Prices
No single exchange-settled price exists for niobium. Trade settles over-the-counter against benchmarks published by independent price-reporting agencies. We do not republish those numbers — consult the publishers directly:
Asian Metal ↗
Daily benchmark quotations for niobium from Asian producers (subscription).
Fastmarkets ↗
Industry benchmark prices, market reports, and price discovery for niobium.
Shanghai Metals Market ↗
Real-time and historical Chinese spot prices for niobium.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 ↗
Annual U.S. Geological Survey reference — production, reserves, prices, and trade statistics for niobium.
About Niobium
Editorial overviewWhat is niobium?
Niobium (Nb, atomic number 41) is a silvery-gray transition metal used mainly as an alloying element. It is valued for improving strength and performance in steels and superalloys, and it is also sold as ferroniobium, niobium oxide, and niobium metal.
How niobium is priced
Niobium has no regulated futures contract. Over 90% of global niobium ships as ferro-niobium (FeNb 65%) on long-term contracts directly from the three primary producers (CBMM / Brazil, Anglo American / Brazil, Magris Resources / Niobec / Canada) to steel mills. Fastmarkets and Argus Media publish weekly FeNb assessments (in-warehouse Rotterdam, in-warehouse Pittsburgh).
Where niobium comes from
According to USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Brazil was the dominant niobium producer in 2025e with about 93% of global mine output, followed by Canada at about 5%; China, Congo (Kinshasa), Rwanda, Russia, and other countries made up the remainder. USGS also lists Brazil, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), Rwanda, Russia, and other countries in its 2025e world mine production table. Full breakdown in the production and reserves sections.
Who produces niobium
CBMM is the leading niobium-focused company in Brazil and describes itself as a “Leading Niobium Products & Technology Supplier.” USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 also identifies Brazil as the leading producing country, with Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), Rwanda, and Russia contributing smaller shares. Full list of producers below.
What niobium is used for
USGS says U.S. domestic niobium consumption in 2025 was estimated at about 77% steels and about 23% superalloys. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 also says niobium is consumed mostly as ferroniobium by the steel industry and as niobium alloys and metal by the aerospace industry.
Key facts about niobium supply
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: world mine production in 2025e was 112,000 metric tons of niobium content, and world reserves were more than 21,000,000 metric tons, implying roughly 188 years of reserve cover at that production rate. (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Brazil produced about 104,000 metric tons in 2025e, equal to about 93% of world output, making it the clear global leader. (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: U.S. net import reliance for niobium was 100% of apparent consumption in each year shown, and significant U.S. mine production has not been reported since 1959. (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Niobium recycling occurs through recycled niobium-bearing steels and superalloys, but niobium-specific scrap recovery was described as negligible; recycled niobium may have been as much as 20% of apparent consumption. (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026)
Sources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 — Niobium, CBMM
Mine Production by Country
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | 2024 | 2025e | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | — | 210,000 |
| Brazil | 104,000 | 104,000 | 14,000,000 |
| Canada | e6,900 | 6,000 | 640,000 |
| China | e44 | 40 | 6,500,000 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | e930 | 970 | NA |
| Russia | 300 | 300 | 3,000 |
| Rwanda | e210 | 200 | NA |
| Other countries | e160 | 120 | NA |
| World total (rounded) | 112,000 | 112,000 | >21,000,000 |
Unit: metric tons. "e" = estimated, "W" = withheld, "NA" = not available. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Reserves by Country (Top 10)
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | Reserves (metric tons) |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 14,000,000 |
| China | 6,500,000 |
| Canada | 640,000 |
| United States | 210,000 |
| Russia | 3,000 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | NA |
| Rwanda | NA |
| Other countries | NA |
| World Total | >21,000,000 |
Major Producers (0)
No producer data available for this metal.
Latest News
All metals news →No recent news for this metal. Visit the Hub news section for all metals news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto-generated from primary-source dataWhich countries produce the most niobium?
The largest niobium producing countries are Brazil (104,000 metric tons), Canada (e6,900 metric tons), Congo (Kinshasa) (e930 metric tons). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Which countries hold the largest niobium reserves?
The countries with the largest reported niobium reserves are Brazil (14,000,000 metric tons), China (6,500,000 metric tons), Canada (640,000 metric tons). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
What is the primary source for niobium production and reserves data?
Country-level niobium production and reserves figures on TSM Hub are sourced directly from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, the U.S. Geological Survey's authoritative annual reference. Company-level production figures come from each producer's official annual report, production report, or regulated exchange filing.