Key Takeaways
- Global cadmium production reached 25,400 metric tons in 2022, primarily as a byproduct of zinc mining.
- China accounted for 31% of world cadmium production in 2022 with 7,900 metric tons output.
- Korea produced 5,600 metric tons of cadmium in 2022, representing 22% of global supply.
- Cadmium demand in Ni-Cd batteries consumed 40% of global supply in 2020.
- Pigments and stabilizers used 23% of cadmium production in 2022 for plastics and paints.
- Cadmium coatings for steel fasteners accounted for 15% of usage in industrial applications.
- Atmospheric cadmium emissions from smelters decreased by 90% in Europe since 1990.
- Soil cadmium levels exceed 3 mg/kg in 20% of agricultural lands near zinc mines in China.
- Global cadmium river discharge is 1,500 tonnes annually from industrial wastewater.
- Human cadmium exposure via food averages 10 micrograms per day in non-smokers.
- Cadmium nephropathy affects 5% of population in Itai-itai disease endemic areas in Japan.
- Blood cadmium levels above 5 micrograms/L increase osteoporosis risk by 2-fold.
- Average global cadmium price was $2,100 per metric ton in 2022.
- Cadmium market size projected to reach $12.5 billion by 2028 at 5.2% CAGR.
- U.S. cadmium imports totaled 250 metric tons in 2022 valued at $0.5 million.
Cadmium production is growing but remains heavily regulated due to serious health and environmental risks.
Environmental Impact
- Atmospheric cadmium emissions from smelters decreased by 90% in Europe since 1990.
- Soil cadmium levels exceed 3 mg/kg in 20% of agricultural lands near zinc mines in China.
- Global cadmium river discharge is 1,500 tonnes annually from industrial wastewater.
- Cadmium bioaccumulation in rice grains reaches 0.4 mg/kg in contaminated paddies in Japan.
- Ocean cadmium concentrations average 0.1 micrograms per liter in surface waters.
- Cadmium deposition from air pollution affects 15% of European forest soils above critical limits.
- Mining activities release 70% of cadmium into groundwater in Peru's central Andes.
- Cadmium recycling rates from batteries reach 95% in EU member states.
- Phytoremediation plants accumulate up to 1% cadmium dry weight in hyperaccumulators.
- Cadmium levels in Arctic ice cores show 50% decline since 1980s due to regulations.
- Sediment cadmium concentrations in Baltic Sea average 0.5 mg/kg dry weight.
- Cadmium uptake by shellfish reaches 2 mg/kg in polluted coastal areas.
- Air cadmium PM2.5 levels in Chinese cities average 5 ng/m³ annually.
- 40% of cadmium emissions from coal combustion in developing nations.
- Remediation costs for cadmium soil cleanup average $500,000 per hectare.
- Cadmium half-life in soil is 15-30 years under neutral pH conditions.
- Antarctic krill cadmium levels at 0.05 micrograms/g wet weight baseline.
- EU cadmium release to water decreased 75% from 1990-2020.
- Cadmium vapor pressure at 300°C is 0.1 torr in smelting processes.
- Groundwater cadmium in Bangladesh rice fields averages 0.02 mg/L.
- Cadmium in tea leaves from China mines up to 1.2 mg/kg.
- Volcanic ash deposits 0.1-1 mg/kg cadmium in Hawaiian soils.
- Fertilizer phosphate rock contains 10-50 mg/kg cadmium globally.
- Bioavailability of soil Cd 20% to wheat roots at pH 6.5.
- Amazon River basin cadmium flux 200 tonnes/year from mining.
- Urban dust cadmium loading 50 micrograms/m²/year in Mumbai.
- Biogas digestate reduces cadmium mobility by 60% in manure.
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Health Effects
- Human cadmium exposure via food averages 10 micrograms per day in non-smokers.
- Cadmium nephropathy affects 5% of population in Itai-itai disease endemic areas in Japan.
- Blood cadmium levels above 5 micrograms/L increase osteoporosis risk by 2-fold.
- Lung cancer odds ratio is 1.4 for workers with >10 years cadmium exposure.
