Beryllium
The United States produces roughly two-thirds of the world's beryllium. What beryllium is, where it is irreplaceable, and why Washington guards it.
Last updated: October 2026
Beryllium is the lightest structural metal, stiffer than steel and transparent to X-rays. The United States produces roughly two-thirds of world mine output, almost all of it from a single mountain in Utah — and the metal is so toxic to process that only a handful of facilities on Earth can handle it.
| # | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | ~64% |
| 2 | China | ~10% |
| 3 | Kazakhstan | ~8% |
| 4 | Madagascar | Small |
| 5 | Brazil | Small |
Mine production shares, 2024 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025). Small producers also include Mozambique and Portugal.
Beryllium is a light, steel-grey metal: the lightest structural metal, six times stiffer than steel per unit of weight, transparent to X-rays, and stable at high temperatures. It is mined mainly from bertrandite ore at Spor Mountain, Utah, and from beryl.
Aerospace and defence (guidance systems, satellites, fighter-jet components), copper-beryllium alloys for springs, connectors and non-sparking tools, X-ray windows, nuclear reactors, and high-end audio and optics.
The United States, with roughly 64% of world mine production (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025), from Materion's Spor Mountain bertrandite mine in Utah — the world's largest beryllium source.
China is a minor beryllium producer, at roughly 10% of world mine output, and a net importer of beryllium products. The United States, not China, dominates this supply chain.
High for defence. US production dominates, processing is limited to a handful of facilities because beryllium dust is highly toxic, and there is no easy substitute in guidance systems and X-ray windows. For most civilian uses the volumes are tiny, which limits the broader economic exposure.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 — Beryllium (U.S. Geological Survey)
- U.S. Department of Defense — Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling (U.S. DoD)
Beryllium is the lightest structural metal, stiffer than steel and transparent to X-rays. The United States produces roughly two-thirds of world output from a single mountain in Utah. Its dust is highly toxic, so only a handful of facilities can process it — a defence chokepoint that runs in America's favour.
What is beryllium?
Beryllium is a light, steel-grey metal: the lightest structural metal, six times stiffer than steel per unit of weight, transparent to X-rays, and stable at high temperatures. It is mined mainly from bertrandite ore at Spor Mountain, Utah, and from beryl.
What is beryllium used for?
Aerospace and defence (guidance systems, satellites, fighter-jet components), copper-beryllium alloys for springs, connectors and non-sparking tools, X-ray windows, nuclear reactors, and high-end audio and optics.
Which country produces the most beryllium?
The United States, with roughly 64% of world mine production (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025), from Materion's Spor Mountain bertrandite mine in Utah — the world's largest beryllium source.