China Niobium and Tantalum Ore Imports: Rwanda's Rising Share
China's niobium and tantalum ore import market
China imports · Niobium, tantalum and vanadium ores · HS261590 · USD · Data through 2026-09
- Imports · 2026-01–2026-09
- USD 771,416,792
- Change from the same months a year earlier
- +145.9%
- Latest month · 2026-09
- USD 117,263,056
Source: General Administration of Customs of China
Monthly niobium and tantalum ore imports
China's latest 12 months of niobium and tantalum ore imports, through 2026-09.
USD
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- World
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| Month | World |
|---|---|
| 2026-09 | 117,263,056 |
| 2026-08 | 103,327,111 |
| 2026-07 | 85,532,250 |
| 2026-06 | 85,111,636 |
| 2026-05 | 107,447,406 |
| 2026-04 | 98,696,346 |
| 2026-03 | 78,772,719 |
| 2026-02 | 46,588,669 |
| 2026-01 | 48,677,599 |
| 2025-12 | 30,083,483 |
| 2025-11 | 35,824,231 |
| 2025-10 | 39,023,141 |
Which suppliers added the most
Supplier totals for 2026-01–2026-09 compared with the same months of 2025, ranked by the increase in import value.
| Supplier | 2025-01–2025-09 | 2026-01–2026-09 | Increase | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rwanda | 114,191,421 | 398,029,538 | 283,838,117 | +248.6% |
| Nigeria | 98,869,725 | 184,423,718 | 85,553,993 | +86.5% |
| DR Congo | 43,838,293 | 78,013,241 | 34,174,948 | +78% |
| Madagascar | 5,056,139 | 28,468,976 | 23,412,837 | +463.1% |
| Mozambique | 5,056,134 | 15,860,864 | 10,804,730 | +213.7% |
Latest suppliers
Rwanda led in 2026-09, supplying USD 75,251,121, or 64.2% of China's niobium and tantalum ore import value.
| Supplier | Import value (USD) | Value share |
|---|---|---|
| Rwanda | 75,251,121 | 64.2% |
| Nigeria | 19,733,257 | 16.8% |
| Madagascar | 5,258,486 | 4.5% |
| DR Congo | 4,665,014 | 4% |
| Burundi | 2,075,725 | 1.8% |
How China's niobium and tantalum ore supplier mix has changed
Annual import value shares; 2026 covers 2026-01–2026-09. Unavailable supplier shares appear as gaps.
% of import value
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- Rwanda
- Nigeria
- DR Congo
- Brazil
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| Period | Rwanda | Nigeria | DR Congo | Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | 51.6 | 23.91 | 10.11 | Not available |
| 2025 | 38.02 | 30.67 | 13.13 | 4.09 |
| 2024 | 30.92 | 32.01 | 15.77 | 5.79 |
| 2023 | 27.43 | 33.51 | 21.19 | 5.29 |
| 2022 | 19.16 | 35.06 | 20.32 | 6.62 |
| 2021 | 11.42 | 45.07 | 17.96 | 11.22 |
Annual import spending
| Period | Import value (USD) | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01–2026-09 | 771,416,792 | +145.9% |
| 2025-01–2025-12 | 418,697,538 | +20.2% |
| 2024-01–2024-12 | 348,203,918 | +17% |
| 2023-01–2023-12 | 297,565,271 | +26.9% |
| 2022-01–2022-12 | 234,547,274 | +80.6% |
| 2021-01–2021-12 | 129,867,989 | — |
Niobium, tantalum or vanadium ores and concentrates, HS261590. Import value in USD; metal content is not measured.
Suggested citation: China Data Portal. “China Niobium and Tantalum Ore Imports: Rwanda's Rising Share.” https://chinadata.live/insights/china-niobium-tantalum-ore-imports/. Source: General Administration of Customs of China.
A growing market with a more concentrated supply
China's imports of niobium, tantalum and vanadium ores have risen every year since 2021. The supplier mix has changed with them: Rwanda has moved from third place to the largest share of import value, while Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo now account for smaller shares than before.
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Concentration in the latest month
A larger share for one origin changes the supply picture for processors and buyers. The latest monthly ranking shows how concentrated the most recent imports are, and the annual shares show whether that concentration has lasted. The supplier increase table compares the same months of the current and previous year.
Ore imports by country
Use the ore import data to compare Rwanda, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other origins, or read the critical minerals study for related materials.
HS261590 groups niobium, tantalum and vanadium ores and concentrates; almost all recorded value falls under Chinese HS26159090. The figures measure import value in USD. They do not separate tantalum from niobium or vanadium content, and they do not identify mines or traders.
Explore ore imports by country
Compare monthly values, suppliers and historical imports.