Iodine: Criticality

Why an element with no substitutes is off critical lists

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	High	–	9.6%	3.3%	−$140.6 m	No	Third-largest producer (output withheld) from Oklahoma brines, but still imports, 88% from Chile in 2021-24 (USGS 2026).
EU	High	–	31.4%	17.4%	−$313.0 m	No	Has no primary production; Belgium is a major converter and re-exporter (15.8% of world export value) and Italy and Germany import for pharma; not on the EU critical list (Comtrade 2024).
India	High	–	13.1%	0.2%	−$289.0 m	No	Has no production and is the second-largest importer (13.1% of 2024 import value) for drugs, contrast media and iodised salt.
China	High	–	24.3%	0.0%	−$544.1 m	No	Produces some iodine but does not report it and is the largest importer (24.3% of 2024 value) (USGS; Comtrade).
Japan	Low	–	0.0%	13.3%	+$298.9 m	No	Second-largest producer (9,000 t) with the largest reserves (4.9 Mt) and 13.3% of world export value (USGS; Comtrade).
Latin America	Low	–	4.0%	63.8%	+$1.35 bn	no list	Chile dominates world supply with 23,000 t in 2025 and 63.5% of export value (USGS; Comtrade).
Middle East	Low	–	0.2%	0.0%	−$4.37 m	no list	Iran produces about 700 t a year with 40,000 t of reserves (USGS 2026).
Australia	Low	–	0.2%	0.0%	−$4.12 m	No	Has no iodine production listed by USGS (2026) and imports its needs.

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.

Iodine is not on the US 2025 or India 2023 critical mineral lists. Hayes and McCullough find recent studies flag it less often than older ones. Yet the USGS says no comparable substitutes exist in feed, nutrition, catalysis and pharmaceuticals. Bromine and chlorine can replace it only in some biocides, colorants and inks. The real exposure is concentration in one Chilean desert. For public health, iodised salt is the main defence against deficiency, as China's long campaign shows (Conway).

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

Substitutes

No comparable substitutes in feed, catalytic, nutritional and pharmaceutical uses; bromine or chlorine in some biocides, colorants and inks; antibiotics for iodine biocides