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Niobium, tantalum, vanadium and zirconium ore: top exporters and importers (2024)

In 2024, world trade in niobium, tantalum, vanadium and zirconium ore totaled $2.3 billion (1.6 million tonnes). The top exporters were South Africa (28%), Australia (14%) and Nigeria (7%); China accounted for 52% of imports, followed by India (8%) and Spain (6%). Compared with 2019, the value rose 29%.

Summary

World trade
$2.3billion
Tonnes
1.6million tonnes
Price per tonne
$1,370
The largest flows between countries. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Top exporters

  1. South Africa$620 million · 27.6%
  2. Australia$312 million · 13.9%
  3. Nigeria$155 million · 6.9%
  4. Mozambique$140 million · 6.2%
  5. Indonesia$129 million · 5.8%
  6. Rwanda$118 million · 5.3%
  7. Senegal$114 million · 5.1%
  8. United States$62 million · 2.7%
  9. Democratic Republic of the Congo$60 million · 2.7%
  10. Sierra Leone$47 million · 2.1%
  11. Vietnam$44 million · 2%
  12. Brazil$41 million · 1.8%
  13. Malaysia$34 million · 1.5%
  14. Kenya$31 million · 1.4%
  15. Madagascar$31 million · 1.4%
  16. China$21 million · 0.92%
  17. France$19 million · 0.86%
  18. Canada$19 million · 0.86%
  19. Netherlands$19 million · 0.84%
    re-exports
  20. Republic of the Congo$17 million · 0.77%

Top importers

  1. China$1.2 billion · 52.4%
  2. India$179 million · 8%
  3. Spain$146 million · 6.5%
  4. Malaysia$126 million · 5.6%
  5. United States$111 million · 4.9%
  6. Thailand$59 million · 2.6%
  7. Italy$50 million · 2.2%
  8. Netherlands$48 million · 2.1%
    re-exports
  9. Japan$45 million · 2%
  10. Taiwan$35 million · 1.5%
  11. Germany$31 million · 1.4%
  12. Brazil$28 million · 1.3%
  13. France$28 million · 1.2%
  14. Mexico$23 million · 1%
  15. Russia$16 million · 0.72%
  16. Vietnam$16 million · 0.72%
  17. United Kingdom$12 million · 0.52%
  18. Turkey$10 million · 0.44%
  19. Hong Kong$9 million · 0.41%
    re-exports
  20. South Korea$9 million · 0.38%

Trend

Who sells it

South Africa has been the top exporter since 2019

Value in USD millions. The five largest exporters in 2024.

  • South Africa 620
  • Australia 312
  • Nigeria 155
  • Mozambique 140
  • Indonesia 129

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Country19952024
South Africa107620
Australia184312
Nigeria3.1155
Mozambique0140
Indonesia1.6129

Price

Implied price

The price per tonne rose 217% since 1995

Current US dollars per tonne: value over the weight reported by BACI.

  • 2024: $1,370

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearUSD per tonne
1995$432
1996$604
1997$637
1998$625
1999$477
2000$622
2001$872
2002$453
2003$566
2004$699
2005$836
2006$942
2007$1,037
2008$1,075
2009$1,231
2010$1,177
2011$1,802
2012$1,874
2013$1,387
2014$1,235
2015$1,162
2016$1,277
2017$1,203
2018$1,593
2019$1,520
2020$1,401
2021$1,554
2022$2,278
2023$1,476
2024$1,370

What it includes

  • 2615 · Niobium, tantalum, vanadium and zirconium ore

Products in the same chapter

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

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