Lead is still widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. According to Bestmag, Global supply of refined lead metal exceeded demand by 92,000 tonnes in 2023, according to data from the International Lead and Zinc Study Group. The world’s cobalt reserves, especially those in Australia, which account for the majority of the world’s cobalt supply, are at the centre of this rising demand.
| Country | Reserves | Percent of world |
| Australia | 35,000 | 36.84% |
| China | 20,000 | 21.05% |
| Russia | 8,700 | 9.16% |
| Mexico | 5,600 | 5.89% |
| Peru | 5,000 | 5.26% |
| United States | 4,600 | 4.84% |
| Iran | 2,000 | 2.10% |
| India | 1,900 | 2% |
| Sweden | 1,700 | 1.78% |
| Turkey | 1,600 | 1.68% |
| Bolivia | 1,600 | 1.68% |
| Other countries | 5,900 | 6.21% |
| World total | 95,000 |
Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024, U.S. Geological Survey
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