Infographic

Bismuth in numbers

Bismuth (Bi) drawn as one poster: 16 kt of world refinery production in 2025, China the largest producer, 7 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025BismuthBiTechnology metal · symbol BiBismuth is used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, low-melting alloys, lead-free solders andmetallurgical additives. It is mostly a by-product of lead and tungsten processing.WORLD REFINERY PRODUCTION 202516 ktBi (refinery, as reported). USGS Mineral CommoditySummaries.TOP PRODUCER: CHINA88%14 kt of the world total in 2025.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS7Current government critical or strategic lists namingbismuth, across 7 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS97%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202592%PRICE 202544,100 $/tTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where bismuth comes fromChina14 kt88%South Korea1.0 kt6.2%Japan500 t3.1%Laos500 t3.1%Kazakhstan180 t1.1%Bulgaria50 t0.3%Bolivia50 t0.3%Refinery production, Bi (refinery, as reported). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.Refinery output was about 16 kt in 2025, with China about 14 kt (about 88%), followed by Korea,Japan and Laos.1912–2013A century of bismuth production0.00 t2.1 kt4.2 kt6.4 kt8.5 kt191219261941195519701984199920132013: 8.5 kt1912: 722 tWorld production, USGS column 'World mine production (metal content)'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historicalstatistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES7 countries reported bismuth output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest bismuth trade routesChina → Germany$9 mSouth Korea → United States$8 mChina → India$5 mChina → United States$3 mUnited States → China$3 mHS 810610: Bismuth and articles thereof, incl. waste and scrap. World trade $52 m in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025European Union: strategic 2024United Kingdom (BGS): critical 2024Australia: critical 2024Canada: critical 2024India: critical 2023South Korea: critical 2023EXPORT CONTROLSChina: licensing requirement from 2025. Source: OECD export restrictions inventory and government notices, asrecorded in our data.prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Bismuth infographic: world production, top producers, a century of output, producing countries on a map, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World refinery production, 2025
16 kt (Bi (refinery, as reported)) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
China, 14 kt (88% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
97% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
7 current lists in 7 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, India, South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
92% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
44,100 $/t (Price, average, dollars per pound) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World production, 1912
722 t (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2013 (historical series)
8.5 kt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest trade flow, 2024
China → Germany, $9 m (HS 810610, Bismuth and articles thereof, incl. waste and scrap); world trade $52 m CEPII BACI trade database
Export controls
China (licensing requirement)

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Bismuth storyWhere bismuth is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics