USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · 2025 data

The elements America makes none of

For 16 of the nonfuel minerals the USGS tracks, domestic mines and refineries supplied none of what the country consumed in 2025. The table lights elements that map to a commodity in the current filter. Asbestos and sheet mica are minerals, not elements; they and everything else live in the ranked list.

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zero domestic production, 2025

Zero production, 2025

no reportable domestic mine or refinery output

Majority imported

more than half of apparent consumption

Critical minerals

rows on the 2025 USGS list

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About this data

Net import reliance is imports minus exports, adjusted for stock changes, as a share of apparent consumption. A reading of 100% means no reportable domestic production. The United States tracks about ninety nonfuel mineral commodities; this page covers 101 of them, including split rows such as sheet mica versus scrap mica and titanium sponge versus mineral concentrates.

16 commodities had zero domestic production in 2025. 54 were majority imported (more than half of apparent consumption). 47 of the rows here are on the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Rare-earth elements are shown as a group for separated compounds and metals; mineral concentrates are a separate row because the United States mines and exports those while remaining import reliant on what comes back processed.

Leading import sources are averaged over 2021 to 2024. Percentage shares are shown where USGS published them (mostly for critical minerals). Country order without a share still comes from the same USGS tables. Figures are estimates and are revised; quote the Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 chapter before treating a single number as final.

