Supply chain footprint — snapshot year 2025
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K potassium |
31.3% | 15.0 million tonnes per year | 1st | high | Canada — USGS 2024 estimate: 15,000 thousand metric tons K2O equivalent. World's leading potash exporter; increased prod… |
| U uranium |
20.2% | 10,986 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | Canada 2023: 10,986 tU (NEA/IAEA estimate). McArthur River/Key Lake (Cameco 70% operator, Orano 30%) and Cigar Lake (Cam… |
| Pd palladium |
7.9% | 15,000 kg per year | 3rd | high | Canada 2024e: 15,000 kg Pd; down from 16,100 kg in 2023. PGMs produced as byproducts of nickel-copper mining in the Sudb… byproduct of Cu, Ni |
| Nb niobium |
6.5% | 7,100 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | Canada 2024e mine production: 7,100 metric tons Nb content, up from 6,700 metric tons in 2023. Canada was the second-lar… |
| C carbon |
6.4% | 290 million tonnes per year | 9th | high | |
| Au gold |
6.1% | 200 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Canada 2024e: 200 metric tons. Reserves revised 2024. |
| S sulfur |
5.9% | 5.0 million tonnes per year | 7th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 2024e = 5,000 thousand metric tons. Canada is the largest US import source for elemental sul… |
| Ni nickel |
5.0% | 190,000 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Canada — USGS 2024 estimate. Up from 159,000 in 2023. A new nickel sulfide mine began commercial production in Zambia in… |
| C carbon |
4.7% | 194,200 million m3 per year | 15th | high | |
| Na sodium |
4.3% | 12.0 million tonnes per year | 6th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 2024e = 12,000 thousand metric tons. Canada is the largest US import source for salt (29% of… |
| Ru ruthenium |
4.0% | — | 4th | medium | Canada (Sudbury Basin: Vale, Glencore operations; Thunder Bay). CA Pd 2024e: 15,000 kg, Pt 5,200 kg. Ru co-produced from… byproduct of Ni, Pt |
| Ti titanium |
3.9% | 350,000 tonnes per year | 10th | high | USGS 2024e: 350 kt. Mine production of titaniferous magnetite primarily used for slag. |
| Ir iridium |
3.7% | — | 3rd | high | DOE Table A2 iridium mine-production share, 2020. Canadian iridium is recovered mainly from nickel-copper-PGM sulfide sy… byproduct of Cu, Ni, Pt |
| Os osmium |
3.1% | 3.0 kg per year | 4th | high | Proxy derived from Canada's 2024 platinum share in the USGS PGM table (5,200 kg Pt out of 170,000 kg world Pt). Canadian… byproduct of Ni, Pt |
| Pt platinum |
3.1% | 5,200 kg per year | 4th | high | Canada 2024e: 5,200 kg Pt (stable vs. 5,170 kg in 2023). Canadian platinum is primarily recovered as a co-product of nic… |
| He helium |
3.0% | 6.0 million m3 per year | 5th | low | Three new Canadian helium facilities began operations in 2024 per USGS chapter text. |
| Fe iron |
2.2% | 54.0 million tonnes per year | 8th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 2024e = 54,000 thousand metric tons. |
| Co cobalt |
2.0% | 4,500 tonnes per year | 4th | high | byproduct of Cu, Ni |
| Cu copper |
2.0% | 0.5 million tonnes per year | 12th | high | Canada reserves revised 2024 per company/government reports. |
| Li lithium |
1.8% | 4,300 tonnes per year | 7th | high | |
| Ag silver |
1.2% | 300 tonnes per year | 14th | high | byproduct of Au, Cu, Pb, Zn |
| Si silicon |
0.7% | 30,000 tonnes per year | 19th | high | USGS 2024e: 30 kt. Second-largest US import source (28% of Si metal imports, 2020–23 avg). |
| Mo molybdenum |
0.5% | 1,200 tonnes per year | 12th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 1,200 metric tons 2024e, up from 1,150 in 2023. A Canadian company announced plans in 2024 t… |
| Ca calcium |
0.5% | 1.9 million tonnes per year | 14th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 2024e = 1,900 thousand metric tons. Canada is also the dominant source of US lime imports (8… |
| Si silicon |
0.4% | 20,000 tonnes per year | 21st | high | USGS 2024e: 20 kt. |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ga gallium |
20.0% | — | 1st | low | USGS p.75: "Canada, China, Japan, Slovakia, and the United States were the known principal producers of high-purity refi… byproduct of Al, Zn |
