Bismuth

Bismuth is a rare metallic element with a pinkish tinge. Bismuth has been known since ancient times, but it was confused with lead, tin, and zinc until the middle of the 18th century. Among the elements in the earth’s crust, bismuth is ranked about 73rd in natural abundance. This makes bismuth about as rare as silver. Most industrial bismuth is obtained as a by-product of ore extraction.

Bismuth is useful for castings because of the unusual way it expands on solidifying. Some of bismuth’s alloys have unusually low melting points. Bismuth is one of the most difficult of all substances to magnetize. It tends to turn at right angles to a magnetic field. Because of this property, it is used in instruments for measuring the strength of magnetic fields.

Bismuth finds a wide variety of uses such as pharmaceutical compounds, ceramic glazes, crystal ware, and chemicals and pigments. Bismuth is found in household pharmaceuticals and is used to treat stomach ulcers. Bismuth is opaque to X rays and can be used in fluoroscopy. Bismuth has also found new use as a nontoxic substitute for lead in various applications such as brass plumbing fixtures, crystal ware, lubricating greases, pigments, and solders. There has been environmental interest in the use of bismuth as a replacement for lead used in shot for waterfowl hunting and in fishing sinkers. Another use has been in galvanizing to improve drainage characteristics of galvanizing alloys. Zinc-bismuth alloys have the same drainage properties as zinc-lead without being as hazardous.

Prices – The dealer price of bismuth in 2002 fell to a 9-year low of .14 per pound from .74 in 2001. The weak price was due to the weak global economy in 2002, but prices were set to recover in 2003 along with most other basic commodities.

Supply – World mine production of bismuth in 2002 fell to 4,070 metric tons from 4,270 metric tons in 2001. The world’s largest producer in 2002 was China with 32% of world production, followed by Mexico (30%), Peru (25%), and Canada (5%). As for refined metal, China had 24% of production, Mexico had 23%, Belgium had 19%, and Peru had 13% in 2002. There is no domestic refinery production of bismuth in the US currently.

Demand – US consumption of bismuth in 2002 rose to 2,320 metric tons from 2,200 metric tons in 2001. Of that, 46% went for fusible alloys, 35% to chemicals, 17% to metallurgical additives, and 2% to other alloys and uses.

Trade – US imports of bismuth fell to 1,930 metric tons in 2002 from 2,220 metric tons in 2001. Of US imports, 38% came from Belgium, 27% came from Mexico, and 1% came from Peru in 2002. Exports of bismuth and alloys was negligible in 2002 at 131 metric tons, down from 541 metric tons in 2001.