Rhenium price
Rhenium is one of the rarest metals in the Earth’s crust. It is sold as 99.9% to 99.99% metal pellets and as ammonium perrhenate (APR). Unlike most metals on this site, its supply is led by Chile, China, Poland and the United States, not by China alone.
By RareMetals.net Editorial Team · Prices checked
Current rhenium price
- Europe and US, Sep 4, 2026
- $6,100-6,600/kg
- Rhenium powder benchmark $6,562/kg (SMM, 4 Sep 2026); above $6,100/kg since February
Sources: SMM rhenium powder, 4 Sep 2026 (via critical-minerals-news.com). 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: $4,600.00/kg (Metal (pellets), Pellets, Re min. 99.9%; TRADIUM, ). This list is out of date and is shown for reference only.
All rare earth and rare metal prices · How we collect prices
Rhenium 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 | Rhenium metal (99.99%), annual average | Ammonium perrhenate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $977 | $866 |
| 2022 | $1,120 | $911 |
| 2023 | $1,070 | $920 |
| 2024 | $1,360 | $1,290 |
| 2025e | $2,600 | $2,300 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
What moves the rhenium price?
Jet-engine demand
About 80% of rhenium goes into nickel superalloys for turbine blades, where 3-6% rhenium raises strength above 1,000 °C (USGS). Aircraft production and engine maintenance drive demand.
Refinery catalysts
About 15% goes into platinum-rhenium catalysts for producing high-octane gasoline. Spent catalysts are recycled in a closed loop.
Tight by-product supply
Rhenium is recovered from molybdenum concentrates of porphyry copper mines. World mine output was only about 81 tons in 2025. The 2025 metal price averaged $2,600/kg, 90% more than in 2024 (USGS), and in 2026 prices more than doubled again, to about $6,100-6,600/kg.
Recycling economics
Superalloy scrap and turbine blades are recycled; recyclers say prices need to stay above about $3,000/kg to cover processing costs (USGS).
Where rhenium comes from
| Country | Output |
|---|---|
| Chile | 30,000 |
| China | 20,000 |
| Poland | 10,000 |
| United States | 9,800 |
| Uzbekistan | 7,000 |
| South Korea | 3,000 |
| Kazakhstan | 1,000 |
| World total | 81,000 |
Secondary (recycled) rhenium added an estimated 20,000-25,000 kg in 2025, mostly in the US and Germany. Rhenium was added to the US critical minerals list in November 2025.
Rhenium price FAQ
How much is rhenium worth per kg?
The current price is $6,100-6,600/kg in Europe/US (Sep 4, 2026). That is more than double the 2025 average of about $2,600/kg for metal pellets (USGS).
Why is rhenium so expensive?
It is one of the rarest elements in the crust and is produced only as a by-product of molybdenum from copper mines, about 81 tons a year worldwide. Demand from jet-engine superalloys has no good substitute.
Who produces the most rhenium?
Chile (about 30 tons in 2025), followed by China, Poland and the United States (USGS).
Is rhenium a good investment?
Rhenium has no exchange or exchange-traded fund. Physical metal is sold by specialist dealers at a wide spread, and prices can swing sharply, as in 2025-2026. This page is information, not investment advice.
Related prices
Prices are for information only and are not an offer to buy or sell, or investment advice (disclaimer). If you quote this page, please credit "RareMetals.net" and link to it.