The price of zinc in North America stood at around 1.44 U.S. dollars per pound in 2024. Zinc metal is a base metal which – among other things – is used as a material in the manufacture of smartphones.

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.