Atomic properties
Market data
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tellurium Metal Ingot | Te | 127.60 g/mol | 99.9-99.999% | $85-120 | Metallurgy, thermoelectrics |
| Tellurium Shot | Te | 127.60 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $90-130 | Alloying, semiconductor |
| Tellurium Powder | Te | 127.60 g/mol | 99.9-99.99% | $100-150 | Chemical synthesis, electronics |
| Tellurium Dioxide | TeO₂ | 159.60 g/mol | 99.0-99.99% | $120-180 | Acousto-optic devices, glass |
| Cadmium Telluride | CdTe | 240.01 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $250-400 | Solar cells, IR detectors |
| Bismuth Telluride | Bi₂Te₃ | 800.76 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $300-500 | Thermoelectric devices |
| Zinc Telluride | ZnTe | 192.99 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $400-600 | Optoelectronics, semiconductors |
| Tellurium Tetrachloride | TeCl₄ | 269.41 g/mol | 98-99% | $150-250 | Chemical synthesis, catalysts |
| Lead Telluride | PbTe | 334.80 g/mol | 99.99% | $200-350 | Thermoelectric materials |
| Tellurium Hexafluoride | TeF₆ | 241.59 g/mol | 99.9% | $800-1200 | Semiconductor etching |
| Sodium Tellurite | Na₂TeO₃ | 221.58 g/mol | 98-99% | $80-120 | Glass coloring, bactericide |
| Tellurium Sputtering Target | Te | 127.60 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $500-1500 | Thin film deposition |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| China Hongqiao Group | Metal ingots, powder, compounds | Integrated producer, largest global output |
| Jiangsu Shengyang | High-purity tellurium, compounds | Electronic grade materials |
| Shanghai Puzhao Trading | Metal, dioxide, tellurides | High-purity specialty products |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Metal Mining | High-purity tellurium, CdTe | Solar cell materials, electronics |
| Dowa Holdings | Metal, compounds, recycled Te | Recovery from copper refining |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Norilsk Nickel | Tellurium metal, compounds | By-product from copper/nickel refining |
| Uralelektromed | High-purity tellurium | Copper refinery by-product |
🇸🇪 Sweden
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Boliden Group | Tellurium concentrate, metal | Primary tellurium ore (Kankberg mine) |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| 5N Plus | Ultra-high purity Te, compounds | Semiconductor grade, specialty alloys |
| Teck Resources | Tellurium metal | By-product from zinc/lead operations |
| First Quantum Minerals | Tellurium concentrate | Copper mining by-product |
🇧🇪 Belgium
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Umicore | High-purity Te, tellurides, recycled Te | Recycling, ultra-pure materials |
🇩🇪 Germany / 🇳🇴 Norway
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Aurubis | Tellurium metal, TeO₂ | REACH compliant, continuous supply |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Freeport-McMoRan | Tellurium metal | Copper mining by-product |
| Doe Run Company | Tellurium metal, compounds | Lead refining by-product |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Share | Key Regions | Primary Applications | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Cell Materials (CdTe) | 40% | USA, China, India | Thin-film photovoltaics | 12.5% |
| Thermoelectric Materials | 30% | Japan, USA, Europe | Cooling devices, power generation | 8.2% |
| Metallurgical Additives | 15% | China, USA, Europe | Steel, copper alloys | 4.5% |
| Electronics & Semiconductors | 10% | Asia-Pacific, USA | Phase-change memory, sensors | 10.8% |
| Chemicals & Catalysts | 3% | Global | Rubber vulcanization, catalysts | 3.5% |
| Other Applications | 2% | Global | Glass, ceramics, pigments | 2.8% |
Market trends
Solar Energy Boom: CdTe thin-film solar cells driving 40% of tellurium demand with First Solar leading deployment Supply Constraints: Limited production as 90% comes as copper refining by-product, creating supply-demand imbalance Price Volatility: Prices increased 14.73% in early 2025, reflecting tight supply and growing solar demand Recycling Focus: Companies like Umicore investing in tellurium recovery from end-of-life solar panels China Dominance: Produces 500 MT annually (74% of global production), raising supply security concerns Emerging Applications: Phase-change memory and quantum materials research opening new markets Strategic Metal Status: Listed as critical material by USA, EU, and Japan due to limited supply sources
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tellurium Metal | Te | 127.60 | 7.84 |
| Tellurium Dioxide | TeO₂ | 159.60 | 6.27 |
| Cadmium Telluride | CdTe | 240.01 | 4.17 |
| Bismuth Telluride | Bi₂Te₃ | 800.76 | 1.25 |
| Zinc Telluride | ZnTe | 192.99 | 5.18 |
| Lead Telluride | PbTe | 334.80 | 2.99 |
| Tellurium Tetrachloride | TeCl₄ | 269.41 | 3.71 |
| Sodium Tellurite | Na₂TeO₃ | 221.58 | 4.51 |
References
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Coverage notes
The following sections are thin or absent in the source document for this element. They will be filled by enrichment passes (NIST atomic, OSHA/NIOSH safety, USGS / IAI environmental).
- Missing section: Raw Material Sources
- Missing section: Production Cost
- Missing section: Energy Consumption