Bromine: Criticality

Narrow supply in a conflict-prone region

What this tab covers How exposed economies are to a supply disruption: the EU, US and India listings, the concentration score, and a quantified exposure for the US, EU, India, China, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia. Where the EU scored it, a chart of supply risk against economic importance, with import reliance, recycling input and substitutes.

Exposure by region

Region	Exposure	Share of world output	Share of world imports	Share of world exports	Net trade (US$)	On own critical list	Position
US	Low	–	0.7%	6.5%	+$15.9 m	No	One of the leading producers from Arkansas brines with 11 million t of reserves, a small net importer (less than 25% reliance), mostly from Israel (83% of 2021-24 imports) (USGS 2026).
EU	High	–	10.7%	3.3%	−$23.3 m	No	Has no primary output listed by USGS; the UK and the Netherlands took 4.6% and 4.5% of 2024 elemental bromine import value, and bromine is not on the EU critical list (USGS 2026; Comtrade).
India	High	–	7.1%	6.0%	−$4.80 m	No	Produces about 7,000 t from Gujarat brines and bitterns and both exports (6.0%) and imports (7.1%) bromine by value (USGS 2026; Comtrade 2024).
China	High	–	61.1%	0.0%	−$186.6 m	No	Produces 90,000 t, down from 100,000 t, and takes 61.1% of world elemental bromine imports by value (USGS 2026; Comtrade 2024).
Japan	Low	–	1.8%	14.8%	+$36.0 m	No	Produces about 20,000 t and supplied 14.8% of world export value in 2024 (USGS; Comtrade).
Latin America	Low	–	0.1%	0.0%	−$310k	no list	No production listed by USGS; Guyana took 43% of US bromine exports by weight through July 2025 for offshore drilling (USGS 2026).
Middle East	Low	–	2.2%	62.5%	+$168.4 m	no list	Israel (200,000 t) and Jordan (110,000 t) produce about 72% of reported world bromine from the Dead Sea, while Saudi Arabia took 20% of US bromine exports through July 2025 (USGS 2026).
Australia	Low	–	0.0%	0.0%	−$19k	No	Has no bromine production listed by USGS (2026).

Exposure rating: High when the region is a net importer whose import share is at least three times its share of world output (or, for farm goods, it produces under 70% of what it consumes); Medium for other net importers (or 70-95% self-sufficiency), raised to High when world supply is highly concentrated in another country; Low for net exporters or self-sufficient regions. Net importer status uses tonnage where reported, otherwise value. Output: n/a. Trade: UN Comtrade 2024 (EU = sum of member states, including intra-EU trade). Critical lists: US 2025, EU 2024/1252, India 2023, China 2016 strategic minerals, Japan METI, Australia 2024.

Bromine is not on the US 2025 or India 2023 critical lists, and Hayes and McCullough find it flagged less often in recent studies. Supply is still geographically narrow. Israel and Jordan both draw on the Dead Sea, in a conflict-prone region. Substitution is uneven. Aluminium and magnesium hydroxides, chlorine and phosphorus compounds can replace bromine flame retardants in some plastics. There is no comparable substitute in some well-completion fluids. Large US reserves are the main hedge.

EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No

Substitutes

Chlorine and iodine in a few reactions and sanitation; aluminium and magnesium hydroxides, organic chlorine and phosphorus compounds as fire retardants; none in some well-completion fluids