Applications range from soldering to stomachache remedies and even fire sprinklers.
When China expanded its list of critical minerals subject to export controls in February, it added five niche metals, among them: bismuth. The announcement went largely unnoticed by most, except perhaps by hobby technicians familiar with bismuth’s role in soldering. Bismuth is best known for this application, serving as a safer alternative to lead thanks to its low toxicity. In the electronics industry, bismuth plays a crucial role in the transition to lead-free soldering, particularly in the manufacturing of semiconductors and circuit boards. The EU, for example, banned the use of lead solders in 2006.
Lesser known is bismuth’s role in medicine. Bismuth subsalicylate, commonly sold in the United States as Pepto Bismol, is widely used to treat acid reflux and indigestion. Another highly critical but underappreciated application is in fire sprinkler systems. Bismuth’s low melting point (271°C) makes it ideal for fusible plugs that trigger fire sprinklers. When exposed to heat, the metal part melts and the plug dislodges, releasing water. While not all fire sprinklers use this mechanism, fusible metal plugs remain a common and reliable activation method in many systems.
China’s Dominance in Bismuth Production
Despite its broad range of uses, global bismuth supply is overwhelmingly dominated by China, which controls more than 80% of refining capacity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (PDF). Most other countries ceased refining operations in the 1990s, the U.S., for example, in 1997. Meanwhile, China’s refining capacity has expanded eighteenfold since 1989, according to Germany’s Mineral Resources Agency (DERA). Europe’s largest bismuth refinery, located in Belgium and operated by the Canadian-listed firm 5N Plus, was sold to a Chinese company and closed in 2022.
Bismuth is best known for its crystal cluster structures, which can be formed from high-purity bismuth. These crystals are characterized by their stair-stepped, geometric shapes and a broad, iridescent color spectrum. Photo: Kevin Wells via Canva
Export Data Signals a Major Disruption
The impact of China’s new export restrictions was immediate and significant. In January 2025, China exported 279 tons of high-purity bismuth metal. By February, the number had plummeted to just 39 tons, representing an 86% decline. In March, exports ceased entirely. Since then, only small quantities of lower-purity material have been exported. No shipments of pure metal have resumed to date.
High-purity bismuth metal exports (unwrought and wrought) from China have plummeted to zero.
Meanwhile, bismuth oxides, notably bismuth trioxide, were excluded from the February restrictions. As a result, exports of bismuth trioxide rose by over 7% during the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. March saw a sharp spike, likely due to global buyers rushing to secure oxide supplies in response to the metal export ban.
Bismuth trioxide exports from China have increased compared to 2024.
Although bismuth oxides can be relatively inexpensive to produce by burning bismuth metal, reversing the process to refine metal from oxides is far more costly and time-consuming. This asymmetry has led to a surge in bismuth metal prices outside of China, especially in Europe. With limited substitutes available, industries that depend on high-purity bismuth must either secure supplies at elevated prices or risk production slowdowns.
Photo: jonnysek via Canva