Scandium: Overview
Why tiny amounts of scandium matter to aircraft and fuel cells
What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.Key uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid oxide fuel cells (scandia-stabilised zirconia electrolyte) | n/a | n/a basis | Adding scandium oxide to zirconia gives the highest oxygen-ion conductivity of the common stabilisers, so cells run efficiently at lower temperatures. Large stationary fuel-cell systems for power generation and backup power for critical infrastructure, such as data centres, use it. EU CRM 2023 lists SOFCs as a selected use. Here scandium's unique properties mean substitution is hard. USGS MCS 2026, Scandium; EU CRM study 2023 | Yttria-stabilised zirconia (lower conductivity) Ceria-based electrolytes Other fuel-cell or battery technologies |
| Aerospace aluminium-scandium alloys | n/a | n/a basis | A few tenths of a per cent of scandium refines aluminium grains and forms Al3Sc particles that raise strength, stop weld cracking and resist heat. This makes lighter welded structures possible in aircraft and spacecraft. The high price, about $30/kg for 2% Al-Sc master alloy in 2025, limits use to parts where weight savings pay. USGS MCS 2026, Scandium | High-strength aluminium-lithium and 7000-series alloys Titanium alloys Carbon-fibre composites |
| Other alloys: military equipment and sporting goods | n/a | n/a basis | The same strength and weldability benefits suit bicycle frames, baseball bats, firearm frames and military hardware. These markets tolerate higher material costs for lighter, stronger parts. Volumes are small and vary with price. USGS MCS 2026, Scandium | Conventional high-strength aluminium alloys Titanium Carbon fibre |
| Electronics | n/a | n/a basis | Scandium compounds are used in thin films and other electronic materials where their specific electrical and piezoelectric properties matter. Each device uses very little, but demand could grow if new applications scale. USGS gives no tonnage. USGS MCS 2026, Scandium | Other dopants and thin-film materials, case by case |
From mine to user
- 1. Host ore processing Scandium is too dispersed to mine alone. It is recovered from nickel laterite (HPAL), titanium dioxide and other process streams, tailings and residues.
- 2. Capture from waste streams Acid leach liquors or titanium-pigment wastes are treated by solvent extraction or ion exchange to pull out scandium.
- 3. Intermediate (oxalate or crude oxide) Scandium is precipitated as an oxalate or hydroxide. Philippine nickel operations ship scandium oxalate to Japan for refining (USGS).
- 4. Refining to 99.99% scandium oxide Calcination gives high-purity oxide, the traded form. China priced it at about $640/kg ex-works in 2025 (Asian Metal via USGS).
- 5. Metal and master alloy Oxide is converted to metal (about $5,200/kg for 99.999% ingot in 2025) or to 2% Al-Sc master alloy (about $30/kg).
- 6. End users Fuel-cell makers, aerospace alloy producers, sporting-goods and electronics makers. World use was about 60 t of oxide in 2025.
Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25
No public daily or monthly benchmark price for this commodity in the datasets used.
Three things to know
- World scandium oxide output was only about 80 t in 2025, against roughly 60 t of consumption (USGS).
- Chinese scandium oxide prices fell from $890-1,000/kg in 2021 to about $640/kg in 2025 (USGS).
- The US Defense Logistics Agency plans to buy over 6,000 kg of scandium oxide over five years (USGS).
Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days
- Gränges Powder Metallurgy and partners develop 2 aluminium-scandium alloys, targeting 2027 demonstratorsAL Circle · 2026-10-09
- Texas startup awarded DoD contract for scandium recoveryMining.com · 2026-09-30
- Elk Creek Project, USMining Technology · 2026-10-02
- Simon Thibault of Scandium Canada Discusses Key Updates and Crater Lake ExpansionMining.com.au · 2026-09-28
- Scandium Canada expands Crater Lake, eyes new discoveryMining.com.au · 2026-10-23