Tantalum (Ta): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
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Tantalum is processed into alloys, capacitors, carbides and compounds, and its ingots go into high-temperature superalloys and high-reliability electronic components. In 2025 Congo (Kinshasa) produced an estimated 1,300 t, 52% of world mine production (USGS world total: 2,500 t), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). US net import reliance for tantalum in 2025 was 100%. Tantalum is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian.
52%
of world mine production came from Congo (Kinshasa) in 2025
$180/kg
tantalite, annual average in 2025 (+8% on 2024)
Which countries produce tantalum?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world | Reserves (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congo (Kinshasa) | 1,270 | 1,300 | 52% | NA |
| Rwanda | 374 | 400 | 16% | NA |
| Nigeria | 390 | 390 | 16% | NA |
| Brazil | 210 | 190 | 7.6% | 40,000 |
| China | 76 | 80 | 3.2% | 240,000 |
| Australia | 52 | 50 | 2% | 120,000 |
| Ethiopia | 40 | 40 | 1.6% | NA |
| Russia | 29 | 30 | 1.2% | 150 |
| United States | None | None | - | 0 |
| All other countries | 59 | 5 | 0.2% | NA |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 2,500 | 2,500 | 100% | NA |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tantalum. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
What is tantalum used for?
US consumers do not report tantalum consumption. The value consumed in 2025 was estimated at $190 million, measured by the value of imports.
- Capacitors and electronic components: tantalum metal powders for high-reliability electronic components
- Superalloys: tantalum ingots are used to produce high-temperature superalloys, for defense and aerospace applications
- Alloys, carbides and compounds: US companies make them from imported ores and concentrates
How much does tantalum cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of tantalum at $180/kg (tantalite, annual average; +8% on 2024). Full tantalum price page.
Is tantalum a critical mineral?
Tantalum is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Each government builds its list with its own method, so a mineral can be critical in one place and not in another.
| Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Critical mineral (final 2025 list) |
| European Union | Critical |
| Australia | Critical minerals list |
| Canada | Critical |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
What are the substitutes for tantalum?
USGS names substitutes for 4 applications of tantalum, for example carbides: niobium and tungsten. Full tantalum substitutes page.
Can tantalum be recycled?
Tantalum is recycled mostly from new scrap generated making tantalum-containing electronic components, and from cemented carbide and superalloy scrap. USGS says recycling may account for as much as 30% of consumption by domestic primary processors.
What are the supply risks and recent events for tantalum?
- 2025. US apparent consumption was an estimated 890 tons, up 58% from 2024. Imports rose 22% and exports fell 17%. The monthly average price of tantalum ore was $180 per kilogram of tantalum oxide content as of November 2025.
- June 2025. Congo (Kinshasa) and Rwanda signed a peace agreement mediated by the United States and observed by Qatar. USGS says that, if sustained, it was expected to improve stability in eastern Congo (Kinshasa) and strengthen conditions for regional mineral trade, which includes tantalum.
- September 2025. The Defense Logistics Agency awarded an $8.6 million delivery order to a tantalum processor in Boyertown, Pennsylvania for ingots for the National Defense Stockpile, and a separate 5-year contract for up to $100 million to maintain a domestic source of tantalum processed directly from ore.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Total: China, 22%; Australia, 14%; Germany, 11%; Indonesia, 7%; and other, 46%. (USGS)
Resources. Identified world resources of tantalum, mostly in Australia, Brazil, Canada and China, are considered adequate for projected needs. The United States has about 55,000 tons in identified deposits, most considered subeconomic at 2025 prices. Tantalum has not been mined in the United States since 1959.
Which companies produce or process tantalum?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Advanced Metals | United States (Boyertown, Pennsylvania) | Tantalum products supplier | Its website calls GAM one of the world's leading suppliers of tantalum products and the world's only fully integrated one, which is its own claim. USGS describes, without naming the company, a Defense Logistics Agency delivery order of $8.6 million and a contract of up to $100 million for a tantalum processor in Boyertown. Global Advanced Metals: company website (news of 18 August 2026) |
| TANIOBIS (JX Advanced Metals) | Germany and Japan | Tantalum and niobium materials maker (TSE: 5016) | The JX Advanced Metals overview describes TANIOBIS GmbH as one of the world's leading manufacturers of tantalum and niobium, lists tantalum and niobium metal powders for capacitors and semiconductors among its products, and gives a global market share of about 50% for high-purity tantalum powder as of FY2026, which is the company's own figure. It adds that JX has joined tantalum raw material production at the Mibra mine in Brazil, operated by AMG Brasil, since January 2023. JX Advanced Metals: company overview |
| Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry | China | Tantalum and niobium products maker (SZSE: 000962) | Its 2025 annual report, in Chinese, says its Baoshan-brand tantalum powder and tantalum wire are recognised Chinese single champion products, and reports 987.45 tonnes produced and 949.13 tonnes sold in 2025 in its rolled non-ferrous metal products line, up 40.7% and 35.0%. Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (31 March 2026) |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is tantalum used for?
Tantalum is used in capacitors and electronic components, superalloys and alloys, carbides and compounds. Capacitors and electronic components: tantalum metal powders for high-reliability electronic components.
Which country produces the most tantalum?
Congo (Kinshasa) produces the most tantalum: an estimated 1,300 t, or 52% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS mine production figures.
Is tantalum a critical mineral?
Yes. Tantalum is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Tantalum was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for tantalum in 2025 was 100%.
How much does tantalum cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of tantalum at $180/kg (tantalite, annual average; +8% 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: Tantalum. 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
- Global Advanced Metals: company website (news of 18 August 2026)
- JX Advanced Metals: company overview
- Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry: 2025 annual report, in Chinese (31 March 2026)
