Value chain · CLM-1318
In plain terms
The world refines about 1,100 tonnes of indium a year, most of it in China.
The claim as recorded
The USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries of February 2026 put world refinery production of indium at about 1,100 t (estimated) in 2025 and 1,090 t in 2024, against a 2025 refinery capacity of about 1,700 t, and state that "China is the leading global producer of indium, accounting for 70% of the world total".
Evidence behind this: T1: the US Geological Survey's annual commodity summary, a government statistical publication.
Scope and limits
Refined metal, most of it used in display coatings, not in solar cells; no SBSP demand figure is implied (see CLM-1316 limits).
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF p.2, World Refinery Production and Capacity: world total (rounded) 1,090 (2024), 1,100 (2025e), capacity 1,700; China 760, 760 and 1,100. PDF p.1: the 70% sentence as quoted; most global consumption is indium tin oxide for flat-panel displays.
Basis: metric tons of refined indium; 2025 values estimated
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-020 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1318
CLM-1318, Energy Aperture, as of 2026-02.