Bismuth
A dense, low-toxicity metal that replaces lead in plumbing and solders and soothes stomachs, refined overwhelmingly in China.
Tech & minor metals · No. 37
- EU strategic
- EU critical 2023
- US critical 2025
- India critical 2023
- HHI 6,764 · highly concentrated
Bismuth soothes stomachs and replaces lead in taps, yet China refines most of it and its price nearly quadrupled in 2025.
Chart: Illustration: Bismuth
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Bismuth is almost never mined for itself: only two mines have made it their main product, one idle since 1996. It collects in residues from lead, tungsten and zinc smelting.
Three things to know
- Since 2014, US 'lead-free' plumbing may contain no more than 0.25% lead, down from 8%, which pushed bismuth into brass fittings.
- It melts at a very low temperature and swells as it freezes, ideal for the fusible alloys that set off fire sprinklers.
- With companionality near 95%, bismuth supply cannot rise unless the world processes more lead or tungsten.
The journey
- 1 Base-metal oreLead, tungsten or zinc ores
- 2 SmeltingConcentrate goes to base-metal smelters
- 3 ResiduesBismuth gathers in drosses and residues
- 4 RefiningPurified to 99.99% metal
- 5 End usesMedicines, pigments, lead-free brass and solders