Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc Sulfide Ore (Sphalerite) | 0.001-0.1% In | N/A (byproduct) | China, Peru, Australia | Primary source, 80% of indium production |
| Copper Sulfide Ores | 0.0001-0.01% In | N/A (byproduct) | Chile, Peru, China | Secondary source, lower concentrations |
| Lead Sulfide Ores | Trace amounts | N/A (byproduct) | China, Australia | Minor source |
| ITO Scrap (Recycled) | 15-30% In | $450-650/kg In content | Japan, South Korea, Taiwan | Growing recycling from LCD manufacturing |
Zinc and Copper Ores - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $748.90/kg (Indium metal, 99.99% purity) Major Global Production (2023): China: 650 MT (66% of world production) - Dominant producer South Korea: 195 MT - Advanced refining technology Japan: 70 MT - High-purity production Canada: 65 MT - Teck Resources major producer Production Characteristics: Byproduct of zinc refining (primary source) Byproduct of copper and lead refining (secondary sources) No primary indium mines exist globally Recovery rate: 100-500 grams indium per ton of zinc Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Zinc Sulfide Ore (Sphalerite) 0.001-0.1% In N/A (byproduct) China, Peru, Australia Primary source, 80% of indium production Copper Sulfide Ores 0.0001-0.01% In N/A (byproduct) Chile, Peru, China Secondary source, l
⚠️ Seawater Indium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.1-0.3 ng/L (extremely low, 10,000x lower than uranium) Chemical Form: In³⁺ hydrated complexes, InCl₄⁻ in seawater Status: No commercial seawater extraction exists. The extremely low concentration (parts per trillion) makes extraction completely uneconomical. Note: Even experimental extraction methods have not proven viable due to the minute concentrations present.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Indium | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Metal Processing Allocation | $150-250 | 20-30% | Cost allocated from zinc/copper production |
| Separation & Purification | $200-300 | 30-40% | Solvent extraction, electrolysis |
| Energy | $80-120 | 10-15% | Mainly for electrolytic refining |
| Labor | $50-80 | 8-10% | Specialized technical labor |
| Chemicals & Materials | $100-150 | 15-20% | Acids, solvents, electrodes |
| Total Production Cost | $580-900 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $748.90/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc/Copper Smelting (Allocated) | 5-8 MJ/kg | 33% | Mixed | Roasting, smelting (allocated portion) |
| Leaching & Extraction | 3-5 MJ/kg | 20% | Steam/Heat | Acid leaching, solvent extraction |
| Electrolytic Refining | 6-10 MJ/kg | 40% | Electricity | Electrowinning to 99.99%+ purity |
| Final Processing | 1-2 MJ/kg | 7% | Mixed | Casting, zone refining for ultra-pure |
Extraction Process Details
Zinc Residue Treatment: 30-40% - Leaching zinc plant residues Solvent Extraction: 25-30% - D2EHPA or other extractants Precipitation: 10-15% - As indium hydroxide Dissolution: 5-10% - In acid for electrolysis Electrowinning: 20-25% - To produce metal
Purification Energy Details
4N Purity (99.99%): Standard commercial grade 5N Purity (99.999%): +15% energy for semiconductor use 6N Purity (99.9999%): +30% energy for special applications 7N Purity (99.99999%): +50% energy, zone refining required Recycling Energy: 40-60% less than primary production
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indium Metal Ingot | In | 114.82 g/mol | 99.99-99.9999% | $748-850 | ITO sputtering targets, alloys |
| Indium Shot/Pellets | In | 114.82 g/mol | 99.99% | $780-900 | Evaporation, thermal spray |
| Indium Wire | In | 114.82 g/mol | 99.99% | $850-1,000 | Seals, gaskets, cryogenic applications |
| Indium Foil | In | 114.82 g/mol | 99.99% | $900-1,200 | Thermal interface materials |
| Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) | In₂O₃·SnO₂ | Variable | 99.99% | $800-1,500 | Transparent conductive coatings |
| Indium Phosphide | InP | 145.79 g/mol | 99.999% | $2,000-5,000 | Semiconductors, photonics |
| Indium Arsenide | InAs | 189.74 g/mol | 99.999% | $3,000-6,000 | Infrared detectors, Hall sensors |
| Indium Chloride | InCl₃ | 221.18 g/mol | 99.99% | $500-800 | Chemical synthesis, catalysts |
