Global Rubidium Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Application (Atomic Clock, Photocells, Vacuum Tubes, Specialty Glass, Others), By End-User (Electronics, R&D, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The global rubidium market is estimated to be valued at US$115.788 Million in 2021.

The worldwide rubidium market is very modest, with the majority of the metal being utilized for specialized purposes in electronics and R&D. In addition to being used to make photocells, vacuum tubes, and atomic clocks, rubidium is also employed to make specific glasses for fiber optic communication networks. The demand for rubidium is primarily driven by the increasing demand for electronic devices and technological advancements in the communication sector, which require specialized components and materials. However, the availability of rubidium is limited due to its relatively low abundance in the Earth's crust and the high cost of production, which has resulted in limited commercial applications. Nevertheless, the growing demand for rubidium in emerging industries and research applications is expected to drive growth in the global rubidium market in the coming years.

Drivers: Increasing demand for electronic devices and technological advancements in the communication sector as well as emerging applications in the research and development sector.

• Rubidium is used in the production of photocells, vacuum tubes, and atomic clocks, among other things. With the growing demand for electronic devices, especially in emerging economies, the demand for rubidium is expected to increase. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the demand for rubidium in electronics has been increasing steadily over the years. In 2020, the USGS reported that the United States' consumption of rubidium in electronics applications increased by 5% compared to the previous year.
• Rubidium is widely used in research and development applications, including in the production of atomic clocks and in laser cooling and trapping experiments. The growth in research and development activities, particularly in emerging fields such as quantum computing and nanotechnology is expected to drive the demand for rubidium in the coming years.

Safety concerns, high cost, and limited availability hinder the growth of the global rubidium market.

Rubidium is a rare metal, and its availability is limited. It is primarily extracted from specific ores, such as lepidolite, and is not found in large quantities in nature. Due to its limited availability, rubidium is a relatively expensive metal compared to other metals. This can be a significant barrier to its use in various applications, especially in traditional fields such as electronic devices. Furthermore, rubidium is highly reactive with both air and water, which can make handling and storage challenging. It can also pose potential safety hazards during the production and use of rubidium-containing products.

Key developments.

• In December 2022, Aldoro Resources Ltd., a mineral research and expansion company with a range of endeavors for lithium, rubidium, and base metals, finalized a binding head with Mining Equities Pty Ltd to acquire a full interest in the license E58/571 tenement close to Mt Magnet in Western Australia. The tenement, which spans 9 square kilometers between existing Aldoro tenements, is located 80 miles southeast of Mount Magnet. The license is for a rare metals exploration project that could be significant for lithium-tantalum-cesium (LTC) and rubidium mineralization. It is located within an Archean-layered volcanic breach that is penetrated by several pegmatite dykes.

North America and Asia Pacific accounted for major shares of the global rubidium market.

The Asia-Pacific region has a large population base, which drives the demand for healthcare services and related products. Moreover, the increasing investments in research and development activities, particularly in the electronics and telecommunications sectors, are expected to boost the growth of the rubidium market in Asia-Pacific. In addition, the presence of major manufacturers and suppliers of rubidium products in the region, along with the increasing demand for rubidium in the electronics and healthcare industries. North America is one of the major producers of the rubidium market. The region has a well-established research and development infrastructure, which supports the growth of the rubidium market. Cabot is the leading company extracting rubidium from Salt Lake brine in the United States. Canada is also among the top five producers of rubidium ore and rubidium salt. The United States has a long history of producing and using rubidium, with a significant portion of the metal being used in high-tech industries. Around 80% of rubidium is used in the production of high-tech products, while the remaining 20% is used in traditional fields such as electronic devices, special glass, and catalysts.

Global Rubidium Market Scope:

Key Market Segments

• By Application
  • Atomic clock
  • Photocells
  • Vacuum tubes
  • Specialty glass
  • Others
• By End-User
  • Electronics
  • R&D
  • Healthcare
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East And Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Israel
    • Other
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Australia
    • Vietnam
    • Indonesia
    • Others