# Bismuth: Stocks

Why nobody knows how much bismuth is left

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/stocks/

What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.

#### Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply

| Country | Reserves not reported (USGS publishes no bismuth reserves) | Current output t Bi (refinery production, 2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | – | 14,000 | – | n/a |
| **Korea, Republic of** | – | 1,000 | – | n/a |
| **Japan** | – | 500 | – | n/a |
| **Laos** | – | 500 | – | n/a |
| **Kazakhstan** | – | 180 | – | n/a |

 USGS MCS 2026, Bismuth (world refinery production table). Years of supply = reserves ÷ current output; reserves grow as prices and technology change, so this is not a countdown.

#### Recycling

USGS says bismuth reserves are generally not reported at mine or country level. Recycling: bismuth-containing alloy scrap was up to 10% of US apparent consumption in 2021-25 (about 80 t a year of secondary output); the EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 0% (EU CRM 2023). Bismuth in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and pigments is dissipated. No India, China or Japan rate was found.

No reliable reserve figures exist. USGS says bismuth reserves are rarely reported at mine or country level. Availability depends on how much lead, tungsten and zinc is processed and whether residues are treated. US consumer stocks of bismuth metal were about 360 t at the end of 2025. Recycling is small. Alloy scrap supplied up to 10% of US consumption, and the EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 0%. Bismuth in medicines and cosmetics is dispersed. There are no exchange warehouses to give a public inventory signal.

#### Recycling
 End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 0% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).

Recycled bismuth-containing alloy scrap supplied up to 10% of US apparent consumption in 2021-25.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/bismuth/links/index.md)