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This table provides detailed data on the quantities and values of lead exports from the United States to various countries and localities, broken down by product type including ore and concentrates, base bullion, unwrought lead, wrought lead, and scrap. This information is crucial for understanding the role of lead in international trade, reflecting demand patterns, supply chain dynamics, and economic relationships between the U.S. and its trading partners. Lead is a key industrial metal used in batteries, radiation shielding, and other applications, so tracking export trends helps gauge the health of these industries and informs policy and market decisions.
Analysis of the data reveals that in 2022, the total quantity of lead ore and concentrates exported slightly decreased to 255,000 metric tons from 262,000 metric tons in 2021, while the total value declined more sharply from $496 million to $426 million. China remained the largest importer of U.S. lead ore and concentrates by quantity, though exports to China dropped from 107,000 metric tons valued at $212 million in 2021 to 103,000 metric tons valued at $159 million in 2022, indicating a significant decrease in value despite a modest quantity reduction. The Republic of Korea showed growth in exports, increasing from 37,900 to 46,900 metric tons and from $70.7 million to $80.6 million in value. Notably, exports of unwrought lead increased from 21,500 to 25,800 metric tons, with Mexico as a key destination, rising from 11,300 to 14,400 metric tons and from $28.1 million to $38.2 million in value. Conversely, wrought lead exports declined in quantity and value, dropping from 11,300 metric tons valued at $139 million in 2021 to 10,500 metric tons valued at $49.7 million in 2022, with significant decreases to countries like Kuwait and Jordan. Additionally, scrap lead exports to Korea appeared for the first time in 2022 at 6,360 metric tons valued at $5.4 million, highlighting emerging trade flows in recycled lead materials.
| TABLE 10 | |||||||||||||
| U.S. EXPORTS OF LEAD, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Quantity | Value | Quantity | Value | ||||||||||
| Country or locality | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | |||||||||
| Ore and concentrates, lead content: | |||||||||||||
| Canada | 34300 | 67600 | 35800 | 69900 | |||||||||
| China | 107000 | 212000 | 103000 | 159000 | |||||||||
| Germany | 14500 | 26000 | 7980 | 13700 | |||||||||
| Italy | 14500 | 24100 | 7640 | 15000 | |||||||||
| Japan | 24600 | 46000 | 27400 | 43700 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 37900 | 70700 | 46900 | 80600 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 22200 | 42200 | 16800 | 30600 | |||||||||
| Netherlands | 3980 | 6860 | 7960 | 13300 | |||||||||
| Thailand | 430 | 424 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Vietnam | 2120 | 373 | 1180 | 367 | |||||||||
| Other | 81 | r | 80 | r | 243 | 122 | |||||||
| Total | 262000 | 496000 | 255000 | 426000 | |||||||||
| Base bullion, gross weight: | |||||||||||||
| Canada | 1770 | 4410 | 1290 | 3120 | |||||||||
| Other | 166 | 301 | 263 | 493 | |||||||||
| Total | 1940 | 4710 | 1550 | 3620 | |||||||||
| Unwrought lead, gross weight:2 | |||||||||||||
| Belgium | 7690 | 15600 | 5310 | 10800 | |||||||||
| Canada | 485 | 704 | 1050 | 1090 | |||||||||
| China | 150 | 199 | 21 | 41 | |||||||||
| Ecuador | 89 | 107 | 989 | 1580 | |||||||||
| El Salvador | 257 | 182 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Guatemala | 287 | 225 | 89 | 76 | |||||||||
| India | 347 | 277 | 259 | 371 | |||||||||
| Japan | 360 | 325 | 395 | 483 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 11300 | 28100 | 14400 | 38200 | |||||||||
| Poland | 133 | 94 | 2590 | 2230 | |||||||||
| Other | 446 | r | 994 | r | 743 | 802 | |||||||
| Total | 21500 | 46800 | 25800 | 55700 | |||||||||
| Wrought lead and other products, gross weight:3 | |||||||||||||
| Canada | 1690 | 9360 | 1110 | 6690 | |||||||||
| Ecuador | 783 | r | 1800 | 1120 | 2510 | ||||||||
| India | 1890 | 4100 | 3210 | 6190 | |||||||||
| Jordan | 1480 | 20400 | 76 | 5350 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 57 | 379 | 302 | 1160 | |||||||||
| Kuwait | 1860 | 84000 | 153 | 2360 | |||||||||
| Malaysia | 171 | 431 | 345 | 979 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 531 | 3120 | 749 | 5230 | |||||||||
| Philippines | 231 | 956 | 288 | 1560 | |||||||||
| United Arab Emirates | 1370 | 2540 | 1480 | 2920 | |||||||||
| Other | 1200 | r | 11600 | r | 1660 | 14800 | |||||||
| Total | 11300 | r | 139000 | 10500 | 49700 | ||||||||
| Scrap, gross weight, Korea, Republic of4 | -- | -- | 6360 | 5430 | |||||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through August 17, 2023. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Includes refined lead (Schedule B export code 7801.10.0000), unwrought lead containing antimony as the principal alloying element (Schedule B export code 7801.91.0000), lead alloys (Schedule B export code 7801.99.9030), and other unwrought lead (Schedule B export code 7801.99.9050).
3Includes lead plates, sheets, strip and foil (Schedule B export codes 7804.11.0000, 7804.19.0000); lead bars, rods, profiles and wire (Schedule B export code 7806.00.0300); lead tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings (Schedule B export code 7806.00.0500); and other wrought lead (Schedule B export code 7806.00.8000).
4Includes lead waste and scrap obtained from scrap lead-acid batteries (Schedule B export code 7802.00.0030).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Lead statistics | Mineral commodity prices