Post-transition metal, group 15
What is bismuth? Properties, uses, supply and price
Bismuth (Bi) is a post-transition metal (atomic number 83) produced as a byproduct of lead, tungsten and zinc processing, 88% of it in China. It is a non-toxic replacement for lead in many uses.
Facts from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Bismuth key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol, atomic number | Bi, 83 |
| Group | Post-transition metal, group 15 |
| World refinery output, 2025 | 16,000 t; China 88% |
| US net import reliance | 92% |
| US primary refining | None since 1997 |
| Melting point | 271 °C (USGS) |
Where bismuth comes from
Rarely a primary product
Bismuth is usually a byproduct of lead ore processing; in China and Vietnam it also comes from tungsten and other ores, and in Japan and Korea from zinc. The Tasna mine in Bolivia, inactive since 1996, and a mine in China are the only mines for which bismuth has been the main product (USGS). The last US primary lead smelter closed at the end of 2013.
What bismuth is used for
| End use | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals and chemicals | Largest US use | Bismuth subsalicylate, pigments, cosmetics |
| Lead-free alloys | Established | Brass plumbing, free-machining steel, solders |
| Fusible alloys | Niche | Fire-sprinkler triggers, low-melting alloys |
Substitutes and recycling
Substitutes
Cadmium, indium, lead and tin can partly replace bismuth in low-temperature solders; resins and glycerin-filled glass bulbs replace its alloys in holding devices and sprinkler triggers; titanium-dioxide-coated mica replaces it in pigments (USGS).
Recycling
Recycled bismuth alloy scrap supplied up to 10% of US apparent consumption in 2021–25.
Policy and supply security
Chinese controls
China issued export controls on bismuth in February 2025 in response to US tariffs. US bismuth metal imports from China fell 40% in 2025 to an estimated 460 tonnes.
Dated events and export-control steps are on the China export-control timeline.
Bismuth: frequently asked questions
What is bismuth used for?
Pharmaceuticals (bismuth subsalicylate), pigments and cosmetics, lead-free alloys for brass plumbing and solders, and low-melting fusible alloys for fire-sprinkler triggers.
Is bismuth a rare metal?
It is produced in small volumes (16,000 t in 2025) and is a byproduct of other metals, so supply depends on lead, tungsten and zinc smelters, mostly in China.
How much does bismuth cost?
The reference price is $85.29 per kg as of 27 October 2026, +55.36% year to date.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.