Tellurium

Global Tellurium Market to Reach US$565.4 Million by 2030

The global market for Tellurium estimated at US$444.4 Million in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$565.4 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Pure Tellurium, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 4.9% CAGR and reach US$369.4 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Telluride segment is estimated at 2.6% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$121.1 Million While China is Forecast to Grow at 7.7% CAGR

The Tellurium market in the U.S. is estimated at US$121.1 Million in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$116.4 Million by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 7.7% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.6% and 3.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 2.4% CAGR.

Global "Tellurium" Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Is This Rare Metalloid Gaining Prominence in Emerging Technologies?

Tellurium, a relatively obscure metalloid element, is rapidly becoming a critical material across several high-growth industries. Traditionally used in metallurgy and alloy enhancement, tellurium`s unique electrical and thermoelectric properties have positioned it at the center of next-generation technologies. Its growing significance is most notable in the solar energy sector, where cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic cells are gaining popularity due to their high efficiency and low manufacturing costs compared to silicon-based alternatives. As countries ramp up efforts to decarbonize their power sectors, demand for tellurium in solar modules is escalating. Furthermore, the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and smart electronics has renewed interest in thermoelectric materials for efficient heat-to-electricity conversion—an area where tellurium-based compounds are unrivaled. Aerospace and defense sectors are also exploring tellurium for infrared optics and phase-change memory alloys. Despite its scarcity and challenging extraction process, tellurium is increasingly regarded as a strategic material, with nations like the U.S. and China including it in critical mineral lists. This shift has prompted intensified R&D efforts to improve extraction yields and recycling efficiency, underscoring the growing industrial reliance on this once-overlooked element.

How Is the Global Supply Chain Adapting to Meet Surging Demand?

The global tellurium supply chain is experiencing both opportunity and constraint as demand surges amid limited natural availability. Primarily recovered as a byproduct of copper refining, tellurium production is geographically concentrated, with China, Russia, and Canada leading output. However, this dependency on copper smelting creates a vulnerable supply network that is tightly coupled with fluctuations in the base metals market. To counteract this risk, efforts are underway to diversify tellurium sources by extracting it from lead-zinc ores and gold processing residues, and through advanced bioleaching techniques. Governments are also investing in recycling initiatives to recover tellurium from solar panels and electronic waste—an area expected to grow significantly as green tech adoption increases. Additionally, mining companies are under pressure to meet stringent ESG criteria, which include sustainable extraction practices and responsible waste management. The strategic importance of tellurium has led to increased stockpiling by defense and energy agencies, particularly in North America and Europe, in anticipation of geopolitical supply disruptions. Meanwhile, junior exploration firms are evaluating new deposits in politically stable regions to establish more resilient and transparent supply lines.

Why Are End-Use Applications Expanding at an Accelerated Pace?

Tellurium’s versatility is unlocking a wave of innovative applications across rapidly evolving sectors. In renewable energy, cadmium telluride modules are not only delivering competitive efficiency levels but also performing well under low-light and high-temperature conditions, making them ideal for utility-scale solar installations in arid and tropical regions. In the data storage industry, tellurium alloys are critical to phase-change memory (PCM) devices, offering faster read/write speeds and greater durability than traditional flash memory. These features are essential for next-gen computing, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), edge devices, and quantum computing frameworks. Thermoelectric telluride compounds are gaining traction in waste heat recovery systems, allowing automotive and industrial sectors to convert otherwise lost energy into usable power. Moreover, the metalloid is being tested in advanced battery chemistries and high-frequency electronics for its conductivity and thermal stability. Biomedical research is also exploring tellurium-based compounds for antimicrobial and anticancer properties, although commercial applications in life sciences remain nascent. These diversified use cases are collectively creating a robust, multi-industry demand pipeline, enhancing the long-term growth outlook for tellurium beyond its legacy applications.

The Growth in the Tellurium Market Is Driven by Several Factors…

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Tellurium market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Type (Pure Tellurium, Telluride); Application (Chemical, Electronics, Solar Energy, Metallurgy, Other Applications)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 34 Featured) -

• 5N Plus Inc.
• Aurubis AG
• Belmont Metals, Inc.
• Boliden AB
• Central Drug House (CDH)
• Coherent Corp.
• Deer Horn Capital Inc.
• First Tellurium Corp.
• Grupo México
• Jiangxi Copper Company Limited
• Jiangxi Ketai New Materials Co., Ltd.
• JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
• Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Nanoshel LLC
• Nyrstar NV
• Pan Pacific Copper Co., Ltd.
• Rio Tinto Group
• Sidhartha Metal Company
• Umicore N.V.
• ZNXC

TARIFF IMPACT FACTOR

Our new release incorporates impact of tariffs on geographical markets as we predict a shift in competitiveness of companies based on HQ country, manufacturing base, exports and imports (finished goods and OEM). This intricate and multifaceted market reality will impact competitors by artificially increasing the COGS, reducing profitability, reconfiguring supply chains, amongst other micro and macro market dynamics.

We are diligently following expert opinions of leading Chief Economists (14,949), Think Tanks (62), Trade & Industry bodies (171) worldwide, as they assess impact and address new market realities for their ecosystems. Experts and economists from every major country are tracked for their opinions on tariffs and how they will impact their countries.

We expect this chaos to play out over the next 2-3 months and a new world order is established with more clarity. We are tracking these developments on a real time basis.

As we release this report, U.S. Trade Representatives are pushing their counterparts in 183 countries for an early closure to bilateral tariff negotiations. Most of the major trading partners also have initiated trade agreements with other key trading nations, outside of those in the works with the United States. We are tracking such secondary fallouts as supply chains shift.

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APRIL 2025: NEGOTIATION PHASE

Our April release addresses the impact of tariffs on the overall global market and presents market adjustments by geography. Our trajectories are based on historic data and evolving market impacting factors.

JULY 2025 FINAL TARIFF RESET

Complimentary Update: Our clients will also receive a complimentary update in July after a final reset is announced between nations. The final updated version incorporates clearly defined Tariff Impact Analyses.

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INDIA
176 OTHER COUNTRIES.

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