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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of refined silver imported into the United States from various countries and localities, categorized by form—ores and concentrates, ash and residues, bullion, and dore. This information is crucial for understanding the supply chain dynamics of silver, a metal widely used in electronics, jewelry, photography, and industrial applications. Tracking imports by source helps assess the U.S. market’s dependence on foreign silver, informs trade policy decisions, and supports economic planning related to resource availability and pricing.
In 2023, the total refined silver imports for consumption reached approximately 4.95 million kilograms with a value of about $4.01 billion, marking an increase from 4.49 million kilograms and $3.46 billion in 2022. Mexico remained the dominant supplier, contributing 2.6 million kilograms valued at $2.21 billion, representing over half of the total imports. Other significant sources included Canada with 964,000 kilograms ($738 million) and Chile with 246,000 kilograms ($185 million). Notably, imports of ores and concentrates increased from 18,400 kilograms in 2022 to 42,100 kilograms in 2023, indicating a growing reliance on raw material imports. Turkey and Korea also supplied substantial bullion quantities, at 252,000 kilograms ($198 million) and 201,000 kilograms ($149 million), respectively. These trends highlight the diverse and expanding network of silver sources supporting U.S. industrial and commercial demand.
| TABLE 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF REFINED SILVER, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ores and concentrates | |||||||||||||||||
| Ash and residues | Bullion | Dore | Total | ||||||||||||||
| Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver | ||||||||||||||
| content | Value | content | Value | content | Value | content | Value | ||||||||||
| Year and country or locality | (kilograms) | (thousands) | (kilograms) | (thousands) | (kilograms) | (thousands) | (kilograms) | (thousands) | |||||||||
| 2022 | 18400 | 12600 | 3780000 | 2700000 | 695000 | 753000 | 4490000 | 3460000 | |||||||||
| 2023: | |||||||||||||||||
| Argentina | -- | -- | -- | -- | 34500 | 26200 | 34500 | 26200 | |||||||||
| Australia | -- | -- | 1770 | 1550 | -- | -- | 1770 | 1550 | |||||||||
| Belgium | -- | -- | 71200 | 54600 | -- | -- | 71200 | 54600 | |||||||||
| Bolivia | -- | -- | 18800 | 14100 | 313 | 252 | 19100 | 14400 | |||||||||
| Canada | 41300 | 31300 | 900000 | 689000 | 22800 | 17800 | 964000 | 738000 | |||||||||
| Chile | -- | -- | 230000 | 174000 | 15500 | 11300 | 246000 | 185000 | |||||||||
| Colombia | 3 | 2 | 6680 | 5160 | 1330 | 1010 | 8020 | 6170 | |||||||||
| Germany | -- | -- | 73700 | 55500 | 5670 | 4410 | 79400 | 59900 | |||||||||
| Hong Kong | -- | -- | 47900 | 36900 | -- | -- | 47900 | 36900 | |||||||||
| Italy | -- | -- | 3650 | 3000 | 2590 | 1960 | 6240 | 4950 | |||||||||
| Japan | -- | -- | 11300 | 8270 | -- | -- | 11300 | 8270 | |||||||||
| Kazakhstan | -- | -- | 121000 | 95700 | -- | -- | 121000 | 95700 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | -- | -- | 201000 | 149000 | -- | -- | 201000 | 149000 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 803 | 169 | 1950000 | 1460000 | 648000 | 753000 | 2600000 | 2210000 | |||||||||
| Nicaragua | -- | -- | 41 | 30 | 8050 | 5970 | 8090 | 6000 | |||||||||
| Peru | -- | -- | 11400 | 8410 | 1390 | 990 | 12800 | 9400 | |||||||||
| Poland | -- | -- | 123000 | 94300 | -- | -- | 123000 | 94300 | |||||||||
| South Africa | -- | -- | 16200 | 11700 | -- | -- | 16200 | 11700 | |||||||||
| Sweden | -- | -- | 6000 | 4430 | 15000 | 10200 | 21000 | 14600 | |||||||||
| Switzerland | -- | -- | 70200 | 55400 | 19 | 16 | 70300 | 55400 | |||||||||
| Turkey | 4 | 3 | 252000 | 198000 | -- | -- | 252000 | 198000 | |||||||||
| United Arab Emirates | -- | -- | 5000 | 4020 | -- | -- | 5000 | 4020 | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | -- | -- | 12200 | 9440 | 15000 | 11700 | 27300 | 21100 | |||||||||
| Vietnam | -- | -- | 1950 | 1590 | -- | -- | 1950 | 1590 | |||||||||
| Other | 5 | 164 | 718 | 602 | 368 | 313 | 1090 | 1080 | |||||||||
| Total | 42100 | 31600 | 4130000 | 3130000 | 771000 | 845000 | 4950000 | 4010000 | |||||||||
-- Zero.
1Table includes data available through August 30, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Silver statistics | Mineral commodity prices