Bismuth Companies: Producers and Processors
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
The companies below produce, process or use bismuth. Each row cites the document that says what the company does with the metal; the list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
86%
of world refinery production came from China in 2025
Which companies produce or process bismuth?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5N Plus | Canada | High-purity metals and semiconductor compounds (TSX: VNP) | Its website shows bismuth and germanium among its high-purity metals, and cadmium telluride and cadmium zinc telluride among its compounds, with sites in Montreal, the United States, Germany and China. 5N Plus: company website |
| Korea Zinc | South Korea | Refiner of rare metals including bismuth (KOSPI: 010130) | Its product list names bismuth, with indium and antimony, as rare metals made at the Onsan Refinery. Korea Zinc: product information |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is bismuth used for?
Bismuth is used in chemicals and pharmaceuticals, nontoxic replacement for lead and fusible alloys. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals: most US consumption; bismuth subsalicylate is the active ingredient in over-the-counter stomach remedies.
Which country produces the most bismuth?
China produces the most bismuth: an estimated 14,000 t, or 86% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS refinery production figures.
Is bismuth a critical mineral?
Yes. Bismuth is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Bismuth was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for bismuth in 2025 was 92%.
How much does bismuth cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of bismuth at $20/lb (bismuth, average; +270% on 2024).
Sources
Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bismuth. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
- Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
- 5N Plus: company website
- Korea Zinc: product information
Related topics
Bismuth: full profile
Uses, producers, price, substitutes and critical list status for bismuth.
How Bismuth is mined and refined
The mining and processing page for bismuth.
Bismuth supply chain and top producers
The supply chain page for bismuth.
China profile
Production, policy and projects in China.
Critical Minerals Lists Compared
The US, EU, Australian and Canadian lists side by side.
Export Controls and Restrictions
China, Indonesia, DR Congo and other measures with dates.
