Global Mercury: Supply, Trade and Demand - Executive Summary

This document presents an executive overview of global mercury supply, trade, and demand to support implementation of the Minamata Convention, which entered into force on 16 August 2017. It reports reduced chlor-alkali residual supply due to export bans, rising primary mining in Mexico and Indonesia, and a 2015 supply estimate of 3,850–4,400 tonnes alongside a two-tier price that undercuts recycling in the United States and European Union. Trading hubs have shifted to Singapore and Hong Kong, with increased undocumented flows and safety concerns over substandard flasks, while official trade volumes fell markedly from 2010 to 2015. Demand has grown to 4,500–4,900 tonnes, dominated by artisanal gold mining and vinyl chloride monomer production, as chlor-alkali use declines; demand exceeds basic supply, implying stock drawdowns. Full document is available at: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/21725