Selenium
World refinery production and capacity, 2024–2025
Share of world refinery production, 2025 · world total 3,800 metric tons
- China 52%
- Japan 17%
- Russia 8.3%
- Belgium 5.2%
- Canada 3.4%
- India 2.3%
- Mexico 2.3%
- Serbia 1.8%
- All other countries 8%
China accounted for 52% of world refinery production of selenium in 2025 (2,000 metric tons). U.S. imports of selenium (selenium dioxide) fell from 71 metric tons in 2021 to 9 metric tons in 2025 (selenium content). World output rose 3.5% from 2024 to 2025. The three largest producers, China, Japan, and Russia, together supplied 77%.
Producer log
17 countries listed separately
| Country | Refinery production 2024 | Refinery production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Refinery capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,800 | 2,000 | 52% | +11% | 2,500 |
| Japan | 730 | 640 | 17% | −12% | 800 |
| Russia | 310 | 320 | 8.3% | +3.2% | 350 |
| Belgium | 200 | 200 | 5.2% | 0% | 300 |
| Canada | 130 | 130 | 3.4% | 0% | 180 |
| India | 88 | 90 | 2.3% | +2.3% | 100 |
| Mexico | 78 | 88 | 2.3% | +13% | 190 |
| Serbia | 69 | 71 | 1.8% | +2.9% | 100 |
| Poland | 68 | 67 | 1.7% | −1.5% | 90 |
| Kazakhstan | 2 | 50 | 1.3% | +2400% | 100 |
| Peru | 53 | 48 | 1.2% | −9.4% | 65 |
| Germany | 49 | 47 | 1.2% | −4.1% | 60 |
| Turkey | 43 | 43 | 1.1% | 0% | 50 |
| Finland | 38 | 39 | 1% | +2.6% | 170 |
| South Africa | 11 | 10 | 0.3% | −9.1% | 15 |
| Uzbekistan | 2 | 2 | under 0.1% | 0% | 3 |
| United Statescrude and anode slimes | withheld | withheld | withheld | ||
| Other countries | not available | not available | not available | ||
| World total | 3,670 | 3,800 | 100% | +3.5% | 5,100 |
The world total excludes U.S. output, which USGS withholds.
United States
supply, trade and import sources
more than 50%
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
2021>50
2022>50
2023>50
2024>50
2025>50
Import sources of selenium, 2021–24
- Philippines 25%
- Mexico 14%
- Chile 12%
- Poland 11%
- Other countries 38%
Estimated end uses worldwide
- Metallurgy (including electrolytic manganese metal production)40%
- Agriculture and animal health20%
- Glass manufacturing20%
- Electronics and photovoltaics10%
- Chemicals and pigments5%
- Other applications5%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production, crude and anode slimes | W | W | W | W | W |
| Imports for consumption: Selenium | 346 | 351 | 269 | 225 | 400 |
| Imports for consumption: Selenium dioxide | 71 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| Exports | 227 | 192 | 94 | 108 | 290 |
| Consumption, apparent | W | W | W | W | W |
| Stocks, producer, yearend | W | W | W | W | W |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Selenium chapter (PDF page 176). How to read these figures.