Selenium: World Refinery Production, By Country Or Locality

This table presents data on global refinery production of selenium, broken down by country or locality, measured in kilograms of selenium content. Selenium is a critical industrial metal used in electronics, glass manufacturing, pigments, and as an additive in steel and other alloys. Tracking refinery production by country provides insight into the global supply chain, helps identify leading producers, and supports economic and industrial planning. This information is vital for policymakers, manufacturers, and investors who rely on selenium for various high-tech and industrial applications.

Analysis of the data from 2019 through 2023 reveals that China remains the dominant producer, with refinery output increasing steadily from 1,350,000 kilograms in 2019 to 1,775,000 kilograms in 2023. Russia also showed growth, rising from 331,000 kilograms in 2019 to an estimated 350,000 kilograms in 2023. Canada’s production increased notably from 102,000 kilograms in 2019 to an estimated 130,000 kilograms in 2023, reflecting a positive upward trend. Finland experienced fluctuations, peaking at 130,214 kilograms in 2022 before declining slightly to 121,600 kilograms in 2023. Japan’s output showed some variability but remained substantial, with a slight decrease to an estimated 680,000 kilograms in 2023 from 710,000 kilograms in 2022. Smaller producers like Serbia saw a significant rebound, more than doubling production from 13,980 kilograms in 2022 to an estimated 24,000 kilograms in 2023. Overall, world refinery production has increased from 3,100,000 kilograms in 2019 to an estimated 3,530,000 kilograms in 2023, indicating a steady global demand for selenium.

TABLE 6
SELENIUM: WORLD REFINERY PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1, 2

(Kilograms, selenium content)

Country or locality³	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Belgiume	200000		200000		200000		200000		200000
Canada	102000		102000		110000	e	110000	e	130000	e
China	1350000	r, e	1680000	r	1700000	r	1750000	r	1775000
Finland	115236		84213		99851		130214		121600
Germanye	50000	r	50000	r	50000	r	50000	r	50000
Indiae	14000		14000		14000		14000		14000
Japan	708812		733000		685000		710000	e	680000	e
Peru	55700		52700		48200		56900		49900
Poland	75760		73800		66210		81710		73860
Russia	331000		338000		330000	e	330000	r, e	350000	e
Serbia	17000		10000		3000		13980	r	24000	e
South Africae	8600	r	9000	r	10000	r	9000	r	9300
Sweden	19000		10000		9700	r, e	10000	e	4200	e
Turkeye	50000		50000		50000		50000		50000
United States, crude and anode slimes	W		W		W		W		W
Uzbekistan	2300		2300	e	2300	e	2300	e	2300	e
Total	3100000	r	3410000	r	3380000	r	3520000	r	3530000

^eEstimated. ^rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; not included in total.

¹Table includes data available through November 20, 2024. All data are reported unless otherwise noted; totals may include estimated data. Totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

²Unless otherwise noted, data relate to refinery output only to the extent possible. Countries and (or) localities that produced selenium contained in copper ore and concentrates, copper smelter products (blister and anodes), and (or) refinery residues but did not recover refined selenium are excluded. Totals exclude multiple selenium-producing countries for which available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.

³In addition to the countries and (or) localities listed, Australia, Chile, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe may have produced refined selenium, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.