Prices
No single exchange-settled price exists for zirconium. 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 zirconium from Asian producers (subscription).
Fastmarkets ↗
Industry benchmark prices, market reports, and price discovery for zirconium.
Shanghai Metals Market ↗
Real-time and historical Chinese spot prices for zirconium.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 ↗
Annual U.S. Geological Survey reference — production, reserves, prices, and trade statistics for zirconium.
About Zirconium
Editorial overviewWhat is zirconium?
Zirconium (Zr, atomic number 40) is a corrosion-resistant transition metal used mainly in high-performance industrial and nuclear applications. In nature and industry it is closely tied to zircon and zirconia, which are the main commercial sources of zirconium compounds and metal.
How zirconium is priced
Zirconium has no regulated futures contract. Two parallel reference series exist: zircon sand (ZrSiO₄, the dominant mineral concentrate) — published weekly by Fastmarkets and TZ Minerals International (TZMI) for the heavy-mineral sands industry — and nuclear-grade zirconium sponge metal, sold on long-term bilateral contracts.
Where zirconium comes from
Commercial zirconium supply is mined largely from heavy-mineral-sand zircon, and Geoscience Australia reports world zircon production at 1.8 Mt in 2024 with world resources of 110 Mt. Australia was the largest producer at 24% of global zircon output, followed by major producers including South Africa, Mozambique, Indonesia, and China (Geoscience Australia). Full breakdown in the production and reserves sections.
Who produces zirconium
Major producers and processors include Iluka Resources (Australia), Rio Tinto’s mineral-sands operations (Australia/Mozambique), Kenmare Resources (Mozambique), and Eramet’s mineral-sands business (Senegal/Madagascar). These companies are central to zircon feedstock and zirconium value chains, while zirconium metal itself is further processed through the nuclear and specialty materials supply chain (Geoscience Australia, Zircon Industry Association). Full list of producers below.
What zirconium is used for
Zircon and zircon-derived materials are used heavily in ceramics, especially ceramic tiles, and the Zircon Industry Association says they also run through many everyday products and medical-implant uses. More broadly, zirconium metal and compounds are valued for high-temperature and corrosion-resistant applications, including nuclear-reactor components and specialty chemical uses (Zircon Industry Association, Britannica).
Key facts about zirconium supply
- Geoscience Australia: world zircon resources were 110 Mt and global production was 1.8 Mt in 2024, implying about 61 years of resource cover at that rate.
- Geoscience Australia: Australia produced 0.35 Mt of zircon in 2024, equal to 24% of global output.
- Geoscience Australia: zirconium is tracked as a critical mineral on the US, India, Japan, and South Korea critical-mineral lists.
- The Zircon Industry Association states that zircon and its derivatives are used in ceramic tiles and in life-enhancing medical implants.
- Britannica: zircon is the only commercial source of zirconium, with baddeleyite as the other important zirconium mineral.
Sources: Geoscience Australia, Zircon Industry Association, Britannica
Mine Production by Country
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 100 | 100 | 500 |
| Australia | 400 | 400 | 55,000 |
| China | 100 | 100 | 500 |
| Indonesia | 81 | 52 | 3,400 |
| Madagascar | 31 | 26 | 2,100 |
| Mozambique | 124 | 160 | 1,500 |
| Senegal | 68 | 70 | 2,600 |
| Sierra Leone | 25 | 25 | 290 |
| South Africa | 290 | 270 | 5,900 |
| Other countries | 71 | 40 | 5,700 |
| World total (rounded) | 1,300 | 1,200 | >70,000 |
Unit: thousand metric tons, zircon gross weight. "e" = estimated, "W" = withheld, "NA" = not available. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Reserves by Country (Top 10)
Source: USGS MCS 2026| Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons, ZrO2 content) |
|---|---|
| Australia | 55,000 |
| South Africa | 5,900 |
| Other countries | 5,700 |
| Indonesia | 3,400 |
| Senegal | 2,600 |
| Madagascar | 2,100 |
| Mozambique | 1,500 |
| United States | 500 |
| China | 500 |
| Sierra Leone | 290 |
| World Total | >70,000 |
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 zirconium?
The largest zirconium producing countries are Australia (400 thousand metric tons, zircon gross weight), South Africa (290 thousand metric tons, zircon gross weight), Mozambique (124 thousand metric tons, zircon gross weight). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Which countries hold the largest zirconium reserves?
The countries with the largest reported zirconium reserves are Australia (55,000 thousand metric tons, ZrO2 content), South Africa (5,900 thousand metric tons, ZrO2 content), Indonesia (3,400 thousand metric tons, ZrO2 content). Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
What is the primary source for zirconium production and reserves data?
Country-level zirconium 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.