Rhenium Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

United States paid the most for rhenium in Q2 2026: USD 2,920/KG, up 4.5% from USD 2,795 in Q1. Rhenium is one of the rarest metals on the periodic table, recovered exclusively as a by-product of molybdenum roasting, itself often a by-product of copper mining, which means primary supply is entirely dependent on decisions made about those two other metals rather than rhenium's own price.

Nickel-based superalloys for aerospace jet engine turbine blades represent the largest and most valuable end use, where rhenium's addition significantly improves high-temperature strength and creep resistance in ways few other elements can match. Catalytic reforming in petroleum refining, using rhenium-platinum catalysts, represents a substantial secondary demand source, giving rhenium consumption some tie to refining capacity utilisation independent of the aerospace cycle.

The United States, Chile, and Kazakhstan host the most significant rhenium recovery operations tied to their respective molybdenum and copper mining industries, while China's smaller-scale recovery keeps it the most competitively priced of the four markets. Because rhenium is a genuine by-product with no dedicated primary mining, its supply cannot expand quickly in response to price signals, and superalloy scrap recycling has grown in importance as a way to supplement primary by-product recovery.

Comparing the four markets side by side, United States sat about 21% above China as Q2 closed. That kind of gap is common where import exposure and domestic production costs diverge as sharply as they do here.

Rhenium Price Forecast for 2026

Expect steady gains across all four markets through H2 2026 as aerospace jet engine production continues its gradual recovery. China should retain its cost advantage given its smaller-scale recovery operations relative to the other three markets. The United States should retain its premium given the concentration of aerospace superalloy demand in its domestic market. Aircraft production rates at major commercial and military airframers remain the key variable to watch, given jet engine superalloys' outsized share of overall rhenium demand.

On balance, the first half of 2026 brought a 4.5% increase average move across the 4 markets covered here, a trend that should persist through year end absent a material change in the underlying drivers.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Rhenium Prices Q2 2026:

• United States: USD 2,920/KG
• Chile: USD 2,625/KG
• Kazakhstan: USD 2,670/KG
• China: USD 2,405/KG

Rhenium Prices in United States

In Q2 2026, United States priced at USD 2,920/KG, up 4.5% from USD 2,795/KG the previous quarter, ranking it the priciest among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Firm aerospace superalloy demand kept US pricing climbing, supported by strong jet engine production schedules, working out to United States trading about 10.0% above this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against United States's own average pace of 2.0% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in faster than that pace.

Rhenium Prices in Chile

Chile reached USD 2,625/KG in Q2 2026, steady molybdenum and copper mining output supported a firm quarter, placing it the 3rd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q2 2026 in Chile?

Steady molybdenum and copper mining output supported a firm quarter, leaving Chile running roughly 1.1% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is faster than the 2.0% average quarterly move Chile has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Rhenium Prices in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan rose 4.5% to USD 2,670/KG in Q2 2026, consistent by-product recovery volumes supported a firm increase, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q2 2026 in Kazakhstan?

Consistent by-product recovery volumes supported a firm increase, with Kazakhstan now sitting about 0.6% above the 4-region average this quarter.

Kazakhstan has averaged 2.0% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in faster than that longer-run pace.

Rhenium Prices in China

USD 2,405/KG. That is where China landed in Q2 2026, up 4.6% from USD 2,300/KG in Q1 2026, making it the most affordable of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q2 2026 in China?

Growing domestic catalyst and superalloy demand supported a steady increase, even as China remained the most competitively priced of the four markets, which puts China roughly 9.4% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 2.0% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, China's move this quarter landed faster than that trend.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Rhenium Prices Q1 2026:

• United States: USD 2,795/KG
• Chile: USD 2,510/KG
• Kazakhstan: USD 2,555/KG
• China: USD 2,300/KG

Rhenium Prices in United States

In Q1 2026, United States priced at USD 2,795/KG, up 1.3% from USD 2,758/KG the previous quarter, ranking it the priciest among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q1 2026 in United States?

Early-year aerospace sector restocking supported a firm start to 2026, working out to United States trading about 10.0% above this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against United States's own average pace of 2.0% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in slower than that pace.

Rhenium Prices in Chile

Chile reached USD 2,510/KG in Q1 2026, steady mining output supported a modest early-year gain, placing it the 3rd most expensive across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q1 2026 in Chile?

Steady mining output supported a modest early-year gain, leaving Chile running roughly 1.2% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is slower than the 2.0% average quarterly move Chile has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Rhenium Prices in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan rose 1.4% to USD 2,555/KG in Q1 2026, consistent recovery volumes carried prices higher as the new year began, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q1 2026 in Kazakhstan?

Consistent recovery volumes carried prices higher as the new year began, with Kazakhstan now sitting about 0.6% above the 4-region average this quarter.

Kazakhstan has averaged 2.0% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in slower than that longer-run pace.

Rhenium Prices in China

USD 2,300/KG. That is where China landed in Q1 2026, up 1.3% from USD 2,269/KG in Q4 2025, making it the most affordable of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Rhenium change in Q1 2026 in China?

Growing domestic demand supported a firm start to 2026, which puts China roughly 9.4% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 2.0% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, China's move this quarter landed slower than that trend.

Quarterly Rhenium Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 2,408/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2,655 by Q2 2026, a gain of 10.3% over six quarters.

What was Rhenium Price in 2025?

Looking back at 2025, the global rhenium average ran from about USD 2,408/KG in Q1 to USD 2,506 by Q4, a 4.1% increase across the year.

Rhenium Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices moved from about USD 2,650/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2,758 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%. United States closed the year ranked 1 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

Rhenium Prices in Chile in 2025

Chile prices moved from about USD 2,380/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2,477 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%, leaving Chile in 3 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Rhenium Prices in Kazakhstan in 2025

Kazakhstan prices moved from about USD 2,420/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2,521 by Q4, up roughly 4.2%. That left Kazakhstan ranked 2 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

Rhenium Prices in China in 2025

China prices moved from about USD 2,180/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2,269 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%, placing China 4 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Rhenium Price Intelligence

We monitor rhenium markets across every region with meaningful production or consumption, connecting the price you see to the molybdenite roasting flue dust (by-product) costs and demand conditions behind it. The result is a regularly updated view built from the ground up rather than a single static figure.

Our forecasts combine production capacity data with feedstock cost trends and regional demand signals, giving sourcing teams a defensible basis for budgeting and supplier negotiations beyond a single point estimate.

Get in touch with our analysts if you need a more detailed regional view, historical pricing beyond the six quarters shown here, or a sourcing analysis built specifically around your procurement footprint.

We track primary by-product recovery and recycled superalloy scrap supply as related but distinct sources, since recycling rates can shift independently of the underlying molybdenum and copper mining cycle.