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Iridium
Follow Iridium on My deskMiningBridge Indicative Price
Free public sources, with source and period. Indicative only - not a trading price, not an offer, not advice. "Not published" means no free, current price exists; MiningBridge does not copy paid prices.
| Product | Price | Source and period | Freshness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refined Iridium Sponge (99.9% Ir PEM Electrolyzer Grade) | Not published $/troy oz | No free current source Background only: USGS 2025 annual average: $4,400 $/troy oz (yearly average, not a current price) | - |
- Largest producer
- South Africa 80%
- Concentration (HHI)
- 6,564
- Producing countries
- 6
- Export measures
- 0
Global Production by Country
USGS MCS 2026 ground truthTop producing jurisdictions, annual metric output (kilograms refined metal), and modeled global production shares.
| Country | Production (kilograms refined metal) | Global Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 6,800 | 80.2% |
| Russia | 850 | 10.0% |
| Zimbabwe | 420 | 5.0% |
| Canada | 210 | 2.5% |
| United States | 110 | 1.3% |
| Other producers | 90.00 | 1.1% |
Research
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Analytics for iridium
Opens with Refined Iridium Sponge (99.9% Ir PEM Electrolyzer Grade) selected and its usual route suggested: Precious metals refinery in Rustenburg, armored air transport to Frankfurt.
Sale price: not published. Every input can be changed. Illustrative calculation, not advice.
Open Trade Desk for iridium →- Supply shocks & export rules →Take out a producer or apply a quota; see concentration and supply move.
- Processing economics →Grade, recovery and costs from feed to margin.
- By-products & tailings →What is left in a residue and what it could be worth.
- Mine closure →Rehabilitation liability and when it falls due.
- Haulage & carbon →Freight cost and emissions by route and mode.
- Smelter catchments →Which mines can feed a plant, or which plants can take your concentrate.
- Secondary recovery →Critical minerals in red mud, slag, fly ash and tailings, and who holds them.
Ask Victoria
Victoria answers from MiningBridge’s public research and cites her sources.
“What are the main supply risks and price drivers for iridium right now, and which countries matter most?”
Ask this question →Supply map
Open the supply model →Frequently Asked Questions: Iridium
Sourced & EmpiricalEmpirical intelligence on iridium production concentration, sovereign trade controls, and import reliance.
How concentrated is global mine production of iridium?▼
Global iridium extraction is highly concentrated with a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) of 6,564. The leading producer is South Africa, representing 80% of global mine output, with 6 countries reporting commercial production, based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS 2026).
Which jurisdictions enforce export controls or bans on iridium?▼
According to USGS compilations effective January 2026, there are currently no major statutory export bans specifically restricting physical iridium shipments, though standard customs tariffs and cross-border transport regulations apply.
What is the net import reliance and critical supply vulnerability for iridium?▼
Iridium is designated as an economically essential critical commodity with strategic supply dependencies tracked across major processing and refining corridors.