LREE vs HREE: How Light and Heavy Rare Earths Differ
LREE vs HREE is the main split in rare earth markets. Light rare earths make up most of the content of typical ores, while heavy rare earths are scarcer, come mostly from southern China and Myanmar, and sell for much higher prices. Classifications vary slightly between sources; this site groups lanthanum to samarium as light and europium to lutetium, plus yttrium, as heavy.
| Light rare earths (LREE) | Heavy rare earths (HREE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Elements | La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm | Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu |
| Main ore sources | Bastnaesite and monazite (e.g. Bayan Obo, Mountain Pass, Mt Weld) | Ionic adsorption clays in southern China and Myanmar; xenotime |
| Share of typical ores | Most of the rare earth content | A small fraction, except in ionic clays |
| Key magnet elements | Neodymium, praseodymium | Dysprosium, terbium |
| Example price (USGS, 2025 est.) | Neodymium oxide $73/kg; cerium and lanthanum far lower | Dysprosium oxide $239/kg; terbium oxide $1,010/kg |
| China export licensing (Oct 2026) | Only samarium needs a licence | Most heavy rare earths need a licence or are covered by suspended controls |
| Producers outside China | MP Materials, Lynas and several developers | Mainly Lynas today; others building capacity |
Prices: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual averages. Classification: see each element page.
Why the LREE vs HREE Split Matters to Investors
- Revenue mix. A project's value depends on how much NdPr and heavy rare earths its ore contains, not just its total tonnage.
- Supply risk. Heavy rare earths are more exposed to Chinese export licensing and to conflict in Myanmar.
- Strategic value. Producers that can separate dysprosium and terbium outside China are rare and attract government support.
- By-product burden. Light rare earth ores yield large amounts of cerium and lanthanum, which sell for little.
LREE vs HREE FAQ
What is the difference between light and heavy rare earths?
Light rare earths are the lanthanides with lower atomic numbers, from lanthanum to samarium, and they make up most of the rare earth content in typical ores. Heavy rare earths run from europium to lutetium, plus yttrium, and are scarcer and more concentrated in southern China and Myanmar.
Is neodymium a light or heavy rare earth?
Neodymium is a light rare earth. It is the most valuable light rare earth because it is the main ingredient in NdFeB permanent magnets.
Why are heavy rare earths more expensive?
Heavy rare earths are more expensive because they make up a small share of most ore bodies, come mainly from ionic clays in southern China and Myanmar, and are needed for high-temperature magnets. China has also required export licences for dysprosium and terbium since April 2025.
Which rare earths are light and which are heavy?
Light rare earths are lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium and samarium. Heavy rare earths are europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, usually with yttrium. Some sources call samarium, europium and gadolinium "middle" rare earths, so check the definition a source uses.
Where do scandium and yttrium fit?
Scandium and yttrium are rare earths but not lanthanides. Yttrium is usually grouped with the heavy rare earths because it occurs with them; scandium is often treated separately because it comes from different sources.