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Bismuth
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Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 545 K (271 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1,837 K (1,564 °C)
- Density
- 9.807 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +5, +3
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.02
- Atomic radius
- 207 pm
- First ionization energy
- 7.289 eV
- Discovered
- 1753
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Bismuth) (current at retrieval)
On the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (data release, public domain). Estimates are USGS's; check the USGS chapter for notes. Each panel names its source; full citations are in the methodology source register.
Overview
The headline numbers: how much the U.S. depends on imports and how concentrated supply is.
How much does the U.S. import?
of U.S. bismuth use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
Did you know?
Bismuth-209 was long thought to be the heaviest stable isotope, but experiments detected it emitting alpha particles, so it is very slightly radioactive.
Checked against two independent sources. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · Physics World (IOP) (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
How concentrated is supply?
97% of world production comes from three countries (China, Korea, Republic of, Japan). Highly concentrated.
Thirds of the bar: under 33%, 33 to 65%, 66% and over. Our own rule of thumb, not a USGS rating.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where it is produced, 2025 (Refinery production)
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 88% |
| Korea, Republic of | 6% |
| Japan | 3% |
| Laos | 3% |
| Kazakhstan | 1% |
| Bolivia | 0% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- China56%
- Korea, Republic of22%
- Germany13%
- Other countries9%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 56% | 56.0% |
| Korea, Republic of | 22% | 22.0% |
| Germany | 13% | 13.0% |
| Other countries | 9% | 9.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of all forms, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
- Korea, South60% · $18.9M
- Japan14% · $4.3M
- China12% · $3.7M
- Mexico5% · $1.5M
- Germany3% · $1.0M
- Brazil2% · $722K
- All other countries4% · $1.2M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Korea, South | 60% · $18.9M | 60.3% |
| Japan | 14% · $4.3M | 13.6% |
| China | 12% · $3.7M | 11.8% |
| Mexico | 5% · $1.5M | 4.7% |
| Germany | 3% · $1.0M | 3.3% |
| Brazil | 2% · $722K | 2.3% |
| All other countries | 4% · $1.2M | 3.9% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 8106; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
U.S. supply mix
metric tons, 2021 to 2025
Imports are before exports, so the stack is not the same as U.S. consumption.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
Price
Price, average, dollars per pound
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Tariff codes and the countries behind U.S. imports and exports.
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8106 | Bismuth and articles thereof, including waste and scrap | Free | 7.5% |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 8106
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Korea, South | 60% · $18.9M |
| Japan | 14% · $4.3M |
| China | 12% · $3.7M |
| Mexico | 5% · $1.5M |
| Germany | 3% · $1.0M |
| Brazil | 2% · $722K |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 8106
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Germany | 16% · $3.5M |
| Luxembourg | 13% · $2.9M |
| Canada | 12% · $2.6M |
| Mexico | 10% · $2.2M |
| Brazil | 7% · $1.6M |
| Sweden | 7% · $1.6M |
8106 Bismuth an artls, incld waste and scrap
Top import sources Korea, South 60%, Japan 14%, China 12%
Top export destinations Germany 16%, Luxembourg 13%, Canada 12%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Where in the chain the bottlenecks sit, and what other governments and sources say about supply risk.
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining
Bismuth is mostly a byproduct of lead ore processing; only two mines, Tasna in Bolivia (inactive since 1996) and one in China, have had bismuth as the primary product. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Bismuth minerals rarely occur in sufficient quantities to be mined as principal products; bismuth is produced most often as a byproduct during the processing of lead ores.”
“The Tasna Mine in Bolivia, which has been inactive since 1996, and a mine in China are the only mines where bismuth has been the primary product.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery
Bismuth in domestically mined lead ore is lost to export: since the last primary lead smelter closed at the end of 2013, all lead concentrates have been exported for smelting. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Bismuth is contained in some lead ores mined domestically.”
“since then, all lead concentrates have been exported for smelting.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Refining and separation bottleneck
The United States stopped refining primary bismuth in 1997 and is highly import reliant; China produced 88% of the world's bismuth in 2025. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“The United States ceased production of primary refined bismuth in 1997 and is highly import reliant.”
“China accounted for 88% of the bismuth world production in 2025.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Metal, alloy and chemical bottleneck
China supplied 56% of U.S. bismuth imports (2021-24); after China's 2025 export controls, bismuth metal imports from China fell 40% and the price rose to the highest on record. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“China,6 56%; Republic of Korea, 22%; Germany, 13%; and other, 9%.”
“United States bismuth metal imports (under Harmonized System code 8106) from China decreased by 40% to an estimated 460 tons for the full year of 2025 from 760 tons in 2024.”
