Uzbekistan has made its first export shipment of high-purity metallic rhenium (99.9%) through the Uzbek Technological Metals Plant (UzKTM), the enterprise’s press service reported. The contract was signed with Estonian company VLCor Baltic OU, which supplies raw materials for the aerospace, casting, and engineering industries, Gazeta.uz reports.
This marks the first time Uzbekistan has entered the export market for this strategic and rare element. Rhenium is crucial in producing heat-resistant superalloys, particularly for jet engine turbines, as well as in petrochemical and electronics industries. Global consumption is dominated by the U.S., Europe, and China.
UzKTM mastered hydrogen reduction technology for rhenium production in 2021 and aims to produce 3 tonnes of the metal in 2025. The global market size is around 50–60 tonnes annually, with prices ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 per kilogram. Major producers include Chile, the U.S., Kazakhstan, and China.
UzKTM’s total exports in the first half of 2025 reached $21.3 million - up 118% year-on-year. The plant, established in 2024 on the basis of a scientific-industrial complex, plans to export molybdenum, tungsten, selenium, and tellurium by year’s end. Exports are expected to account for over $50 million of its projected $70 million revenue.
Uzbekistan holds deposits of more than 30 strategic metals. Between 2024 and 2028, UzKTM is set to implement over 70 critical raw materials projects worth $1.6 billion.
In 2024, Uzbekistan signed strategic mineral agreements with both the European Union and the United States to ensure sustainable supply chains and expand access to critical resources.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 10, 2025