| Indium Sulfate | In₂(SO₄)₃ | 517.83 g/mol | 99.9% | $400-600 | Electroplating, chemical processes |
| Indium Powder | In | 114.82 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $900-1,500 | Powder metallurgy, pastes |
| Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide | InGaZnO₄ | Variable | 99.99% | $1,200-2,000 | Advanced displays, flexible electronics |
| Indium Antimonide | InSb | 236.58 g/mol | 99.999% | $4,000-8,000 | Infrared detectors, magnetoresistors |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Zhuzhou Smelter Group | Ingots, powder, compounds, ITO | World's largest indium producer, high-purity products |
| Nyrstar (Balen plant) | Primary indium, high-purity metal | Integrated zinc-indium production |
| Yuguang Gold & Lead | Indium metal, compounds | Lead-zinc-indium integrated production |
🇰🇷 South Korea
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Zinc | High-purity indium, compounds | Advanced refining technology, 99.9999% purity |
| Young Poong Corp | Indium metal, ITO targets | Display industry supplier |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Dowa Holdings | High-purity indium, recycled indium | ITO recycling technology leader |
| JX Nippon Mining & Metals | Indium compounds, ITO | Electronic materials, recycling |
| Mitsubishi Materials | Indium metal, compounds | Integrated materials supplier |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Teck Resources (Trail Operations) | Primary indium, high-purity metal | One of world's largest single-source producers |
| 5N Plus | Ultra-high purity indium, compounds | Specialty semiconductors, 99.9999% purity |
🇧🇪 Belgium
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Umicore | Recycled indium, compounds, ITO | Leading recycling technology, closed-loop systems |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| PPM Pure Metals | Ultra-high purity indium, specialty forms | 99.9999% purity, research applications |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Indium Corporation | Metal forms, solders, compounds, TIM | Thermal interface materials, specialty alloys |
| AIM Solder | Indium solders, pastes | Electronics assembly materials |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Share | Primary Markets | Key Applications | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) | 65-70% | Asia (85% share) | LCD displays, touchscreens, OLED | 4.2% |
| Semiconductors/Compounds | 10-12% | Global | InP, InAs, InSb devices | 6.5% |
| Photovoltaics (CIGS) | 8-10% | Europe, Asia, USA | Thin-film solar cells | 8.2% |
| Low-Melting Alloys/Solders | 5-7% | Global | Electronics assembly, fusible alloys | 3.8% |
| Thermal Interface Materials | 3-4% | USA, Asia | CPU cooling, power electronics | 5.5% |
| Other Applications | 2-3% | Global | Bearings, dental alloys, research | 2.5% |
Market trends
Critical Material Status: Designated as critical by USA (2018) and EU (2020) due to supply concentration China Dominance: Controls 57% of global refined production, creating supply chain vulnerabilities Price Volatility: Increased 23% in 2024, following 27% surge in 2023 due to supply constraints Recycling Growth: ITO recycling from manufacturing waste increasing, especially in Japan Solar Demand Surge: CIGS solar cell production driving new demand, may exceed available supply Display Evolution: Shift to OLED and flexible displays changing ITO specifications Supply Constraints: Limited by zinc production; only 25% of potential solar demand can be met Technology Threats: Silver nanowires and graphene being developed as ITO alternatives
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indium Metal | In | 114.82 | 8.71 |
| Indium Oxide | In₂O₃ | 277.64 | 3.60 |
| Indium Chloride | InCl₃ | 221.18 | 4.52 |
| Indium Phosphide | InP | 145.79 | 6.86 |
| Indium Arsenide | InAs | 189.74 | 5.27 |
| Indium Antimonide | InSb | 236.58 | 4.23 |
References
Explore on Amazon
Explore Indium-related materials, books, and lab gear on Amazon. Selections are search-based; results refresh on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, nanos earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.