America's rare-earth stockpile holds far less than funding suggests. Explore the gap between authorized dollars and delivered, provenance-clean kilograms
Element Profile
Praseodymium
Symbol
Pr
Atomic number
59
Group
Light rare earth
Properties
Density
6.77 g/cm³
Melting point
931 °C
Boiling point
3520 °C
Crustal abundance
9.2 ppm
Supply Risk
Supply risk
High
Geological scarcity
Medium
Primary economic driver
NdFeB permanent magnets (sold with neodymium as NdPr)
Overview
About Praseodymium
Praseodymium (Pr, atomic number 59) is a light rare earth metal that does most of its work alongside neodymium inside neodymium-iron-boron magnets. The two elements are so alike that refiners often sell them together as NdPr, the main magnet feedstock for electric vehicle motors and wind generators. China does most of the world's separation and refining of the magnet rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency. That ties praseodymium closely to Western efforts to build a rare earth supply chain outside China.
What praseodymium is
Praseodymium is a soft, silvery metal in the lanthanide series and one of the light rare earth elements. Like the other rare earths, it never occurs alone in nature and must be separated from its neighbors by solvent extraction or ion exchange.
The physical properties listed on this page are from the Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table.
Discovery and name: the "green twin"
In 1841, Swedish chemist Carl Mosander announced a substance he called didymium, which was thought to be a new element. In 1885, Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach showed that didymium was really two elements and split it into neodymium and praseodymium, according to Los Alamos National Laboratory. The name comes from the Greek prasios didymos, meaning "green twin." Pure praseodymium metal was first produced in 1931 (RSC). The industry still uses "didymium" for unseparated neodymium-praseodymium.
Why praseodymium is sold as NdPr
Neodymium and praseodymium have nearly the same chemistry, so separating them takes extra solvent extraction stages and money. A 2022 U.S. Department of Energy supply chain assessment found that magnet makers often use the pair unseparated, as didymium oxide or metal. In some applications, the DOE wrote, the cost of splitting them is not justified by the small gain in magnet performance. Magnet makers sometimes add separated neodymium to reach the ratio they want.
The ore sets the mix. At Mountain Pass in California, the DOE put the cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium ratio at roughly 52/30/12/4, so each unit of praseodymium comes with about three units of neodymium. In the Earth's crust, USGS lists praseodymium at 9.2 parts per million, against 41.5 for neodymium.
What praseodymium does in magnets
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are the strongest permanent magnets made, used in electric motors, wind turbines, hard drives and aircraft actuators, according to USGS Professional Paper 1802-O. Rare earths make up about 30% of a typical sintered magnet by weight, mostly neodymium and praseodymium, with iron and boron making up the rest (DOE).
Praseodymium sits in the same place in the magnet as neodymium and can stand in for part of it. Heat resistance comes from other elements. To keep magnets working at high temperatures, makers replace some of the neodymium and praseodymium with the heavy rare earths dysprosium or terbium, according to the DOE assessment. The 2023 DOE Critical Materials List includes both neodymium and praseodymium (IEA policy database).
Uses beyond magnets
- Aircraft engine alloys. Praseodymium forms a high-strength alloy with magnesium used in aircraft engines (RSC, LANL). USGS lists aerospace alloys among its main uses (MCS 2026).
- Welding and glassblowing goggles. Praseodymium oxide is a component of didymium glass, used in goggles for welders and glassmakers because it filters yellow light and infrared radiation (RSC).
- Glass and ceramic color. Praseodymium salts color glass, enamels and glazes a clean yellow (RSC). Los Alamos also notes its use to tint zirconia jewelry green.
- Lighter flints. Mischmetal for cigarette lighter flints contains about 5% praseodymium (RSC).
- Catalysts and batteries. Small amounts go into catalytic converters and nickel-metal hydride battery alloys (USGS PP 1802-O).
- Medical imaging. Praseodymium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide is a scintillator used in CT scanner detectors (REEx, October 2026).
Where praseodymium comes from
Most praseodymium comes from bastnaesite and monazite, the main ores of the light rare earths (LANL). Because it is a minor share of every ore body, its output follows the mining of the whole light rare earth group. Processing also has to manage radioactivity, which in most rare earth deposits comes from thorium, according to USGS.
