In 2023, the average price of cadmium in the United States stood at 4.1 U.S. dollars per kilogram. Up from some 3.4 U.S. dollars per kilogram in the previous year, this was the highest figure reported during the period in consideration.

More about cadmium

Cadmium is a silvery-white post-transition metal that was first discovered in 1817 in Germany by scientists Freidrich Stromeyer and Karl Hermann. This malleable metal is extracted as a by-product of zinc refinement, and shares similarities with zinc. Its melting temperature is 321 degrees Celsius, and it is considered toxic. Because the melting points of cadmium and zinc are different, the two metals can be separated using this method. In the liquid mixture of the two metals, zinc becomes a solid first. After that, the liquid cadmium is left behind.

Cadmium in batteries

Rechargeable batteries are made with cadmium and nickel. There are two types of batteries: industrial and portable. Industrial batteries are used for things such as emergency brakes, air conditioning, and alarm systems. Portable batteries are used for computer equipment, military communications, and emergency lighting. China is the largest producer of cadmium worldwide, with a refinery production volume estimated at 9,000 metric tons in 2023. While imports of cadmium into the United States have dropped in recent years, exports of the metal have increased.

The Pakistani cadmium market skyrocketed to $X in 2022, surging by X% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the period under review, consumption recorded a remarkable increase. Cadmium consumption peaked at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.