All commodities

Arsenic (As): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China 45%, Malaysia 30%, Morocco 16%, Other 9%. Semiconductor doping, wood preservatives, and lead alloys.
Asbestos: net import reliance 100%; sources Brazil. Chlor-alkali diaphragm cells. The last remaining US industrial use.
Cesium (Cs): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China, Germany. Atomic clocks for GPS, drilling fluids, and photoelectric cells.
Fluorspar (F): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Mexico 64%, Vietnam 12%, China 10%, South Africa 9%, Other 5%. Steel and aluminum flux, hydrofluoric acid, and refrigerants.
Gallium (Ga): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Canada 28%, Japan 22%, China 18%, Germany 16%, Other 16%. Gallium nitride and arsenide semiconductors, radar, and LEDs.
Graphite (C): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China 46%, Canada 13%, Mozambique 13%, Mexico 12%, Other 16%. Anode material in lithium-ion cells, refractories, and lubricants.
Indium (In): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Republic of Korea 25%, Japan 22%, China 12%, Canada 11%, Other 30%. Indium tin oxide for displays and touchscreens, and solders.
Manganese (Mn): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Gabon 23%, South Africa 21%, Malaysia 11%, Australia 10%, Other 35%. Essential to steelmaking, and used in some battery chemistries. No substitute at scale in steel.
Mica (sheet): net import reliance 100%; sources China, Vietnam, Brazil, India. Electrical insulation in high-temperature and high-voltage equipment.
Niobium (Nb): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Brazil 67%, Canada 28%, Other 5%. Microalloyed high-strength steel and superconducting magnets.
Rubidium (Rb): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China, Germany, Russia. Atomic clocks, specialty glass, and research optics.
Scandium (Sc): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Japan 89%, China 11%. Aluminum-scandium alloys for aerospace, ceramics, and solid oxide fuel cells.
Strontium (Sr): net import reliance 100%; sources Mexico, Germany, China. Ferrite magnets, pyrotechnics, and specialty glass.
Tantalum (Ta): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China 22%, Australia 14%, Germany 11%, Indonesia 7%, Other 46%. Capacitors in circuit boards, and superalloys.
Titanium sponge (Ti): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan. Aircraft structures and engines, munitions, and other high-strength alloys.
Yttrium (Y): net import reliance 100%; critical mineral; sources China 70%, Germany 11%, Austria 8%, Republic of Korea 4%, Other 7%. Phosphors, thermal barrier coatings on turbine blades, lasers, and ceramics.
Gemstones: net import reliance 99%; sources India, Israel, Belgium, South Africa. Jewelry, and a smaller share in industrial abrasives and precision instruments.
Xenon (Xe): net import reliance 98%. Satellite ion thrusters, lighting, and medical imaging.
Fused aluminum oxide: net import reliance >95%; sources China, Canada, Brazil, Austria. Grinding wheels, sandpapers, and other bonded and coated abrasives.
Nepheline syenite: net import reliance >95%; sources Canada. Glass and ceramics, as a source of alumina and alkali.
Krypton (Kr): net import reliance 93%. Lighting, lasers, and insulating windows.
Bismuth (Bi): net import reliance 92%; critical mineral; sources China 56%, Republic of Korea 22%, Germany 13%, Other 9%. Lead-free solders and plumbing, pharmaceuticals, and metallurgy.
Potash: net import reliance 92%; critical mineral; sources Canada 79%, Russia 12%, Israel 3%, Other 6%. Fertilizers. Most US consumption is potassium chloride from Canada.
Antimony (Sb): net import reliance 91%; critical mineral; sources China 55%, Belgium 12%, Thailand 8%, India 6%, Other 19%. Flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, and ammunition primers.
Platinum (Pt): net import reliance 89%; critical mineral; sources South Africa 49%, Belgium 10%, Germany 10%, Italy 8%, Other 23%. Catalytic converters, aerospace alloys, chemical refining, and petroleum processing.
Titanium mineral concentrates: net import reliance 88%; critical mineral; sources South Africa 32%, Madagascar 16%, Canada 13%, Australia 11%, Other 28%. Feedstock for titanium dioxide pigment and, after further processing, titanium metal.
Dimension stone: net import reliance 85%; sources Brazil, Italy, China, India. Building stone, monuments, and countertops.
Iron oxide pigments: net import reliance 84%; sources China, Germany, Brazil, Canada. Paints, construction materials, and colorants.
Industrial diamond (stones): net import reliance 81%; sources India, South Africa, Russia, Botswana. Cutting, grinding, and drilling tools.
