Zirconium

Zirconium is a silvery-grey metal known for its corrosion resistance and high melting point. It is primarily extracted from zircon ore, with Australia, South Africa, and the United States being the leading producers. Zirconium is used in the foundry industry for coatings to prevent the molten metal from reacting with the mould material and in the refractory industry due to its thermal stability.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Ferrozirconium	FeZr	Zr 75-85%	2-80 mm
Fused Zirconia		Various	n/a
Monoclinic Zirconia	Monoclinic ZrO2	Various	n/a
Zirconium Corundum	Zircon Corundum	Various	n/a
Zirconium Dioxide	ZrO2	Various	n/a
Zirconium Silicate	Zircon Silicate	Various	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of zirconium with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of zirconium and buyers to discover new suppliers of zirconium.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows foundries, and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

Zirconium prices are typically provided by a range of specialised commodity pricing services and industry platforms. Key providers include:

1. Argus Media: Argus provides journalistic zirconium price assessments and market analysis for global regions, tracking price movements in response to market supply and demand shifts​ (Argus Media)​.
2. Fastmarkets: Fastmarkets also offers journalistic price data for metals and minerals, including zirconium (Fastmarkets).
3. Shanghai Metals Market (SMM): SMM provides pricing data and market analysis for zirconium in China, focusing on supply-demand dynamics and other minor metals​ (SMM).

Beyond these three examples, other providers may also provide prices.

The leading producers of zirconium are:

• Australia – ~45% of global zirconium production, the largest supplier of zircon ore.
• South Africa – ~20%, focusing on zircon mining and processing.
• United States – ~10%, producing zirconium for industrial and nuclear applications.
• China – ~8%, involved in the refining of zirconium for advanced uses.
• Indonesia – ~6%, a growing producer of zirconium for export.

Some of the key producers of zirconium include:

• Iluka Resources (Australia) – ~25% of global zirconium production, focusing on zircon mining.
• Tronox (USA) – ~15%, producing zirconium dioxide and related products.
• Rio Tinto (UK) – ~10%, involved in zirconium mining and refining.
• Kenmare Resources (Ireland) – ~8%, focusing on zircon mining in Mozambique.
• Astron Limited (Australia) – ~7%, a key player in the global zirconium market.

Zirconium is extracted from zircon ore through open-pit or dredge mining. The ore is then processed to separate zircon, which is refined into zirconium metal or zirconium dioxide through chemical processes. Zirconium metal is often used in nuclear applications, while zirconium dioxide is commonly used in ceramics and refractory materials.

Zirconium is primarily used in nuclear reactors (~30%) due to its low neutron absorption properties. It is also used in the aerospace industry (~25%) for high-temperature alloys. Additionally, zirconium is employed in the production of ceramics and refractory materials (~20%) and in chemical processing equipment (~10%). Zirconium metal, zirconium dioxide, and zircon are the most commonly traded forms.