Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Processors | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetite Ore (V-bearing) | 0.5-1.5% V₂O₅ | $120-180/MT | China, Russia, South Africa | Primary source, co-produced with iron |
| Petroleum Residues | 0.1-0.5% V | $80-120/MT | Venezuela, Middle East | Secondary source from oil refining |
| Spent Catalysts | 2-20% V₂O₅ | $400-800/MT | Refineries worldwide | Recycled source, high concentration |
| Fly Ash | 0.1-0.3% V | $40-60/MT | Power plants | Low grade, requires complex processing |
| Stone Coal (China) | 0.2-0.8% V₂O₅ | $90-140/MT | China (Hunan, Hubei) | Unique Chinese resource |
Vanadium-Bearing Magnetite - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $120-180/MT (varies by V₂O₅ content) Major Global Reserves: China: 9.5 million MT V (40% of world reserves) - Mainly in Sichuan Province Russia: 5.0 million MT V - Ural Mountains region South Africa: 3.5 million MT V - Bushveld Complex Australia: 2.1 million MT V - Western Australia 2025 Production Leaders: China: 73,000 MT V (56% of global production) Russia: 19,500 MT V (15% of global production) South Africa: 10,400 MT V (8% of global production) Brazil: 7,800 MT V (6% of global production) Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Processors Major Sources Notes Magnetite Ore (V-bearing) 0.5-1.5% V₂O₅ $120-180/MT China, Russia, South Africa Primary source, co-produced with iron Petroleum Residues 0.1-0.5% V $80-120/MT Venezuela, Middle East Secondary source fro
⚠️ Seawater Vanadium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.0015-0.002 ppm (extremely low) Chemical Form: HVO₄²⁻ and H₂VO₄⁻ (vanadate ions) Status: No commercial concentrated seawater vanadium form exists. The extremely low concentration and complex chemistry make extraction uneconomical compared to terrestrial sources. Note: While uranium has been experimentally extracted from seawater, vanadium extraction remains impractical due to even lower concentrations.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg V₂O₅ | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Material (Ore/Residues) | $3.50-6.00 | 25-30% | Varies by source and grade |
| Energy (Roasting + Processing) | $2.80-4.20 | 20-25% | See detailed breakdown below |
| Chemical Reagents | $2.10-3.50 | 15-20% | Sodium salts, acids, ammonia |
| Labor | $1.40-2.10 | 10-12% | Varies by country |
| Environmental & Waste Treatment | $1.40-2.80 | 10-15% | Tailings management, water treatment |
| Other Overhead | $1.80-2.40 | 10-13% | Maintenance, admin, transport |
| Total Production Cost | $13-21 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $15-30/kg V₂O₅ |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roasting Process | 65-80 MJ/kg | 45-50% | Natural Gas/Coal | Salt roasting at 850°C, oxidation of V³⁺ to V⁵⁺ |
| Leaching & Extraction | 25-35 MJ/kg | 18-22% | Steam/Electricity | Hot water/acid leaching at 80-95°C |
| Precipitation & Calcination | 30-40 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Natural Gas | NH₄VO₃ precipitation, calcination at 500°C |
| Auxiliary Processes | 15-25 MJ/kg | 10-15% | Electricity | Crushing, filtering, drying, material handling |
Roasting Process Energy Details (45-50%)
Ore Preparation: 3-5% - Crushing and mixing Salt Roasting: 35-40% - Heating to 850°C with Na₂CO₃/NaCl Oxidation Control: 5-7% - Air injection and temperature control Cooling: 2-3% - Controlled cooling to prevent reversion
Extraction Process Energy Details (18-22%)
Water Leaching: 8-10% - Hot water circulation at 80-95°C Acid Leaching (if used): 6-8% - H₂SO₄ leaching with heating Solution Purification: 2-3% - Ion exchange or solvent extraction Filtration: 2-3% - Pressure filtration systems
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanadium Pentoxide | V₂O₅ | 181.88 g/mol | 98-99.9% | $15-30 | Ferrovanadium production, catalysts |
| Ferrovanadium (FeV80) | FeV (80% V) | Variable | 78-82% V | $32-45 | Steel alloying |
| Ferrovanadium (FeV50) | FeV (50% V) | Variable | 48-52% V | $22-32 | Steel alloying, lower grade |
| Vanadium Nitride | VN | 64.95 g/mol | 77-81% V | $35-50 | High-strength steel |
| Ammonium Metavanadate | NH₄VO₃ | 116.98 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $20-35 | Catalyst precursor, pigments |
| Vanadyl Sulfate | VOSO₄·xH₂O | 163.00 g/mol (anhydrous) | 97-99% | $40-80 | VRFBs electrolyte |
