Price

Tellurium Pricing and Market Data

Tellurium prices range from $50-100/kg, having fluctuated significantly over the past decade. Prices peaked above $300/kg in 2011 during a supply squeeze. Current pricing is reported by Fastmarkets and Asian Metals. The tellurium market is dominated by a single consumer narrative: First Solars CdTe thin-film solar technology. First Solars production expansion plans imply tellurium demand could exceed current global supply within the coming decade, creating a potential structural constraint on CdTe solar scaling.

Pricing Mechanisms

Tellurium is priced using benchmarks from Metal Bulletin / SMM (99.99%). Tellurium pricing operates through a combination of exchange-based benchmarks, price reporting agency assessments, bilateral negotiation, and long-term offtake contracts. The specific mechanism depends on product form, grade, and the buyer-seller relationship.

Price History and Notable Market Events

The Tellurium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Tellurium prices include production levels in China (55% of global supply), demand from cadmium telluride solar cells and thermoelectric devices, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Tellurium market features both spot transactions and longer-term contracts. Spot prices reflect current conditions and are more volatile, while multi-year offtake agreements provide supply security for both producers and consumers. Current spot pricing is in the range of $92 per kg.