Supply chain footprint — snapshot year 2025
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I iodine |
28.2% | 9,300 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | Japan 2024e: 9,300 metric tons (estimated), down from 9,900 in 2023. Japan is the world's second-largest iodine producer… |
| Br bromine |
5.0% | 20,000 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Japan 2024e: 20,000 metric tons (estimated). Unchanged from 2023. |
| S sulfur |
3.6% | 3.1 million tonnes per year | 9th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Japan 2024e = 3,100 thousand metric tons. |
| Ca calcium |
1.4% | 6.0 million tonnes per year | 6th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Japan 2024e = 6,000 thousand metric tons (quicklime only). |
| Ga gallium |
0.0% | 3.0 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | byproduct of Al, Zn |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ga gallium |
20.0% | — | 1st | low | byproduct of Al, Zn |
| Se selenium |
19.0% | 710 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | USGS MCS 2025 p.159: "Japan … 710" metric tons 2024e, up from 680 in 2023. Japan historically one of the top selenium re… byproduct of Cu, Pb, Zn |
| Ti titanium |
17.2% | 55,000 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | USGS 2024e: 55,000 t (down from 57,000 t in 2023). Japan capacity 65,200 t/yr. Japan supplied 67% of US sponge imports J… |
| Te tellurium |
7.1% | 70.0 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Japan 2024 estimated refinery production 70 metric tons. byproduct of Cu |
| Cd cadmium |
7.1% | 1,700 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Japan 2024e: 1,700 metric tons. byproduct of Zn |
| In indium |
6.0% | 60.0 tonnes per year | 3rd | medium | Japan. 60 t from USGS MCS 2025 World Refinery Production table, 2024 estimated column. Share derived: 60/1080 = 5.6%, ro… byproduct of Zn |
| Ce cerium |
6.0% | — | 3rd | medium | USGS MCS 2025: Japan supplied 6% of US rare-earth imports (2020–23). |
| O oxygen |
6.0% | 6.4 million tonnes per year | 3rd | low | Japan remains a major BF-BOF steel producer, so oxygen intensity is high. |
| Cu copper |
5.9% | 1.6 million tonnes per year | 4th | high | |
| Cl chlorine |
4.7% | 3.5 million tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Japan production estimated from industry context; saltmarketinfo.com notes Japan's declining production trend post-2010.… |
| Fe iron |
4.5% | 84.0 million tonnes per year | 3rd | high | |
| Ti titanium |
3.3% | 322,000 tonnes per year | 10th | high | |
| Bi bismuth |
3.1% | 500 tonnes per year | 4th | high | USGS 2024e refinery production for Japan: 500 metric tons. byproduct of Pb, Zn |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I iodine |
79.0% | 4,900,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Japan reserves: 4,900,000 metric tons. World's largest known iodine reserve base, associated with gas and oil brine fiel… |