All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Tellurium
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Photo Unknown author Unknown author. “Tellurium2.jpg.” CC BY 3.0. Wikimedia Commons. File page
Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 723 K (450 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1,261 K (988 °C)
- Density
- 6.232 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +6, +4, -2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.1
- Atomic radius
- 206 pm
- First ionization energy
- 9.010 eV
- Discovered
- 1782
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Tellurium) (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. tellurium use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tellurium (February 2026)
Did you know?
The Colorado town of Telluride was reportedly named after tellurium, a gold-bearing ore.
Two sources; the second is less authoritative or covers it loosely. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · Telluride Daily Planet (quoting the Town of Telluride website) (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Price
Price, annual average, dollars per kilogram: United States
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tellurium (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.
- Canada64%
- Philippines14%
- Japan8%
- Germany5%
- Other countries9%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 64% | 64.0% |
| Philippines | 14% | 14.0% |
| Japan | 8% | 8.0% |
| Germany | 5% | 5.0% |
| 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: Tellurium (February 2026)
- Germany33% · $1.4M
- Canada24% · $1.0M
- Philippines18% · $749K
- China13% · $561K
- Belgium4% · $188K
- Japan3% · $112K
- All other countries5% · $207K
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 33% · $1.4M | 33.2% |
| Canada | 24% · $1.0M | 24.2% |
| Philippines | 18% · $749K | 17.6% |
| China | 13% · $561K | 13.2% |
| Belgium | 4% · $188K | 4.4% |
| Japan | 3% · $112K | 2.6% |
| All other countries | 5% · $207K | 4.9% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2804.50; 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)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2804.50 | Boron; tellurium | Free | 25% |
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 2804.50
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Germany | 33% · $1.4M |
| Canada | 24% · $1.0M |
| Philippines | 18% · $749K |
| China | 13% · $561K |
| Belgium | 4% · $188K |
| Japan | 3% · $112K |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 2804.50
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Israel | 48% · $5.7M |
| China | 19% · $2.2M |
| Japan | 11% · $1.4M |
| Germany | 7% · $825K |
| Korea, South | 3% · $383K |
| Canada | 3% · $375K |
2804.50 Boron; tellurium
Top import sources Germany 33%, Canada 24%, Philippines 18%
Top export destinations Israel 48%, China 19%, Japan 11%
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
Tellurium comes mainly from the anode slimes of electrolytic copper refining, as a byproduct, rather than from its own mines. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Tellurium is recovered principally as a byproduct of the electrolytic refining of primary copper, where it accumulates in the residues of copper anodes.”
“More than 90% of tellurium has been produced from anode slimes as a byproduct of primary electrolytic copper refining”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery
Two U.S. copper refineries (Texas and Utah) produce copper telluride from anode slimes. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“two primary electrolytic copper refineries operated in the United States, one in Texas and one in Utah, and produced copper telluride”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (2026-02)
Refining and separation bottleneck
Tellurium was not refined in the United States (the copper telluride was exported), and China produced 80% of estimated global refined tellurium in 2025. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Tellurium was not refined in the United States; copper telluride from both U.S. facilities was exported for further processing.”
“China was the leading producer of refined tellurium in 2025 and accounted for 80% of estimated global production”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (2026-02)
Metal, alloy and chemical
Downstream U.S. companies process imported tellurium into high-purity products and compounds; imports came from Canada (64%) in 2021-24, and from February 2025 Chinese exporters needed licenses showing end users. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“Downstream companies processed imported tellurium to manufacture high-purity tellurium products, tellurium compounds for specialty applications, and tellurium dioxide.”
“Canada, 64%; Philippines, 14%; Japan, 8%; Germany, 5%; and other, 9%.”
“As of February 2025, exporters in China were required to submit documents to the Government that verified the end users and end uses of tellurium shipments to foreign markets.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (2026-02)
Components and end use
Tellurium was used mainly to make cadmium telluride for thin-film solar cells. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Tellurium was used predominantly in the production of cadmium telluride (CdTe) for thin-film solar cells.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (2026-02)
Recycling
Tellurium is recycled from cadmium telluride solar cells in the United States, in limited quantity because most cells are new. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“Tellurium was recycled from CdTe solar cells in the United States, but the quantity recycled was limited”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium (PDF page 192) (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. 2 sourced entries for Tellurium.
Ore processing and primary recovery
Rio Tinto
Kennecott, near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States · Operating
The source says
“Rio Tinto has energized a new 25-megawatt solar plant at its Kennecott copper operations in Utah”
“Kennecott began producing tellurium in 2022 as a byproduct of copper refining, making it one of only two U.S. producers of this critical mineral.”
Source: Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto expands solar power capacity at Kennecott (2026-01-20)
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
Alaska Department of Natural Resources · Department of the Interior · $1.6M obligated · started 2026-03-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
5N Plus Inc · Department of Energy · $53.3K obligated · started 2025-01-01
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 Tellurium.
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.
Tellurium: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | <25 | >25 |
| Production, copper telluride | metric tons | W | W |
| Imports for consumption | metric tons | 6 | 14 |
| Exports | metric tons | 3 | 3 |
| Consumption, apparent | metric tons | W | W |
| Price, annual average, dollars per kilogram: United States | dollars per kilogram | 74.77 | 120 |
| Price, annual average, dollars per kilogram: Europe | dollars per kilogram | 81.54 | 150 |
| Stocks, producer, yearend | metric tons | W | W |
World production: Refinery production: copper telluride (metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | W | W |
World production: Refinery production (metric tons; top 6 of 7, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 750 | 800 | 80% |
| Russia | 64 | 67 | 7% |
| Japan | 70 | 61 | 6% |
| Canada | 27 | 28 | 3% |
| Uzbekistan | 18 | 18 | 2% |
| South Africa | 5 | 5 | 0% |
| Other countries | NA | NA |
World total 2025: 1,000 metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
World production: Refinery production: concentrate (metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 46 | 48 |
U.S. import sources: All (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Canada | 64 |
| Philippines | 14 |
| Japan | 8 |
| Germany | 5 |
| Other countries | 9 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tellurium (February 2026)