Salient Arsenic Statistics

This table presents key data on the import, export, consumption, and pricing of arsenic in the United States, measured in metric tons of arsenic content. It distinguishes between arsenic metal and arsenic compounds, reflecting the diverse industrial applications of this element, including its use in wood preservatives, pesticides, and semiconductor manufacturing. Tracking these statistics is crucial for understanding supply chain dynamics, market demand, and price fluctuations, which in turn influence economic decisions in sectors reliant on arsenic-based materials.

Analysis of the data from 2020 through 2024 reveals notable volatility in arsenic trade and pricing. Total imports peaked at 10,100 metric tons in 2022 before declining sharply to 6,430 metric tons in 2023 and rebounding to 9,870 metric tons in 2024. Arsenic compounds, which constitute the bulk of imports, followed a similar pattern, with a significant increase from 4,730 metric tons in 2021 to 9,190 metric tons in 2022, a drop to 5,810 metric tons in 2023, and a rise again to 9,330 metric tons in 2024. Metal imports decreased from 896 metric tons in 2022 to 612 metric tons in 2023 and further to 533 metric tons in 2024. Exports of arsenic metal showed a substantial increase in 2024, reaching 138 metric tons compared to just 34 metric tons in 2023. The annual average price of arsenic in U.S. warehouses rose from $1.08 per pound in 2020 to a peak of $2.05 in 2023, before slightly declining to $1.97 in 2024. These fluctuations suggest shifting market conditions and supply constraints impacting the arsenic industry over this period.