Peat: net import reliance 80%; sources Canada. Horticulture and, in some countries, fuel.
Chromium (Cr): net import reliance 79%; critical mineral; sources South Africa 31%, Kazakhstan 11%, Finland 6%, Canada 5%, Other 47%. Stainless steel and other metallurgy.
Cobalt (Co): net import reliance 79%; critical mineral; sources Norway 26%, Finland 16%, Canada 14%, Japan 14%, Other 30%. Lithium-ion batteries and high-temperature alloys.
Silver (Ag): net import reliance 77%; critical mineral; sources Mexico 47%, Canada 18%, Chile 5%, Turkey 5%, Other 25%. Electrical circuits, batteries, solar cells, and medical instruments.
Tin (Sn): net import reliance 77%; critical mineral; sources Peru 31%, Bolivia 27%, Indonesia 15%, Brazil 10%, Other 17%. Solder, tinplate, and alloys.
Barite: net import reliance >75%; critical mineral; sources India 39%, China 21%, Morocco 19%, Mexico 14%, Other 7%. Oil and gas drilling mud, and medical imaging.
Bauxite: net import reliance >75%; critical mineral; sources Jamaica, Turkey, Guyana, Australia. The ore for alumina and aluminum metal.
Magnesium metal (Mg): net import reliance >75%; critical mineral; sources Israel 20%, Canada 15%, Turkey 11%, Czechia 9%, Other 45%. Alloys for aerospace, automotive, and electronics, and as a reducing agent.
Rhenium (Re): net import reliance 75%; critical mineral; sources Chile 31%, Canada 27%, Germany 16%, Poland 14%, Other 12%. High-performance jet engines and gas turbines.
Silicon carbide: net import reliance 74%; sources China, Brazil. Abrasives and, increasingly, power electronics.
Zinc (Zn): net import reliance 73%; critical mineral; sources Canada 57%, Mexico 15%, Peru 8%, Republic of Korea 7%, Other 13%. Protective coatings for iron and steel (galvanizing), and alloys.
Alumina: net import reliance 71%; critical mineral; sources Brazil, Jamaica, Australia, Canada. Feedstock for aluminum smelting, and refractories.
Industrial garnet: net import reliance 71%; sources South Africa, Australia, China, India. Abrasive blasting, waterjet cutting, and filtration.
Rare earths: net import reliance 67%; sources China 71%, Malaysia 13%, Japan 5%, Estonia 5%, Other 6%. Permanent magnets, catalysts, polishing compounds, and phosphors. Covers the lanthanides as a group.
Aluminum (Al): net import reliance 60%; critical mineral; sources Canada 56%, United Arab Emirates 8%, Bahrain 4%, China 3%, Other 29%. Transportation, construction, packaging, and electrical uses.
Magnesium compounds: net import reliance 59%; critical mineral; sources China 58%, Brazil 8%, Canada 8%, Israel 8%, Other 18%. Refractories for steel furnaces, agriculture, and chemicals.
Copper (Cu): net import reliance 57%; critical mineral; sources Chile 68%, Canada 16%, Peru 7%, Mexico 6%, Other 3%. Wiring and cables, and a wide range of electrical equipment.
Palladium (Pd): net import reliance 57%; critical mineral; sources South Africa 37%, Russia 36%, Belgium 6%, Canada 6%, Other 15%. Catalytic converters, electronics, and chemical catalysts.
Neon (Ne): net import reliance 52%. Excimer lasers for semiconductor lithography, and lighting.
Cultured quartz crystal: net import reliance >50%. Frequency-control devices in electronics and communications.
Germanium (Ge): net import reliance >50%; critical mineral; sources Belgium 41%, China 23%, Canada 17%, Germany 14%, Other 5%. Fiber optics, infrared optics, and semiconductors.
Lithium (Li): net import reliance >50%; critical mineral; sources Chile 54%, Argentina 43%, Other 3%. Rechargeable batteries.
Selenium (Se): net import reliance >50%; sources Philippines, Mexico, Chile, Poland. Metallurgy, glass, and electronics.
Silicon (Si): net import reliance >50%; critical mineral; sources Brazil 25%, Canada 20%, Russia 18%, Malaysia 8%, Other 29%. Metallurgy and silicon wafers for semiconductors.
Tungsten (W): net import reliance >50%; critical mineral; sources China 26%, Germany 14%, Bolivia 8%, Vietnam 8%, Other 44%. Carbides for cutting tools, and high-temperature metallurgy.
Iodine (I): net import reliance <50%; sources Chile, Japan. X-ray contrast media, pharmaceuticals, and sanitation.
Nickel (Ni): net import reliance 41%; critical mineral; sources Canada 44%, Norway 11%, Australia 8%, Brazil 7%, Other 30%. Stainless steel, alloys, and batteries.
Vanadium (V): net import reliance 41%; critical mineral; sources Canada 34%, Brazil 13%, South Africa 13%, Austria 10%, Other 30%. High-strength steel, catalysts, and some batteries.
Industrial diamond (grit): net import reliance 35%; sources China, Republic of Korea, Ireland. Abrasives for grinding, polishing, and sawing.
