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This table provides detailed information on the quantities and values of bismuth compounds, metal, alloys, and waste and scrap imported into the United States from various countries and localities. The data is categorized by specific product types such as nitrates, carbonates, and metal forms, reflecting the diverse applications of bismuth in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to electronics and metallurgy. Tracking these imports is crucial for understanding supply chain dynamics, assessing market demand, and informing trade policies, especially given bismuth’s role as a critical metal with limited domestic production.
Analysis of the 2023 data reveals several notable trends. Imports of bismuth nitrates increased significantly, with Germany leading at 299,000 kilograms valued at $2.83 million, up from 245,000 kilograms and $1.82 million in 2022. Total nitrate imports rose by nearly 20% in quantity and 48% in value, indicating growing industrial demand. Conversely, bismuth carbonate imports declined sharply from 14,500 kilograms ($545,000) in 2022 to 6,850 kilograms ($225,000) in 2023, with China’s shipments dropping from 7,820 to 900 kilograms. For metal, alloys, and waste and scrap, imports decreased substantially from 3.08 million kilograms ($26.9 million) in 2022 to 1.84 million kilograms ($18.5 million) in 2023. China, the largest supplier, saw its exports to the U.S. nearly halved in quantity from 2.28 million to 964,000 kilograms, with a corresponding value decline from $17.6 million to $7.7 million. Meanwhile, imports from countries like Japan and the Republic of Korea increased, with Japan’s quantity nearly doubling to 81,600 kilograms and Korea’s rising to 640,000 kilograms. These shifts suggest evolving sourcing strategies and market conditions influencing U.S. bismuth supply chains.
| TABLE 4 | |||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF BISMUTH COMPOUNDS, METAL, ALLOYS, AND WASTE AND SCRAP | |||||||||||||
| BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1, 2 | |||||||||||||
| (Gross weight) | |||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Quantity | Value | Quantity | Value | ||||||||||
| Product and country or locality | HTS2 code | (kilograms) | (thousands) | (kilograms) | (thousands) | ||||||||
| Compounds:3 | |||||||||||||
| Nitrates: | 2834.29.0500 | ||||||||||||
| China | 19000 | 121 | 18800 | 122 | |||||||||
| Germany | 245000 | 1820 | 299000 | 2830 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 4830 | 131 | 4090 | 141 | |||||||||
| Spain | 25 | 3 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Switzerland | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Total | 268000 | 2080 | 322000 | 3090 | |||||||||
| Carbonate: | 2836.99.2000 | ||||||||||||
| China | 7820 | 317 | 900 | 27 | |||||||||
| Germany | 1750 | 27 | 2000 | 37 | |||||||||
| India | -- | -- | 300 | 12 | |||||||||
| Israel | 4930 | 201 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Taiwan | -- | -- | 3650 | 149 | |||||||||
| Total | 14500 | 545 | 6850 | 225 | |||||||||
| Metal, alloys, and waste and scrap: | 8106.10.0000, | ||||||||||||
| 8106.90.0000 | |||||||||||||
| Austria | 1400 | 8 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Belgium | 71700 | 788 | 2100 | 23 | |||||||||
| Bolivia | 22900 | 198 | 32900 | 272 | |||||||||
| Canada | 20900 | 490 | 14400 | 220 | |||||||||
| China | 2280000 | r | 17600 | r | 964000 | 7710 | |||||||
| France | -- | -- | 3770 | 114 | |||||||||
| Germany | 59300 | 1230 | 3330 | 111 | |||||||||
| Hungary | 5 | 3 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| India | 7870 | 103 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Italy | 1 | 3 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Japan | 44400 | 689 | 81600 | 974 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 500000 | 4260 | 640000 | 5540 | |||||||||
| Laos | 17000 | 144 | 18000 | 162 | |||||||||
| Luxembourg | 13100 | 129 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Mexico | 14200 | 943 | 21600 | 1490 | |||||||||
| Peru | -- | -- | 53200 | 1620 | |||||||||
| Spain | 44 | 3 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Taiwan | 2780 | 142 | 5520 | 216 | |||||||||
| Thailand | 17200 | 147 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | 457 | 19 | 610 | 13 | |||||||||
| Total | 3080000 | r | 26900 | r | 1840000 | 18500 | |||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through November 4, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
3An undetermined amount of bismuth compounds were imported under trade codes that included other materials.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Bismuth statistics | Mineral commodity prices