“The estimated annual average price in 2025 was $20 per pound, almost four times the price in 2024 and the highest annual average price on record.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Components and end use
Most U.S. bismuth went into chemicals for cosmetic, industrial, laboratory and pharmaceutical uses. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Most domestic bismuth consumption was for chemicals used in cosmetic, industrial, laboratory, and pharmaceutical applications.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Recycling
Recycled alloy scrap supplied up to 10% of U.S. bismuth apparent consumption in 2021-25. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“Recycled bismuth-containing alloy scrap was estimated to compose up to 10% of U.S. bismuth apparent consumption for the years 2021–25.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bismuth (PDF page 58) (2026-02)
Pilot. Summaries are ours, from official pages; each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. “Bottleneck” (orange dot) is shown only where the quote shows one country dominating the stage or the United States relying on imports for it. “No sourced data yet” means we have not found a source, not that the stage is unproblematic.
Mines, plants and partners
Named facilities with their operators and locations, as each source describes them on the date shown. 3 sourced entries for Bismuth.
Mining
Nui Phao Mining Company (wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials)
Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam · Operating
The source says
“The Nui Phao mine, which is operated by Nui Phao Mining Company (“NPMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials, is situated within three communes (Hung Son, Ha Thuong, and Tan Linh) of Dai Tu district in Thai Nguyen province.”
“A suite of commercial product streams including Tungsten, Copper, Bismuth and Fluorspar concentrates which are either processed into value added products onsite (Tungsten and Bismuth) or sold as highend commodities”
“Products from Nui Phao are shipped to worldwide markets (including well established customer networks) from Quang Ninh Port”
Source: Masan High-Tech Materials, Nui Phao Mining Company (company website) (2026-10-30)
Ore processing and primary recovery
Nui Phao Mining Company (wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials)
Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam · Operating
The source says
“The Nui Phao mine, which is operated by Nui Phao Mining Company (“NPMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials, is situated within three communes (Hung Son, Ha Thuong, and Tan Linh) of Dai Tu district in Thai Nguyen province.”
“Modern mine plant and facilities, including crushing, grinding, thickening, flotation, leaching and gravity recovery facilities”
“A suite of commercial product streams including Tungsten, Copper, Bismuth and Fluorspar concentrates which are either processed into value added products onsite (Tungsten and Bismuth) or sold as highend commodities”
Source: Masan High-Tech Materials, Nui Phao Mining Company (company website) (2026-10-30)
Refining and separation
Crucible Metals, LLC (a subsidiary of Korea Zinc)
Clarksville, Tennessee, United States · Planned
The source says
“awarded $210 million in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to a subsidiary of Korea Zinc — Crucible Metals, LLC — to support an advanced smelter and critical minerals processing facility in Tennessee”
“the following critical and strategic minerals: gallium, bismuth, germanium, indium, antimony, tellurium, cadmium”
“The planned U.S. facility in Clarksville, Tennessee will be an advanced replica of the Onsan facility and is expected to be operational by 2029.”
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce NIST, Department of Commerce Awards CHIPS Incentives to a Subsidiary of Korea Zinc (Crucible Metals) (2025-12-15)
A curated list, not a complete register: it shows facilities we could confirm in a source page, and a missing name means we have not sourced it, not that it does not exist. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. Partnerships are listed only where the source states them.
Policy and funding
Federal items we track for this mineral, each linked to its original.
Federal awards already made
Atlantic Metals and Alloys, LLC · Department of Defense · $2.2M obligated · started 2026-05-22
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Alaska Department of Natural Resources · Department of the Interior · $1.6M obligated · started 2026-03-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 2 largest of 2 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Bismuth.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
The USGS figures behind the charts. Click a column heading to sort.
Bismuth: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | 90 | 92 |
| Production: Refinery | metric tons | — | — |
| Production: Secondary (scrap) | metric tons | 80 | 80 |
| Imports for consumption, metal, alloys, and scrap: Containing more than 99.99% bismuth, by weight | metric tons | 626 | 650 |
| Imports for consumption, metal, alloys, and scrap: Other | metric tons | 1,180 | 820 |
| Imports for consumption, metal, alloys, and scrap: Total | metric tons | 1,800 | 1,500 |
| Exports, metal, alloys, and scrap: Containing more than 99.99% bismuth, by weight | metric tons | 430 | 180 |
| Exports, metal, alloys, and scrap: Other | metric tons | 620 | 360 |
| Exports, metal, alloys, and scrap: Total | metric tons | 1,050 | 540 |
| Consumption: Apparent | metric tons | 830 | 1,000 |
| Consumption: Reported | metric tons | 700 | NA |
| Price, average, dollars per pound | dollars per pound | 5.4 | 20 |
| Stocks, yearend, consumer, bismuth metal | metric tons | 365 | 360 |
World production: Refinery production (metric tons; top 6 of 8, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 14,000 | 14,000 | 88% |
| Korea, Republic of | 1,000 | 1,000 | 6% |
| Japan | 500 | 500 | 3% |
| Laos | 492 | 500 | 3% |
| Kazakhstan | 180 | 180 | 1% |
| Bolivia | 50 | 50 | 0% |
World total 2025: 16,000 metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
U.S. import sources: All (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| China | 56 |
| Korea, Republic of | 22 |
| Germany | 13 |
| Other countries | 9 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth (February 2026)