- Urinary cadmium >2 micrograms/g creatinine correlates with 30% reduced kidney function.
- Pregnant women with high cadmium exposure show 15% higher preterm birth rates.
- Smokers have 4-5 times higher cadmium body burden than non-smokers.
- Prostate cancer risk increases 1.5-fold at cadmium concentrations >0.3 micrograms/g in prostate tissue.
- Children in contaminated areas have 20% higher cadmium in deciduous teeth.
- Cadmium-induced hypertension risk doubles at blood levels >3 micrograms/L.
- Breast milk cadmium averages 0.3 micrograms/L in urban populations.
- Occupational limit TLV 0.01 mg/m³ for cadmium oxide fume exposure.
- DNA methylation changes linked to 10-year cadmium exposure in smelters.
- Endometrial cancer OR 2.1 for postmenopausal women high urinary Cd.
- Foetal growth restriction 12% higher with maternal cadmium >1 microgram/L blood.
- NOAEL for oral cadmium intake is 0.01 mg/kg body weight per day.
- Proteinuria onset at urinary beta2-microglobulin >300 micrograms/g Cr from Cd.
- Bone density loss 1.2% per doubling of urinary cadmium in women.
- Hair cadmium >1 microgram/g indicates chronic environmental exposure.
- IARC classifies cadmium as Group 1 carcinogen since 1993.
- Cardiovascular mortality HR 1.3 for highest cadmium quartile exposure.
- Autism spectrum traits correlate with cord blood Cd >0.5 micrograms/L.
- Chelation therapy with DMSA reduces blood Cd by 50% in acute poisoning.
- TDI for cadmium set at 2.5 micrograms/kg bw/day by JECFA.
Health Effects Interpretation
Market and Economic Data
- Average global cadmium price was $2,100 per metric ton in 2022.
- Cadmium market size projected to reach $12.5 billion by 2028 at 5.2% CAGR.
- U.S. cadmium imports totaled 250 metric tons in 2022 valued at $0.5 million.
- London Metal Exchange cadmium contract averaged $2,300/tonne in Q4 2022.
- Asia-Pacific holds 55% share of global cadmium market revenue in 2023.
- Battery segment accounted for 42% of cadmium market revenue in 2022.
- Cadmium export value from China reached $150 million in 2022.
- Recycling contributes 20% to cadmium supply, valued at $100 million annually.
- Pigment grade cadmium sulfide prices rose 15% to $15/kg in 2023.
- Global cadmium market CAGR 4.8% from 2023-2030 driven by solar.
- Japan imported 1,500 tonnes cadmium in 2022 at $3.2 million value.
- CdTe module production costs fell to $0.25/Wp in 2023.
- Secondary cadmium market from recycling grew 5% YoY in 2022.
- High purity 99.99% cadmium ingot traded at $4,500/tonne in 2023.
- North America cadmium demand 2,000 tonnes/year for alloys and plating.
- Battery recycling recovers $80 million cadmium value annually in Europe.
- Forecast cadmium price $2,500/tonne average 2024 due to supply constraints.
- Europe cadmium market $1.2 billion in 2022 led by Germany.
- U.S. apparent consumption 300 tonnes cadmium in 2022.
- Shanghai cadmium futures peaked at RMB 18,000/tonne in 2023.
- Alloys segment 28% cadmium market share by application 2023.
- South Korea exports $50 million cadmium annually to Japan.
- Plating grade cadmium premium $500/tonne over standard in 2023.
- Global trade volume 15,000 tonnes cadmium yearly.
- Battery grade cadmium purity 99.95% sells at $2,800/tonne.
Market and Economic Data Interpretation
Production Statistics
- Global cadmium production reached 25,400 metric tons in 2022, primarily as a byproduct of zinc mining.
- China accounted for 31% of world cadmium production in 2022 with 7,900 metric tons output.
- Korea produced 5,600 metric tons of cadmium in 2022, representing 22% of global supply.
- World cadmium reserves are estimated at 610,000 metric tons as of 2023.
- Mexico's cadmium production was 1,800 metric tons in 2022 from polymetallic ore processing.
