Rhenium: Stocks
Reserves called 'large', but nobody gives a world total
Reserves called 'large', but nobody gives a world total 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 kg Re content | Current output kg Re content (mine production, 2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 1,300,000 | 30,000 | 43 | n/a |
| China | 200,000 | 20,000 | 10 | n/a |
| Poland | – | 10,000 | – | n/a |
| United States | 400,000 | 9,800 | 41 | n/a |
| Uzbekistan | – | 7,000 | – | n/a |
Recycling
World reserves are described only as 'large'; Russia (310,000 kg), Kazakhstan (190,000 kg) and Armenia (95,000 kg) also hold reserves, and US identified resources are about 7 million kg (USGS 2026). Secondary rhenium production was 20-25 t in 2025, excluding closed-loop catalyst recycling, led by the US and Germany (USGS). The EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 50% (EU CRM 2023), and BRGM (2020) put the world recycling rate at 35-40% including catalysts. No India figure exists.
USGS describes world reserves only as 'large', without a total. Listed reserves are led by Chile (1.3 million kg), the US (400,000 kg) and Russia (310,000 kg). Identified US resources are about 7 million kg. Rhenium recycles unusually well for a minor metal. The EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 50%. Turbine blades and superalloy scrap are reprocessed into metal or engine revert. Spent reforming catalysts return to oil companies in a closed loop. There is no US government stockpile.
Recycling
End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 50% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).Superalloy scrap and turbine blades are recycled into metal or engine revert, and spent catalysts are recycled in a closed loop.