China was the largest outside supplier.
What this market covers
A chemical element used in glass making, electronics, metallurgy, pigments and animal feed or food supplements. Producers recover it mainly as a copper refining by product.
Typical segments
- Glass decolourising
- Electrolytic manganese
- Pigments
- Feed and supplements
- Electronics
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value rose 65% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €9.2 million of products under CN code 28049000 (Selenium) from outside the EU in 2025. | 9.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 28049000 were up 65% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€5.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +65 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28049000 to countries outside the EU were worth €10.5 million in 2025. | 10.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 28049000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €11.6 million in 2025. | 11.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 28049000 to the EU in 2025, with €4.3 million, or 47% of extra-EU imports. | 4.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28049000 to the United States were €2.3 million in 2025. | 2.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 28049000 was €23.54 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 23.54 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 28049000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €4.2 million. | 4.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 904 enterprises in NACE class C2013 (Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals) in 2023. | 904 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2013 had net turnover of €33.38 billion in 2023. | 33.38 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2013 employed 64,363 people across the EU in 2023. | 64,363 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 1,032 private establishments in NAICS 325180 (Other basic inorganic chemical manufacturing) in 2025. | 1,032 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325180 employed an average of 41,024 people in US private industry in 2025. | 41,024 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325180 changed by +3% between 2020 (39,700 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +3 % since 2020 | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325180 was $123,381 in 2025. | 123,381 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 3,034 papers mentioning "selenium" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 3,034 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9171380
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 5566127; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 9171380
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 10511066
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 11553406
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4304619
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2305271
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28049000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9171380, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 3896
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DE, product 28049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4225026
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2013, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 904
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2013, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 33384
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2013, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 64363
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325180, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325180, annual_avg_estabs 1032
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325180, annual_avg_emplvl 41024
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 39700; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 41024
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325180, avg_annual_pay 123381
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "selenium"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 3034
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Glass makers
- Metal producers
- Feed manufacturers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU selenium market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €9.2 million of goods under CN 28049000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €10.5 million.
Where does the EU import selenium from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Japan, Russian Federation, Canada.
What is the average import price of selenium in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €23.54 per kilogram for CN 28049000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most selenium?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Belgium, Netherlands.
How many US companies are in the selenium industry?
BLS counts 1,032 private establishments in NAICS 325180 (Other basic inorganic chemical manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the selenium industry?
Eurostat counts 904 enterprises in NACE class C2013 (Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals).
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