| Vanadium Metal Powder | V | 50.94 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $220-450 | Aerospace alloys, nuclear |
| Vanadium Carbide | VC | 62.95 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $180-280 | Cutting tools, wear-resistant coatings |
| Vanadium Electrolyte (VRFB) | V²⁺/V³⁺/V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ | Variable | 1.6-2.0M V | $8-15/L | Flow battery systems |
| Vanadium Dioxide | VO₂ | 82.94 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $150-300 | Smart windows, thermochromic films |
| Sodium Metavanadate | NaVO₃ | 121.93 g/mol | 98-99% | $18-30 | Catalysts, corrosion inhibitor |
| Vanadium Oxytrichloride | VOCl₃ | 173.30 g/mol | 99% | $120-200 | Catalyst for polymerization |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Pangang Group Vanadium Titanium | V₂O₅, FeV80, FeV50, VN, V₂O₃ | World's largest producer, integrated mining-processing |
| HBIS Chengsteel | V₂O₅, FeV80, FeV50 | Major integrated steel-vanadium producer |
| Tranvic Group | V₂O₅, AMV, vanadium chemicals | Stone coal processing specialist |
| Desheng Vanadium | V₂O₅, vanadium chemicals | High-purity products |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| EVRAZ NTMK | V₂O₅, FeV80, FeV50, slag products | Integrated steel-vanadium production |
| Chusovoy Metallurgical Works | FeV80, FeV50 | Ferrovanadium specialist |
🇿🇦 South Africa
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Bushveld Minerals | V₂O₅, FeV, VN, vanadium chemicals | Primary vanadium producer, VRFB electrolyte |
| Glencore (Rhovan) | V₂O₅, FeV, modified vanadium oxides | Integrated mining and processing |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Largo Resources | V₂O₅ flake (99.5%), high-purity V₂O₅ | High-quality flake V₂O₅ for aerospace |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Vanadium | V₂O₅, FeV, vanadium chemicals | Recycling specialist, high-purity products |
| Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical | V₂O₅, AMV, vanadium chemicals | Spent catalyst recycling |
🇦🇹 Austria
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Treibacher Industrie | FeV, VN, VC, vanadium alloys | Specialty alloys, high-performance materials |
🇰🇷 South Korea
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Zinc | V₂O₅, vanadium chemicals | By-product recovery from zinc smelting |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Electric | VRFB systems, vanadium electrolyte | Flow battery technology leader |
| Pacific Metals | FeV, vanadium chemicals | High-quality ferrovanadium |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | USA Market | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrovanadium (All Grades) | $4.8 billion | 8% share | 62% share | 5.2% |
| Vanadium Pentoxide | $2.1 billion | 6% share | 58% share | 4.8% |
| Vanadium Chemicals | $650 million | 12% share | 45% share | 6.5% |
| VRFB Electrolyte | $380 million | 15% share | 48% share | 22.5% |
| Vanadium Metal & Alloys | $280 million | 25% share | 35% share | 7.8% |
| Vanadium Nitride | $420 million | 5% share | 65% share | 8.2% |
| Catalysts (V₂O₅ based) | $520 million | 18% share | 42% share | 4.5% |
Market trends
Energy Storage Boom: VRFB market growing at 22.5% CAGR, driven by grid-scale storage needs China Dominance: Controls 56% of production and 60% of consumption, creating supply concentration risk Steel Decarbonization: Vanadium microalloying enables 30% reduction in steel mass for same strength Supply Constraints: Limited new primary production; 98% comes as co-product from steel/titanium Price Volatility: V₂O₅ prices range $15-30/kg, driven by Chinese steel production cycles Strategic Metal Status: USA, EU, Japan classify vanadium as critical material Recycling Growth: Spent catalyst recycling expanding, now 15% of Western supply Technology Applications: VO₂ smart windows market emerging, $50M in 2025 growing to $300M by 2030
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanadium Metal | V | 50.94 | 19.63 |
| Vanadium Pentoxide | V₂O₅ | 181.88 | 5.50 |
| Vanadium Dioxide | VO₂ | 82.94 | 12.06 |
| Ammonium Metavanadate | NH₄VO₃ | 116.98 | 8.55 |
| Vanadyl Sulfate (anhydrous) | VOSO₄ | 163.00 | 6.13 |
| Vanadium Nitride | VN | 64.95 | 15.40 |
| Vanadium Carbide | VC | 62.95 | 15.89 |
References
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