Erbium Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The global erbium market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 11.37% throughout the forecast period, from US$162.461 million in 2024 to a total market value of US$278.317 million by 2029.

A member of the lanthanide series, erbium is a rare earth element. Halide lights, control rods, ceramics, specialized glass, and medical equipment are just a few erbium products. The glass fiber in optical cables contains erbium, which amplifies the signals that pass through it. Infrared-absorbing glass, such as safety glasses for welders and metal workers, is made using erbium oxide. 

When erbium is added, glass takes on a pink hue, which is used to add color to some imitation gems and sunglasses. Additionally, because of its capacity for neutron absorption, this element is utilized in nuclear reactor control rods. Display monitors like LEDs and LCDs use phosphors based on erbium oxide. Erbium absorbs infrared light, which is employed as a photographic filter.

GLOBAL ERBIUM MARKET DRIVERS:

Increasing demand for compact passenger cars

Erbium oxides are frequently utilized in the automobile sector for various purposes, including fuel cells, semiconductors, and electronic displays. The quick increase in automotive production supports the erbium market's growth. 

Due to its remarkable anti-Stokes luminescence performances and physicochemical characteristics, the lanthanide metal erbium has lately demonstrated compelling advantages in various sectors for photon upconversion. The erbium market also benefits from the expansion in the semiconductor industry brought on by rising consumer and industrial electronics. Erbium is employed in semiconductor transistors and capacitors for up-conversion purposes.

Increasing glass use in the consumer goods and electronics sector is boosting the erbium market’s expansion

The market for consumer goods and electronics is anticipated to be driven by an increase in demand for erbium oxide from display panels. 

Among other display goods, erbium is primarily employed in LEDs and LCDs. The expanding consumer electronics sector's demand for display panels drives the global market for erbium. The explosive rise of the Internet of Things in industrialized and emerging nations also fuels the need for display panels. The increase in smartphone and tablet adoption in developing nations further stimulates the erbium market. Additionally, the product is utilized in consumer devices like displays for automobiles, cell phones, tablets, and cameras.

Growing demand for the erbium glass laser

Erbium glass fractional laser treatment are being widely used in skin treatment. It uses fractional technology, which decreases recovery time post-procedure. Side effects barely occur, and it helps with skin regeneration. With the growing concern around skin treatment worldwide, using erbium glass fractional laser would likely expand. 

It has been used effectively to treat acne scars, complete skin rejuvenation, and provide anti-aging treatment to reduce wrinkles and minimize side effects from current skin treatments. Prominent companies offering Erbium glass lasers are Beijing RealLight Technology, L3Harris, Lumisource Technology, and InfiRay.

Global Erbium Market Geographical Outlook

The Asia Pacific region will dominate the global erbium market during the forecast period.

The major economies like China, Japan, India, and South Korea dominate the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the fastest-growing emerging economies are from this region, such as ASEAN countries. 

India is emerging as a major mobile phone manufacturer. Over the last ten years, the manufacturing of mobile phones in India has surged 21 times to reach US$49.3 billion, largely due to government initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This enabled India to meet 97% of its mobile phone demand domestically.

In 2023, the revenue of China's electronic information industry increased by 4.5% over the previous year. The increase in demand from photovoltaic, industrial control, and other industries has driven the development of power devices and etching equipment, servers, supercomputers, personal computers, and other systems. These developments caused the overall upsurge in the electronics industry.

Global erbium market key developments: 

• In June 2024, EPFL’s (L’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) scientists,  based in Switzerland, presented a chip-scale erbium laser that offers broad wavelength tunability. Erbium-based fiber lasers maintain a laser’s high coherence and stability.
• In August 2022, To further explore and develop the best method for extracting rare earth elements from phosphogypsum that contains erbium, Rainbow Rare Earths entered into a Master Agreement with OCP SA, the leading producer of phosphate products in the world, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, a Moroccan university with a strong focus on science, technology, and innovation. As a byproduct of the manufacture of phosphoric acid, phosphogypsum contains rare earth. OCP has amassed large intellectual property (IP) assets, know-how, and competence in phosphogypsum processing because of the creative research done by UM6P.

Given Rainbow's knowledge and intellectual property regarding the extraction of rare earths, this presents a synergistic possibility for cooperative development. OCP and UM6P will share their specialized knowledge as well as modified complementary separation technologies. The Parties want to figure out how to extract rare earths from phosphogypsum in the most effective way and then separate those rare earths into their constituents. The Parties plan to collaborate on creating a pilot and large-scale rare earth extraction from phosphogypsum.

Global Erbium Market Players and Products: 

• Erbium acetate: An essential coloring agent in glass and porcelain enamel glazes is erbium acetate. Supreme purity Erbium acetate by Metall Rare Earth Limited is frequently used as a dopant in optical fiber and amplifier production. As an amplifier for fiber optic data transfer, it is especially helpful. It looks pink and crystalline. It is stable with slight hygroscopicity, soluble in water, and only weakly soluble in strong mineral acids.
• Erbium Element: The element erbium, atomic number 68, symbol Er, weight 167.26, is used to color glass, as an amplifier in fiber optics, and in lasers for dentistry and medicine. Erbium salts are pink because their ions have a relatively narrow absorption band. As a result, it is utilized in eyewear and decorative glassware. It can remove discoloring contaminants like ferric ions and create a neutral grey tone. It serves this function in a variety of glass goods. As an amplifier for fiber optic data transfer, it is especially helpful. 1.55 microns-long erbium lasers are needed to provide an effective optical amplification method. Er: YAG lasers are perfect for surgical applications because they can deliver energy without causing heat buildup in the tissue.

The global erbium market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Application

• Medical Equipment
• Ceramics
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of South America
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Rest of the Middle East and Africa
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific