Tellurium (Te): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Tellurium is recovered principally as a byproduct of the electrolytic refining of primary copper, and about 70% of it goes into solar cells. In 2025 China produced an estimated 800 t, 78% of world refinery production (USGS world total: 1,000 t), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). US net import reliance for tellurium in 2025 was more than 25%. Tellurium is on the US, Australian and Canadian critical minerals lists.
78%
of world refinery production came from China in 2025
$120/kg
tellurium, annual average, United States in 2025 (+60% on 2024)
Which countries produce tellurium?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 750 | 800 | 78% |
| Russia | 64 | 67 | 6.5% |
| Japan | 70 | 61 | 5.9% |
| Sweden (concentrate) | 46 | 48 | 4.7% |
| Canada | 27 | 28 | 2.7% |
| Uzbekistan | 18 | 18 | 1.8% |
| South Africa | 5 | 5 | 0.5% |
| Bulgaria | 1 | 1 | <0.1% |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 981 | 1,000 | 100% |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium. 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 tellurium used for?
- Solar power cells: 70% of estimated global consumption in 2025; cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film cells
- Thermoelectric devices: 15%; bismuth telluride for cooling and energy generation
- Metallurgy: 10%; additive in steel, cast iron, lead alloys, malleable iron and copper alloys
- Other applications: 5%; blasting caps, rubber vulcanization, catalysts for synthetic fiber, photodetectors, glass and ceramic pigments and thermal-imaging devices
How much does tellurium cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of tellurium at $120/kg (tellurium, annual average, United States; +60% on 2024). Full tellurium price page.
Is tellurium a critical mineral?
Tellurium is on the US, Australian and Canadian critical minerals lists. 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 | Not listed |
| Australia | Critical minerals list |
| Canada | Critical |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
Export controls and trade measures
- China has required export licenses for tellurium since 2025 (USGS Table 4).
See the export controls tracker for dates and current status.
What are the substitutes for tellurium?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Thin-film photovoltaic cells | Amorphous silicon and copper indium gallium diselenide, the two principal competitors with CdTe |
| Thermoelectric devices | Bismuth selenide and organic polymers in some devices |
| Free-machining steels | Bismuth, calcium, lead, phosphorus, selenium and sulfur |
| Rubber vulcanization | Selenium and sulfur |
| Solid lubricants | Selenides and sulfides of niobium and tantalum |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Can tellurium be recycled?
Tellurium is recycled from CdTe solar cells in the United States, but the quantity is limited because most of those cells have not yet reached the end of their useful life.
What are the supply risks and recent events for tellurium?
- February 2025. Exporters in China were required to submit documents verifying the end users and end uses of tellurium shipments abroad. A license typically took 45 days to issue and a new one was needed for any change of recipient or use. Europe's annual average price rose 84% to an estimated $150 per kilogram, and the US warehouse price rose 60% to $120.
- 2025. China accounted for 80% of estimated global refined tellurium production, excluding countries with inadequate data. Its output rose over ten years alongside a nearly 75% increase in electrolytic copper refining capacity.
- August 2025. The leading US solar module producer, which predominantly makes CdTe modules, opened its fifth domestic manufacturing plant. Production was expected to begin by yearend 2026 and ramp up in the first half of 2027, with up to 14 gigawatts a year at full capacity.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Canada, 64%; Philippines, 14%; Japan, 8%; Germany, 5%; and other, 9%. (USGS)
Resources. Reserves and resources of tellurium are generally not reported at mine or country level. More than 90% of tellurium has been produced from anode slimes from primary electrolytic copper refining; the remainder came from lead refinery skimmings and flue dusts and gases from smelting bismuth, copper and lead-zinc ores.
Which tellurium projects are on official lists?
| Project | State | Expected products | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend Project | Wisconsin | Copper and gold with tellurium (exploration drilling) | Transparency |
Source: Permitting Council, current covered projects and current transparency projects, last updated 2 April 2026.
Which companies produce or process tellurium?
2 companies are profiled, including First Solar, 5N Plus. Full tellurium companies page.
Frequently asked questions
What is tellurium used for?
Tellurium is used in solar power cells, thermoelectric devices and metallurgy. Solar power cells: 70% of estimated global consumption in 2025; cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film cells.
Which country produces the most tellurium?
China produces the most tellurium: an estimated 800 t, or 78% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS refinery production figures.
Is tellurium a critical mineral?
Yes. Tellurium is on the US, Australian and Canadian critical minerals lists. Tellurium was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for tellurium in 2025 was more than 25%.
How much does tellurium cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of tellurium at $120/kg (tellurium, annual average, United States; +60% 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: Tellurium. 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
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 4, export controls by country)
- 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
- Permitting Council: current FAST-41 projects
- First Solar, Form 10-K for 2025 (filed 24 February 2026)
- 5N Plus: company website
Related topics
Tellurium companies
The companies page for tellurium.
Tellurium price
The price page for tellurium.
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.
Gallium
Profile of gallium.
