Niobium
About Niobium
Niobium is a refractory metal with the most concentrated supply of any critical mineral, with Brazil accounting for roughly 90% of global production. Small additions of niobium to steel dramatically improve strength and reduce weight, making it essential for automotive, pipeline, and structural applications. It is also critical for superconducting magnets used in MRI machines and particle accelerators.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Nb
- Atomic Number
- 41
- Category
- Refractory Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- Brazil
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Niobium In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Niobium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Niobium across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Niobium supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Niobium is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Niobium products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Niobium.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Niobium.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Niobium, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Niobium pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Niobium value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Niobium worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Niobium.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.