| Ge germanium |
9.5% | 20.0 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | Share derived from USGS OFR 2024-1057 table 1.14 by dividing the country estimate (20 t) by the reported 210 t world tot… byproduct of Zn |
| Cd cadmium |
7.1% | 1,700 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Canada 2024e: 1,700 metric tons. byproduct of Zn |
| Al aluminum |
4.6% | 3.3 million tonnes per year | 8th | high | Canada. USGS 2024e: 3,300 kt; yearend capacity 3,270 kt. |
| Se selenium |
4.0% | 130 tonnes per year | 6th | high | USGS MCS 2025 p.159: "Canada … 130" metric tons 2024e (unchanged from 2023). Share = 130/3700 = 3.5%. byproduct of Cu, Pb, Zn |
| In indium |
3.0% | 35.0 tonnes per year | 4th | medium | Canada. 35 t from USGS MCS 2025 World Refinery Production table, 2024 estimated column. Share derived: 35/1080 = 3.2%, r… byproduct of Zn |
| Te tellurium |
2.8% | 27.0 tonnes per year | 5th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 2024 estimated refinery production 27 metric tons. byproduct of Cu |
| Cu copper |
1.2% | 0.3 million tonnes per year | 16th | high | |
| Ti titanium |
1.1% | 108,000 tonnes per year | 15th | high | |
| Al aluminum |
1.1% | 1.5 million tonnes per year | 18th | high |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cs cesium |
100.0% | 70,000,000 kg | 1st | high | Bernic Lake (Tanco), Manitoba, was described by USGS as holding more than two-thirds of the world's reserve base and as … |
| K potassium |
22.8% | 1,100,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Canada — USGS: 1,100,000 thousand metric tons K2O equivalent. Saskatchewan Potash Basin is the world's largest known pot… |
| U uranium |
9.8% | 582,000 tonnes | 3rd | high | Canada 582,000 tU at <USD 130/kgU; 852,200 tU at <USD 260/kgU. Athabasca Basin unconformity-type deposits are the highes… |
| Nb niobium |
9.0% | 1,600,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | Canada reserves: 1,600,000 metric tons Nb content. |
| Ti titanium |
8.8% | 51,000,000 tonnes | 3rd | high | Canada ilmenite reserves: 51,000 kt TiO2 content. Rutile reserve data not separately reported. |
| Se selenium |
7.0% | 6,500 tonnes | 4th | high | USGS MCS 2025 p.159: 'Canada … 6,500' metric tons. Revised this edition. Share = 6500/92000 = 7.1%. byproduct of Cu, Pb, Zn |
| Au gold |
5.0% | 3,200 tonnes | 5th | high | Canada: 3,200 t. Revised 2024. |
| Sb antimony |
3.5% | 78,000 tonnes | 8th | high | Canada reserves: 78,000 metric tons. |
| Fe iron |
3.0% | 6,000,000,000,000 tonnes | 6th | high | USGS MCS 2025: Canada 6,000 million metric tons crude ore. |
| Te tellurium |
2.6% | 900 tonnes | 4th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada reserves 900 metric tons. byproduct of Cu |
| Co cobalt |
2.0% | 220,000 tonnes | 5th | high | byproduct of Cu, Ni |
| Ni nickel |
2.0% | 2,200,000 tonnes | 8th | high | |
| Ce cerium |
0.9% | 830,000 tonnes | 10th | high | |
| Cu copper |
0.8% | 8,300,000 tonnes | 13th | high | |
| Ag silver |
0.8% | 4,900 tonnes | 12th | high | byproduct of Au, Cu, Pb, Zn |
| Mo molybdenum |
0.4% | 64,000 tonnes | 10th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Canada 64 thousand metric tons. Revised based on company and Government reports. |
| Ru ruthenium |
0.4% | — | 5th | high | Canada PGM reserves: 310,000 kg = 310 t (0.4%). Primarily Sudbury Basin. byproduct of Ni, Pt |
| Rh rhodium |
0.4% | — | 5th | high | Canada reported 310 tonnes of combined PGM reserves, mainly associated with nickel-copper-PGM deposits. byproduct of Ni, Pt |
| Os osmium |
0.4% | — | 5th | high | Proxy from USGS combined PGM reserve geography: Canada reports 310,000 kg combined PGM reserves, mainly linked to nickel… byproduct of Ni, Pt |
| Ir iridium |
0.4% | — | 5th | high | Share of total reported PGM reserves from USGS MCS 2025. byproduct of Cu, Ni, Pt |
| Pt platinum |
0.4% | 310,000 kg | 5th | high | Canada PGM reserves: 310,000 kg. Primarily from Sudbury and other Ni-Cu mining districts. |
| Pd palladium |
0.4% | 310,000 kg | 5th | high | Canada: 310,000 kg combined PGM reserves. Sudbury Basin and Lac des Iles. byproduct of Cu, Ni |