Tellurium prices reached USD 112.02/KG globally in August 2026, registering a 6.6% decline during the reported period. The downward movement indicates softer near-term pricing conditions after a period of elevated purchasing activity, although tellurium remains a strategically important specialty metal with supply closely linked to copper refining and demand from advanced industrial applications.

The market continued to be shaped by the availability of tellurium-bearing by-products, refining conditions, and purchasing requirements from cadmium telluride photovoltaic manufacturing, thermoelectric applications, specialty alloys, electronics, and other high-performance materials. Procurement activity remained sensitive to inventory levels and supply-chain security because tellurium availability is structurally constrained by its dependence on primary copper production and recovery from refining residues.

Regional Tellurium Prices Outlook – August 2026: Where Are Prices Highest?

• Global: USD 112.02/KG (-6.6% ↓ Down)

The global tellurium price stood at USD 112.02/KG in August 2026, with the market registering a 6.6% decline. As only a global benchmark is supplied for the reporting period, regional price differentiation cannot be established from the available pricing data.

The movement nevertheless reflects a market where purchasing activity, downstream inventory requirements, and the availability of refined material remain closely interconnected. Since tellurium is predominantly recovered as a by-product of copper refining, supply cannot be rapidly expanded solely in response to higher tellurium prices, creating a structurally sensitive procurement environment.

Regional Price Analysis of Tellurium Prices – August 2026

Global

Global tellurium prices reached USD 112.02/KG in August 2026, declining by 6.6%. The movement reflected softer near-term purchasing conditions after sustained demand from cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and specialty alloy manufacturing applications.

Procurement managers continued to balance immediate production requirements against inventory costs and supply-security considerations. Demand from solar technologies and advanced industrial applications remained strategically important, while the limited ability to increase primary tellurium production independently of copper refining kept supply conditions structurally constrained.

Supply and Demand Overview – August 2026

Tellurium supply remained closely connected to copper refining because the metal is primarily recovered from anode slimes generated during electrolytic copper production. Consequently, changes in copper production, refining throughput, recovery rates, processing capacity, and inventories can affect tellurium availability. International trade flows and refining concentration also remain important considerations for buyers seeking reliable long-term supply.

Demand intensity across major downstream industries remained as follows:

• Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaics: Strong demand
• Thermoelectric Applications: Consistent demand
• Specialty Alloys: Stable demand
• Electronics and Semiconductors: Consistent demand
• Advanced Materials: Moderate to strong demand

Overall, the market remained structurally supply-sensitive despite the August price decline. Softer purchasing activity can reduce immediate pricing pressure, but limited by-product availability and specialized downstream requirements can quickly tighten the balance when inventories or production requirements change.

Key Factors Affecting Prices – Monthly Perspective

• Raw Material Availability: Tellurium availability depends heavily on copper refining and the recovery of tellurium-bearing residues, limiting the flexibility of primary supply.
• Downstream Demand: Solar photovoltaic, thermoelectric, electronics, and specialty alloy applications continue to determine purchasing requirements for refined tellurium.
• Logistics: International transportation, refining locations, inventory movements, and trade routes influence delivered costs and procurement reliability.
• Energy Costs: Energy requirements across copper refining, recovery, purification, and downstream processing contribute to the overall cost structure.
• Trade Dynamics: International supply concentration and strategic efforts to secure critical-mineral supply chains can influence availability, purchasing behavior, and market pricing.

Recent Developments (August Highlights)

• Tellurium continued to support cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing, reinforcing its importance in renewable-energy supply chains.
• Demand from thermoelectric and specialty alloy applications maintained a stable industrial consumption base.
• Copper refining remained central to tellurium availability because the metal is primarily recovered as a by-product rather than produced independently.
• Global pricing declined by 6.6% to USD 112.02/KG, indicating softer near-term market conditions despite continued structural supply constraints.

The August market therefore combined a short-term decline in the global price benchmark with longer-term supply sensitivity arising from tellurium's by-product production structure.

For detailed insights, charts, and forecasts, explore: https://www.imarcgroup.com/tellurium-pricing-report/requestsample

Tellurium Price Chart Analysis – Monthly Movement

The Tellurium Price Chart for August 2026 reflects a global price level of USD 112.02/KG and a 6.6% downward movement. The market remained influenced by the balance between downstream purchasing requirements and available refined material.

