Chile is the world's largest elemental iodine producer, with an estimated output of some metric tons in 2025. The second-largest global producer is Japan, which consistently produces around metric tons of elemental iodine annually.
Iodine uses
With a global production volume of metric tons in 2023, iodine is an element with important nutritional uses, such as preventing iodine deficiency, in addition to its use as a catalyst in the production of acetic acid and polymers. Though it is perhaps most widely known as an additive in table salt, the largest iodine demand globally is attributed to its use in X-ray contrast media.
Iodine reserves
Inversely from production figures, Japan has the largest iodine reserves in the world, while Chile has the second-largest reserves. Although iodine production figures in the United States are not disclosed due to proprietary data, its reserve quantities are. As of 2023, the U.S. iodine reserves amounted to approximately metric tons, making up the third-largest reserves across the globe.