ by provider, so ranges are shown. Yuan prices converted at 6.6 yuan per US dollar.
Last supplier list price on file: $10,400.60/kg (Metal (lumps), lumps, Hf + Zr, Zr < 1%; TRADIUM, ). This list is out of date and is shown for reference only.
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Hafnium price history, 2021-2025 (USGS)
Annual averages from the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest official series. They show the trend up to 2025; compare them with the current prices above.
| Year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $781 |
| 2022 | $1,590 |
| 2023 | $6,130 |
| 2024 | $4,560 |
| 2025e | $3,800 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
What moves the hafnium price?
Superalloys
The leading use is nickel superalloys for jet-engine and gas-turbine blades (USGS), so aerospace demand drives the price.
Semiconductors
Hafnium oxide is the high-k gate dielectric in modern logic and memory chips; chip makers buy very high purity hafnium compounds.
Nuclear and cutting tools
Hafnium absorbs neutrons and is used in some reactor control rods. It is also the electrode tip in plasma-cutting torches.
Supply tied to zirconium
Only a few companies separate hafnium from zirconium, in France, the United States, China and Russia. The price jumped almost fourfold in 2023 when aerospace demand recovered faster than supply, eased in 2024-2025, and then rose again: Western quotes passed $14,000/kg in June 2026.
Where hafnium comes from
The USGS does not publish world hafnium production or reserves. Germany and China were the leading exporters of unwrought hafnium in 2025, and Germany supplied 54% of US imports in 2021-24.
Hafnium price FAQ
How much is hafnium worth per kg?
The current price is $14,000-14,500/kg in Europe/US (June 2026). The USGS 2025 average for unwrought hafnium was much lower, about $3,800/kg; prices vary widely with purity and zirconium content.
Why is hafnium so expensive?
Hafnium is only produced when nuclear-grade zirconium is purified, so supply is small and cannot respond quickly to demand from jet engines and semiconductors.
What is hafnium used for?
Nickel superalloys for turbine blades, hafnium oxide in microchips, nuclear control rods and plasma-cutting electrodes.
Is hafnium radioactive?
Natural hafnium is essentially stable; it is not considered a radioactive material. It is used in reactors because it absorbs neutrons.
Related prices
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