Tantalum
World mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world mine production, 2025 · world total 2,500 metric tons
- DR Congo 52%
- Rwanda 16%
- Nigeria 16%
- Brazil 7.6%
- China 3.2%
- Australia 2%
- Ethiopia 1.6%
- Russia 1.2%
- All other countries 0.8%
DR Congo accounted for 52% of world mine production of tantalum in 2025 (1,300 metric tons of 2,500 metric tons). The United States relied on net imports for all of its tantalum consumption in 2025. The three largest producers, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Nigeria, together supplied 84%. Australia supplied 64% of U.S. imports of tantalum ores and concentrates in 2021–24, more than any other country.
Producer log
12 countries listed separately
| Country | Mine production 2024 | Mine production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 1,270 | 1,300 | 52% | +2.4% | not available |
| Rwanda | 374 | 400 | 16% | +7% | not available |
| Nigeria | 390 | 390 | 16% | 0% | not available |
| Brazil | 210 | 190 | 7.6% | −9.5% | 40,000 |
| China | 76 | 80 | 3.2% | +5.3% | 240,000 |
| Australia | 52 | 50 | 2% | −3.8% | 120,000 |
| Ethiopia | 40 | 40 | 1.6% | 0% | not available |
| Russia | 29 | 30 | 1.2% | +3.4% | 150 |
| Bolivia | 2 | 2 | under 0.1% | 0% | not available |
| Burundi | 2 | 2 | under 0.1% | 0% | not available |
| Mozambique | 55 | 1 | under 0.1% | −98% | not available |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| World total | 2,500 | 2,500 | 100% | 0% | not available |
United States
supply, trade and import sources
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
Import sources of tantalum ores and concentrates, 2021–24
- Australia 64%
- DR Congo 9%
- Mozambique 10%
- United Arab Emirates 5%
- Other countries 12%
Uses named for it in the 2025 critical minerals list: capacitors and metallurgy.
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Mine | — | — | — | — | — |
| Production: Secondary | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Imports for consumption | 1,330 | 1,720 | 1,110 | 1,070 | 1,300 |
| Exports | 655 | 662 | 672 | 506 | 420 |
| Consumption, apparent | 663 | 1,060 | 440 | 566 | 890 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tantalum chapter (PDF page 194). How to read these figures.