Mica (scrap and flake): net import reliance 34%; sources China, Canada, India, Finland. Joint compound, paint, well-drilling mud, and rubber.
Lead (Pb): net import reliance 33%; critical mineral; sources Canada 31%, Republic of Korea 16%, Mexico 15%, Australia 13%, Other 25%. Lead-acid batteries, ammunition, and glass.
Salt: net import reliance 31%; sources Mexico, Chile, Canada, Egypt. Chemicals (chlor-alkali), highway deicing, and food.
Tellurium (Te): net import reliance >25%; critical mineral; sources Canada 64%, Philippines 14%, Japan 8%, Germany 5%, Other 9%. Cadmium-telluride solar cells, metallurgy, and thermoelectric devices.
Vermiculite: net import reliance 25%; sources South Africa, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Uganda. Insulation, horticulture, and construction products.
Bromine (Br): net import reliance <25%; sources Israel, Jordan, China. Flame retardants, oil-well fluids, and water treatment.
Cadmium (Cd): net import reliance <25%; sources China, Germany, Australia, Peru. Nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, and coatings.
Zirconium (Zr): net import reliance <25%; critical mineral; sources South Africa 48%, Australia 35%, Senegal 15%, Other 2%. Ceramics, foundry sands, and nuclear reactor components.
Perlite: net import reliance 23%; sources Greece, China. Lightweight insulation, horticulture, and filtration.
Talc: net import reliance 22%; sources Pakistan, Canada, China. Ceramics, paint, paper, and plastics.
Cement: net import reliance 21%; sources Turkey, Canada, Vietnam, Greece. Concrete for buildings, infrastructure, and oil wells.
Feldspar: net import reliance 18%. Glass and ceramics.
Phosphate rock: net import reliance 16%; critical mineral; sources Peru 99%, Other 1%. Fertilizers.
Gypsum: net import reliance 15%. Wallboard and cement.
Sulfur (S): net import reliance 14%. Sulfuric acid for fertilizer and chemical manufacturing.
Iron and steel: net import reliance 13%. Construction, vehicles, machinery, and appliances.
Iron and steel slag: net import reliance 13%. Road base, concrete aggregate, and cement clinker.
Pumice: net import reliance 10%. Lightweight aggregate, abrasives, and stonewashing.
Ammonia: net import reliance 5%. Fertilizers and chemical feedstock.
Construction sand and gravel: net import reliance 1%. Concrete, asphalt, and fill.
Crushed stone: net import reliance 1%. Road base, concrete, and construction aggregate.
Lime: net import reliance <1%. Steelmaking, construction, and water treatment.
Argon (Ar): net import reliance net exporter. Welding shield gas and industrial atmospheres.
Beryllium (Be): net import reliance net exporter; critical mineral; sources Kazakhstan 31%, Latvia 25%, Japan 19%, Germany 5%, Other 20%. Aerospace and defense alloys, and electronics.
Boron (B): net import reliance net exporter; critical mineral; sources Turkey 90%, Bolivia 6%, Other 4%. Glass, ceramics, nuclear applications, and steel hardening.
Clays: net import reliance net exporter. Ceramics, paper, absorbents, and drilling mud.
Diatomite: net import reliance net exporter. Filtration and fillers.
Helium (He): net import reliance net exporter. MRI magnets, semiconductor manufacturing, welding, and leak detection.
Industrial sand: net import reliance net exporter. Glass, foundry molds, and hydraulic fracturing.
Iron and steel scrap: net import reliance net exporter. Feedstock for electric-arc-furnace steelmaking.
Iron ore (Fe): net import reliance net exporter. Feedstock for iron and steel.
Kyanite: net import reliance net exporter. Refractories for high-temperature furnaces.
Molybdenum (Mo): net import reliance net exporter. Alloying element in steels and superalloys.
Natural zeolites: net import reliance net exporter. Animal feed, odor control, and water treatment.
Rare-earth concentrates: net import reliance net exporter; critical mineral. Mined feedstock that is processed into separated rare-earth compounds and metals.
Soda ash: net import reliance net exporter. Glass, chemicals, and detergents.
Titanium dioxide pigment: net import reliance net exporter; critical mineral. White pigment in paint, plastics, and paper.
Wollastonite: net import reliance net exporter. Ceramics, plastics, and metallurgical flux.
Gold (Au): net import reliance not published. Jewelry, electronics, and investment.
Hafnium (Hf): net import reliance not published; critical mineral. Superalloys, nuclear control rods, and semiconductors.
Mercury (Hg): net import reliance not published. Limited remaining uses in chemicals and electrical equipment.
Thallium (Tl): net import reliance not published. Electronics, medical imaging, and specialty glass.
Thorium (Th): net import reliance not published. Catalysts, specialty glass, and nuclear research.