USGS lists China, the United States, Australia and Burma among the larger rare earth miners in 2025 (MCS 2026). Separation is far more concentrated. The IEA reported in October 2025 that China accounted for about 91% of separation and refining of the magnet rare earths and 94% of sintered permanent magnet production.
Export controls (status as of October 2026)
As of early October 2026, praseodymium itself was not on China's export licensing lists. MOFCOM Announcement No. 18, in force since April 4, 2025, covers samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. It does reach many NdPr magnets indirectly, because it lists neodymium-iron-boron magnet materials that contain terbium or dysprosium.
Other controls touch praseodymium through technology. In December 2023, China barred the export of rare earth extraction and separation technology, CSIS reported. A wider October 2025 package would have added five more rare earths (europium, holmium, erbium, thulium and ytterbium), rare earth technologies and some foreign-made products. China suspended it in November 2025, before it took effect. Under MOFCOM Announcement No. 70, the suspension was set to run until November 10, 2026 (CIRS). As of October 6, 2026, no extension had been agreed, Tech Times reported.
NdPr supply outside China (as of October 2026)
Unlike most heavy rare earths, separated NdPr is made at commercial scale outside China, though in small volumes next to China's.
- Lynas Rare Earths, Australia and Malaysia. Lynas mines at Mount Weld in Western Australia and separates in Malaysia. It reported 1,857 metric tons of NdPr production for the June 2026 quarter in its July 2026 quarterly report.
- MP Materials, Mountain Pass, California. MP reported 840 metric tons of NdPr production for the second quarter of 2026 in its August 2026 results. A Pentagon agreement signed in July 2025 gives it a 10-year price floor for NdPr (CSIS).
- Neo Performance Materials, Estonia. Neo's Silmet plant in Sillamäe separates rare earths, including NdPr oxide, the company said in 2022 (Neo).
Other projects are still under construction. Arafura Rare Earths broke ground at its Nolans NdPr project in Australia's Northern Territory in October 2026 (REEx).
Recycling
The Royal Society of Chemistry puts praseodymium's recycling rate below 10%. In January 2025 the Pentagon awarded $5.1 million to a Houston recycler to recover rare earths from electronic waste (The Defense Post). The DOE called spent magnets by far the largest potential source of the neodymium and praseodymium that magnets need.
Why the price is hard to see
Praseodymium does not trade on a major commodity exchange. Prices come from assessments by price reporting agencies, such as the Argus Media series that USGS uses. Most quotes cover NdPr oxide. REEx reported in October 2026 that China's own reference prices build in quotas and export controls. That makes them weak open-market benchmarks.
What drives praseodymium demand and supply
Demand follows neodymium magnets, led by electric vehicle traction motors, wind generators and industrial motors. Supply follows the light rare earth ores and the plants that separate NdPr from them. China's quotas and licensing set the pace inside China. Outside it, the pace depends on new separation plants reaching steady, qualified output.
Frequently asked questions
What is praseodymium used for?
Mostly in neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, where it stands in for part of the neodymium. Other uses include magnesium alloys for aircraft engines, yellow glass and ceramic colors, didymium glass for welding goggles, lighter flints, catalysts and CT scanner detectors.
What is NdPr?
NdPr is a mix of neodymium and praseodymium, sold as oxide or metal. The two elements are chemically very similar and costly to separate. Magnet makers can use them together, so refiners often stop at the combined product.
Why is praseodymium used in welding goggles?
Praseodymium oxide is part of didymium glass, which filters yellow light and infrared radiation. Welders and glassblowers wear it to cut glare from hot work.
Does China restrict praseodymium exports?
As of early October 2026, praseodymium itself was not on China's export licensing lists. China does license NdFeB magnet materials containing terbium or dysprosium, and it has banned the export of rare earth separation technology since December 2023.
Where is praseodymium produced?
It is mined from bastnaesite and monazite in several countries, but most separation of the magnet rare earths happens in China, according to the IEA. Outside China, Lynas in Malaysia and MP Materials in California separate NdPr. Neo Performance Materials reported NdPr oxide output from its plant in Estonia in 2022.
Primary Uses
- NdFeB permanent magnets (as NdPr)
- Magnesium alloys for aircraft engines
- Yellow colorant for glass, enamels and ceramic glazes
- Didymium glass for welding and glassblowing goggles
- Mischmetal lighter flints
- Catalysts and nickel-metal hydride batteries
Producing Projects
Companies
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