Technology metal price
Tellurium price today: $132.00 per kg
Price as of 27 October 2026 · checked 28 October 2026 · USD per kg, metal
Summary
The tellurium reference price is $132.00 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, −39.89% year to date. Solar thin-film takes 70% of tellurium use, China refines 80% of supply, and the reference price is −39.89% year to date at $132.00 per kg.
Tellurium price in every unit and over time
| Measure | USD | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Per kilogram | $132.00 | Reference price, metal, 27 October 2026 |
| Per gram | $0.132 | kg price divided by 1,000 |
| Per troy ounce | $4.11 | 1 kg = 32.1507 troy ounces |
| Per pound | $59.87 | 1 kg = 2.2046 pounds |
| Per tonne | $132,000 | kg price times 1,000 |
| 1 January 2026 | $219.60 | Derived from the year-to-date change |
| Year to date | −39.89% | Rank 12 of 12 metals |
| Since January 2020 | n/a | Our series for tellurium starts later |
- 1 January 2026 (derived) $220
- 27 October 2026 $132
Source: supplier reference prices for private investors, USD per kg of metal. Derived values back-calculate from the stated percentage changes and are rounded. How we price
What is moving the tellurium price
Copper anode slime is the only real source
More than 90% of tellurium comes from anode slimes in primary electrolytic copper refining, so supply follows copper output, not tellurium demand. China produced about 800 tonnes of the 1,000-tonne world refinery total in 2025 (USGS, estimated), and Chinese copper anode capacity more than doubled in a decade.
Export licensing lifted European prices
From February 2025 Chinese exporters had to submit end-user documents for tellurium, with licences typically taking 45 days. USGS says the controls limited availability in Europe: the average European price rose 84% to $150 per kg in 2025 from $81.54, and the US warehouse price rose 60% to $120 from $74.77.
Reference price is now below the 2025 European average
The $132 reference price is −39.89% this year and below the USGS 2025 European average of $150. Demand is dominated by cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar modules (70%) and bismuth telluride thermoelectrics (15%). A fifth US CdTe module plant, with up to 14 GW a year of planned output, was due to begin production by the end of 2026 (USGS).
Tellurium annual average price (USGS / Argus, dollars per kg)
| Year | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $69.72 | US warehouse; Europe $67.26 |
| 2022 | $70.34 | Europe $68.10 |
| 2023 | $79.09 | Europe $76.74 |
| 2024 | $74.77 | Europe $81.54 |
| 2025 (est.) | $120 | Europe $150 |
The reference price is a private-investor metal price at a single date. The benchmarks above are annual averages for a different form (oxide or an import value) and a different channel, so the gap between them is context, not an arbitrage. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
World tellurium refinery production, 2025 (USGS, tonnes)
| Country | 2025e (t) | Capacity (t) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 800 | 1,000 |
| Russia | 67 | 80 |
| Japan | 61 | 75 |
| Sweden (concentrate) | 48 | 50 |
| Canada | 28 | 30 |
| World total | ~1,000 | 1,300 |
World total excludes the United States (withheld) and countries with inadequate data.
What tellurium is used for
| End use | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Solar cells (CdTe) | 70% | Thin-film modules |
| Thermoelectric devices (BiTe) | 15% | Cooling and power generation |
| Metallurgy | 10% | Machining additive in steel, copper alloys |
| Other | 5% | Rubber, catalysts, glass pigments |
Dates and signals to watch
- End 2026Start of the fifth US CdTe module plant (USGS: production expected by year-end 2026).
- OngoingChinese tellurium export licence turnaround and European spot premiums.
These are scheduled or reported events, not forecasts. We do not publish price targets. Chinese announcement dates should be checked against the original MOFCOM text; see the export-control timeline.
Compared with related metals
| Metal | USD per kg | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Tellurium | $132.00 | −39.89% |
| Bismuth price | $85.29 | +55.36% |
| Rhenium price | $7,400.88 | +55.46% |
Tellurium price: frequently asked questions
What is the tellurium price per kilogram?
$132.00 per kilogram as of 27 October 2026, −39.89% year to date.
What is tellurium used for?
Mainly cadmium telluride thin-film solar cells (70% of use), then thermoelectric devices (15%) and metallurgy (10%), per USGS 2025 estimates.
Why did the tellurium price fall in 2026?
The reference price is −39.89% year to date. USGS recorded the European average at $150 per kg in 2025 after Chinese licensing lifted it 84%, and the 2026 retreat takes the price below that level.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tellurium — February 2026, 2025 estimates
- China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), export control announcements 23/2023, 33/2024, 46/2024, 18/2025, 70/2025 and 72/2025 — check the original text for the current licence status
Reference prices are indicative, not offers to buy or sell, and not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.