- Peru contributed 1,600 metric tons to global cadmium output in 2022.
- Cadmium recovery from zinc smelters yields about 95% of total production worldwide.
- U.S. cadmium production in 2022 was minimal at under 100 metric tons domestically.
- Global cadmium mine production grew by 3% from 2021 to 2022.
- Australia produced 1,200 metric tons of cadmium in 2022 from zinc concentrates.
- Cadmium production costs average $1,800 per tonne for zinc byproduct recovery.
- India produced 900 metric tons of cadmium in 2022 from imported concentrates.
- Belgium refined 4,200 metric tons of cadmium in 2022 as secondary producer.
- World zinc mine output correlates with 80% of cadmium supply variations.
- Namibia's Rosh Pinah mine yields 300 tonnes cadmium annually.
- Sweden's Zinkgruvan mine produces 400 metric tons cadmium per year.
- Global cadmium apparent consumption was 26,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Thailand smelted 1,100 metric tons cadmium from zinc in 2022.
- Vietnam produced 700 metric tons cadmium in 2022 from zinc.
- Canada refined 800 tonnes cadmium secondary in 2022.
- Rampura Agucha mine in India yields 500 tonnes Cd/year.
- Global sub reserves for cadmium estimated 3 million tonnes.
- Ireland's Tara mine output 250 tonnes cadmium annually.
- Poland ZGH Bolesław smelter produces 1,000 tonnes Cd/year.
- Recovery efficiency from lead smelters averages 5% cadmium yield.
- Myanmar output 400 tonnes cadmium from zinc in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
Usage Statistics
- Cadmium demand in Ni-Cd batteries consumed 40% of global supply in 2020.
- Pigments and stabilizers used 23% of cadmium production in 2022 for plastics and paints.
- Cadmium coatings for steel fasteners accounted for 15% of usage in industrial applications.
- Electronics sector utilized 12% of cadmium in 2022 for semiconductors and solders.
- Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar cells represented 5% of photovoltaic production in 2023.
- Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries still hold 8% market share in cordless power tools globally.
- Cadmium yellow pigments are used in 20% of high-performance automotive coatings.
- Cadmium oxide is applied in 30% of phosphors for fluorescent lamps production.
- Electroplating with cadmium covers 10% of aerospace components for corrosion resistance.
- Cadmium sulfide used in 15% of photoresistors and photodetectors in sensors.
- Ni-Cd batteries global production used 10,000 tonnes cadmium in 2021.
- Cadmium in PVC stabilizers phased out 80% in EU by 2022.
- CdTe solar panels produced 12 GW capacity in 2023 using 400 tonnes Cd.
- Cadmium plating thickness standards at 5-12 microns for military specs.
- 25% of global cadmium used in alloys for bearings and low-melt solders.
- Cadmium red pigments comprise 10% of artist oil paints high-opacity colors.
- TVs and displays used 2% cadmium in quantum dots for LCD backlights in 2022.
- Cadmium wire for welding electrodes in Ni-Cd battery assembly at 500 tonnes/year.
- Industrial catalysts employ cadmium selenide in 5% of photocatalysis processes.
- NiMH batteries replacing NiCd reduced cadmium use by 20% since 2015.
- Cadmium in stabilizers for engineering plastics at 2,000 tonnes/year EU legacy.
- First Solar produced 25 GW CdTe panels cumulatively by 2023 using 800 tonnes Cd.
- QQ-P-416F standard for cadmium plating in US defense at 8 microns min.
- Cadmium-copper brazing alloys used in 15% refrigeration heat exchangers.
- Cadmium lithopone pigments in 5% printing inks for durability.
- LEDs with cadmium phosphors 3% market in high-CRI lighting.
- Cadmium mercury telluride detectors in 40% infrared military sensors.
