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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of selenium imported into the United States for consumption, categorized by country of origin and form of selenium, including selenium metal and selenium dioxide. Tracking these imports is crucial for understanding the supply chain dynamics of selenium, a critical element used in various industrial applications such as electronics, glass manufacturing, and photovoltaics. The data provides insight into the U.S. reliance on foreign sources for selenium, which has implications for economic planning, trade policy, and industrial competitiveness.
Analysis of the data reveals a notable decrease in total selenium imports from 361,000 kilograms valued at $11.6 million in 2022 to 277,000 kilograms valued at $8.14 million in 2023. Imports of selenium metal fell from 351,000 kilograms ($11.2 million) to 269,000 kilograms ($7.91 million), with significant declines from major suppliers such as Belgium (from 32,400 to 28,000 kilograms) and Germany (from 24,400 to 10,200 kilograms). Conversely, Chile showed a substantial increase in selenium metal imports, rising from 18,100 to 45,300 kilograms, accompanied by a value increase to $871,000. The Philippines remained the largest single source, although imports decreased from 101,000 to 78,100 kilograms. Selenium dioxide imports also declined, from 10,300 kilograms ($371,000) to 7,600 kilograms ($225,000), with the Philippines notably increasing its selenium dioxide exports to the U.S. from 479 to 6,540 kilograms. These trends highlight shifting trade patterns and potential supply vulnerabilities in the U.S. selenium market.
| TABLE 3 | |||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF SELENIUM1 | |||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Selenium content | Selenium content | ||||||||||||
| Class and country or locality | (kilograms) | Value | (kilograms) | Value | |||||||||
| Selenium metal: | |||||||||||||
| Australia | 6 | 2180 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Bahamas, The | -- | -- | 73 | 2540 | |||||||||
| Belgium | 32400 | 684000 | 28000 | 543000 | |||||||||
| Canada | 35000 | 770000 | 32000 | 714000 | |||||||||
| Chile | 18100 | 278000 | 45300 | 871000 | |||||||||
| China | 111 | 18400 | 21 | 9800 | |||||||||
| France | 655 | 19700 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Germany | 24400 | 932000 | 10200 | 480000 | |||||||||
| India | 5 | 2500 | 2900 | 67700 | |||||||||
| Ireland | 3 | 6650 | 2 | 10600 | |||||||||
| Japan | 23800 | 1580000 | 19000 | 970000 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 9000 | 136000 | 1980 | 34000 | |||||||||
| Latvia | -- | -- | 20 | 4400 | |||||||||
| Luxembourg | 4540 | 108000 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Mexico | 48500 | 766000 | 9270 | 141000 | |||||||||
| New Zealand | -- | -- | 2000 | 14700 | |||||||||
| Philippines | 101000 | 5160000 | 78100 | 3550000 | |||||||||
| Poland | 38800 | 509000 | 38900 | 412000 | |||||||||
| Russia | 15000 | 230000 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Turkey | -- | -- | 1 | 2760 | |||||||||
| United Arab Emirates | -- | -- | 1230 | 81400 | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | 1 | 6060 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Total | 351000 | 11200000 | 269000 | 7910000 | |||||||||
| Selenium dioxide:2 | |||||||||||||
| China | 3530 | 96200 | 736 | 21300 | |||||||||
| Germany | 1010 | 57700 | 320 | 13700 | |||||||||
| Japan | 386 | 21000 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 4870 | 189000 | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Philippines | 479 | 7050 | 6540 | 190000 | |||||||||
| Total | 10300 | 371000 | 7600 | 225000 | |||||||||
| Grand total | 361000 | 11600000 | 277000 | 8140000 | |||||||||
-- Zero.
1Table includes data available through July 16, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Selenium content calculated as 71% of the gross weight of selenium dioxide.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Selenium statistics | Mineral commodity prices