An introduction to thulium

Thulium demand and end-uses

Thulium’s primary markets span medical technology, industrial manufacturing, and electronics, where its unique properties enable cutting-edge innovations. Among these, the medical sector is the largest and fastest-growing area of application. Thulium-based lasers have revolutionised modern surgical procedures, particularly in urology, dermatology, and cancer treatments. These lasers operate at wavelengths highly absorbed by water, allowing for precise tissue cutting, vaporisation, and coagulation, which significantly reduces surgical risks and patient recovery times. Additionally, thulium isotopes, such as Thulium-170, are widely used in portable X-ray devices and emerging radiotherapy techniques, further strengthening thulium’s role in diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare applications.

Beyond medicine, thulium is essential in industrial and manufacturing applications, where its properties enhance superalloys, catalysts, and high-performance materials. Thulium is incorporated into superalloys used in aerospace, automotive, and power generation industries, where its high-temperature stability and oxidation resistance improve material performance. Additionally, thulium-based catalysts play a vital role in hydrocracking and hydrotreating processes, increasing efficiency in chemical production and refining operations. These applications underscore thulium’s value in optimising energy-intensive industrial processes and strengthening materials for extreme environments.

The electronics sector is another key market for thulium, particularly in fibre-optic communications, display technology, and advanced lighting systems. Thulium’s ability to emit blue light upon excitation makes it valuable in flat-panel display screens and specialised lighting applications, such as halide discharge lamps. Furthermore, ongoing research into thulium-doped superconductors suggests potential applications in next-generation energy and computing systems.

In addition to its dominant markets, thulium is also utilised in niche applications, including security features, radiation detection, and magnetic materials. Its phosphorescent properties make it ideal for anti-counterfeiting measures on banknotes, while its presence in ceramic magnetic materials supports specialised industrial and scientific applications. As global demand for high-performance materials continues to rise, thulium’s significance across medical, industrial, and technological sectors is set to grow, reinforcing its status as a strategic material in global supply chains.

Thulium supply

Thulium, one of the rarest and least abundant of the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), is primarily extracted from monazite, bastnäsite, and xenotime, minerals that contain various rare earth elements in low concentrations. As with other HREEs, China dominates global thulium production, holding the largest reserves and controlling most of the world’s supply. Other countries with notable rare earth production that may contribute to thulium supply include Australia, the United States, Myanmar, India, Russia, Vietnam, and Canada.

Thulium is typically recovered as a by-product of mining and processing other rare earth elements, particularly yttrium, erbium, and ytterbium. Since its natural abundance is extremely low—estimated at 0.5 parts per million (ppm) in the Earth's crust—thulium is extracted in very small quantities, making its production highly dependent on the demand for co-occurring rare earths. The extraction and separation process involves solvent extraction and ion exchange techniques, which are necessary to isolate thulium due to its similar chemical properties to other lanthanides. These refining processes are both technically complex and costly, contributing to thulium’s relatively high market price.

As with other rare earth elements, environmental regulations, trade policies, and geopolitical factors significantly impact thulium’s supply chain. China’s dominance in rare earth production poses risks to global supply stability, particularly in the face of export restrictions and geopolitical tensions. In response, efforts to diversify supply chains are increasing, with rare earth mining projects in Australia, the United States, and Canada aiming to reduce dependence on Chinese production and enhance global supply security. However, due to its scarcity and limited demand compared to other rare earth elements, thulium remains one of the most strategically challenging elements to source in large volumes.