• Early August: Market conditions were influenced by inventory positions, copper-refining activity, and purchasing requirements from solar and advanced-material applications.
• Mid-August: Buyers continued balancing replenishment needs against prevailing prices, while downstream demand remained supported by photovoltaic and specialty industrial applications.
• Late August: The global benchmark reflected a 6.6% decline, indicating softer near-term purchasing conditions and reduced immediate pricing pressure.

The price chart helps procurement managers track the direction of the market, evaluate replenishment timing, assess inventory exposure, and understand how changes in downstream purchasing can affect procurement costs.

Tellurium Price Index & Historical Analysis

The Tellurium Price Index showed a downward movement in August 2026, with the global price reaching USD 112.02/KG and declining by 6.6%. This monthly movement should be viewed against the structural characteristics of the tellurium market, where supply is closely tied to copper-refining activity rather than dedicated primary production.

Historically, tellurium pricing has been sensitive to changes in copper production, recovery rates, refining capacity, photovoltaic demand, and the availability of refined material. The growing importance of cadmium telluride solar technology and other advanced applications has increased the strategic relevance of this specialty metal, while supply remains comparatively inflexible.

Key structural drivers include:

• Raw material availability from copper refining
• Production and purification capacity
• Downstream photovoltaic and advanced-material cycles

The current index movement highlights the difference between short-term purchasing conditions and longer-term supply fundamentals. Procurement strategies therefore need to consider both immediate price movements and the structural limitations surrounding tellurium availability.

What Is Tellurium?

Tellurium is a rare, brittle metalloid with the chemical symbol Te and atomic number 52. It is primarily recovered as a by-product of copper refining and possesses semiconductor and thermoelectric properties that make it valuable in specialized industrial applications.

Key applications include:

• Cadmium telluride thin-film solar photovoltaics
• Thermoelectric devices
• Specialty metal alloys
• Electronics and semiconductor applications
• Advanced materials and industrial chemical applications

Tellurium's industrial importance comes from its specialized physical and chemical properties and its role in energy-transition technologies. Its dependence on by-product recovery also makes supply planning particularly important for manufacturers requiring consistent material availability.

Tellurium Price Forecast – Next 12 Months

The tellurium price outlook for the next 12 months is expected to remain volatile-to-firm. Although the August 2026 decline indicates softer near-term pricing conditions, the market remains exposed to structural supply constraints and continued demand from photovoltaic, thermoelectric, electronics, and specialty-material applications.

Key growth drivers include:

• Continued demand for cadmium telluride photovoltaic technology
• Expansion of renewable-energy infrastructure
• Stable requirements from thermoelectric applications
• Demand for specialty alloys and advanced materials
• Strategic efforts to strengthen critical-mineral supply chains

Potential risks include:

• Fluctuations in copper refining activity
• Limited flexibility in primary tellurium supply
• Changes in photovoltaic manufacturing demand
• Refining and purification bottlenecks
• International trade and supply-chain disruptions

Overall, tellurium prices are expected to remain sensitive to both downstream demand and by-product supply availability. Short-term corrections may occur when purchasing activity softens, but constrained supply and strategic applications could provide underlying support to the market over the longer term.

FAQs About Tellurium Prices Insights & Market Analysis

What does the Tellurium Price Index indicate in August 2026?

The index indicates that global tellurium prices reached USD 112.02/KG and declined by 6.6%, reflecting softer near-term purchasing conditions while the underlying market remains structurally supply-sensitive.

How does the Tellurium Price Chart help procurement managers?

The price chart helps procurement teams monitor pricing direction, evaluate replenishment timing, manage inventory exposure, and assess the impact of changing downstream demand on tellurium procurement costs.

What is the tellurium price forecast for the next 12 months?

Tellurium prices are expected to remain volatile-to-firm, with future movements influenced by copper-refining activity, tellurium recovery rates, photovoltaic demand, specialty industrial consumption, and global supply-chain conditions.

How IMARC Pricing Database Can Help

The latest IMARC Group study, "Tellurium Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data 2026 Edition," provides a detailed analysis of tellurium price trends and global market dynamics. The report covers price movements, regional developments, demand patterns, supply conditions, and the factors influencing current and future prices.

The analysis examines the relationship between raw material costs, production conditions, downstream demand, logistics, trade flows, and regional market developments. By exploring the interaction between supply and demand, the pricing analysis provides businesses with useful insights into current market conditions and future pricing dynamics.

Explore pricing intelligence across 500+ commodities: https://www.imarcgroup.com/pricing-intelligence

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