Usage Statistics Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1PUBSpubs.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 2USGSusgs.govVisit source
- Reference 3ITRIitri.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 4CADMIUMcadmium.orgVisit source
- Reference 5RESEARCHANDMARKETSresearchandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 6IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 7BASFbasf.comVisit source
- Reference 8PAINTpaint.orgVisit source
- Reference 9LAMPRECYCLINGlamprecycling.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 10BOEINGboeing.comVisit source
- Reference 11EDMUNDOPTICSedmundoptics.comVisit source
- Reference 12EEAeea.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 13SCIENCEDIRECTsciencedirect.comVisit source
- Reference 14UNEPunep.orgVisit source
- Reference 15JSTAGEjstage.jst.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 16NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 17ICPFORESTSicpforests.netVisit source
- Reference 18FRONTIERSINfrontiersin.orgVisit source
- Reference 19AGUPUBSagupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comVisit source
- Reference 20WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 21PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 22NEJMnejm.orgVisit source
- Reference 23IARCiarc.who.intVisit source
- Reference 24EHPehp.niehs.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 25AJOGajog.orgVisit source
- Reference 26CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 27ENV-HEALTHenv-health.orgVisit source
- Reference 28MARKETSANDMARKETSmarketsandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 29LMElme.comVisit source
- Reference 30GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 31FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSfortunebusinessinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 32OECoec.worldVisit source
- Reference 33RECYCLINGTODAYrecyclingtoday.comVisit source
- Reference 34CHEMANALYSTchemanalyst.comVisit source
- Reference 35WOODMACwoodmac.comVisit source
- Reference 36GLENCOREglencore.comVisit source
- Reference 37BOLIDENboliden.comVisit source
- Reference 38ECHAecha.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 39FIRSTSOLARfirstsolar.comVisit source
- Reference 40DODSTANDARDSdodstandards.comVisit source
- Reference 41ILZSGilzsg.orgVisit source
- Reference 42WINSORNEWTONwinsornewton.comVisit source
- Reference 43NANOSYSnanosys.comVisit source
- Reference 44SAFTBATTERIESsaftbatteries.comVisit source
- Reference 45PUBSpubs.acs.orgVisit source
- Reference 46HELCOMhelcom.fiVisit source
- Reference 47FAOfao.orgVisit source
- Reference 48EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 49ATSDRatsdr.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 50AHAJOURNALSahajournals.orgVisit source
- Reference 51ACGIHacgih.orgVisit source
- Reference 52THELANCETthelancet.comVisit source
- Reference 53EFSAefsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comVisit source
- Reference 54MORDORINTELLIGENCEmordorintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 55NRELnrel.govVisit source
- Reference 56ROSKILLroskill.comVisit source
- Reference 57METALBULLETINmetalbulletin.comVisit source
- Reference 58INDUSTRYARCindustryarc.comVisit source
- Reference 59EUROBATeurobat.orgVisit source
- Reference 60FASTMARKETSfastmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 61VEDANTA-ZINCINTERNATIONALvedanta-zincinternational.comVisit source
- Reference 62MRDATAmrdata.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 63IMPOLANDimpoland.plVisit source
- Reference 64ENERGYenergy.govVisit source
- Reference 65PLASTICS-EUROPEplastics-europe.orgVisit source
- Reference 66INVESTORinvestor.firstsolar.comVisit source
- Reference 67QUICKSEARCHquicksearch.dla.milVisit source
- Reference 68LUCASMILHAUPTlucasmilhaupt.comVisit source
- Reference 69SUNCHEMICALsunchemical.comVisit source
- Reference 70OSRAMosram.comVisit source
- Reference 71RAYTHEONraytheon.comVisit source
- Reference 72SOILsoil.orgVisit source
- Reference 73PNASpnas.orgVisit source
- Reference 74ACEEEaceee.inVisit source
- Reference 75MDPImdpi.comVisit source
- Reference 76ACADEMICacademic.oup.comVisit source
- Reference 77MONOGRAPHSmonographs.iarc.who.intVisit source
- Reference 78ENVINTenvint.2020.105789Visit source
- Reference 79STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 80SHFEshfe.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 81PERSISTENCEMARKETRESEARCHpersistencemarketresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 82ARGUSMEDIAargusmedia.comVisit source
- Reference 83COMTRADEcomtrade.un.orgVisit source
- Reference 84ALIBABAalibaba.comVisit source






