Tantalum: Movement

Why the US is both a top exporter and importer

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Comtrade under HS 8103 covers tantalum metal, powder, scrap and articles, worth $730 million of exports in 2024. China (30%) and the United States (29%) lead exports, followed by Japan (11%) and Kazakhstan (7%). The United States is also the top importer (26%), with South Korea (15%) and Taiwan (12%) next. That reflects two-way trade in powders and capacitor materials. Ore trade differs: US ore imports in 2021–24 came mainly from Australia (64%). In June 2025, DR Congo and Rwanda signed a US-mediated peace agreement.

Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024. Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

Tantalum · HS 8103

World exports 2024 $729.9 m sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $883.6 m sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value China 30.4% United States 29.2% Japan 10.9% Kazakhstan 6.7% South Korea 5.3% Thailand 4.3% Top importers, share of value United States 25.7% South Korea 15.2% Taiwan (Other Asia, nes) 12% China 8.7% Japan 7.6% Indonesia 5.9% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.