# Cadmium: Production Who refines cadmium, and why output is easing Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/production/ What this tab covers Who produces it and how much: world output over recent years, the top producing countries with their shares, USGS world figures for 2024 and 2025, and the largest producing companies globally and in India. World Mining Data shows refined output easing from 25,540 t in 2020 to 23,146 t in 2024. The HHI of 2,044 indicates moderate concentration. China made 39%, South Korea 19%, Japan 7% and Canada 6%. USGS puts world output at 22,800 t in 2024 and 23,000 t in 2025, with China at 9,500 t. South Korea's large share reflects big zinc smelters, not domestic mines. Production follows zinc smelting decisions. Nassar and co-authors note that cadmium is extracted whether or not anyone wants it (pdf p. 6). #### Cadmium ยท WMD 2020 26k 2021 26k 2022 23k 2023 24k 2024 23k World production, tonnes (World Mining Data 2026). #### Top producers 2024 China 38.9% Korea, South 18.6% Japan 7.2% Canada 6.3% Mexico 5.1% Kazakhstan 4.8% Russia 3.9% Peru 2.9% Concentration: HHI 2,044, moderately concentrated. #### USGS estimate World, 2024 22,800 metric tons, Cd metal (refinery) World, 2025e 23,000 metric tons, Cd metal (refinery) #### Largest producers by company, global - **Chinese zinc smelters (country total)**: 9,500 t Cd (country refinery output) (2025e) - **Nyrstar (Clarksville, Tennessee; Trafigura group)**: 200 t Cd (2025e) - **Japanese zinc smelters (country total)**: 1,300 t Cd (country refinery output) (2025e) - **First Solar (buyer)**: 14 GW/yr expected US capacity (2026) #### Largest producers by company, India India's cadmium comes from Hindustan Zinc's smelters, which made 827 kt of refined zinc in FY2025, but no cadmium tonnage is published and USGS's world table omits India. India charges royalty on primary cadmium at 4% of its average sale price (IBM yearbook 2023). ## Other sections - [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/index.md) - [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/overview/index.md) - [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/correlation/index.md) - [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/extraction/index.md) - [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/stocks/index.md) - [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/cycles/index.md) - [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/trading/index.md) - [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/movement/index.md) - [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/criticality/index.md) - [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/characteristics/index.md) - [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/emissions/index.md) - [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cadmium/links/index.md)