Why does sodium metal carry a price premium over other alkali metals?

Why does sodium metal carry a price premium over other alkali metals?
Industrial pure sodium typically trades around 50-100 USD per kilogram, far above bulk alkali commodities like potassium fertilizer at roughly 300 USD per ton. The premium reflects sodium's hazardous handling requirements — it ignites on contact with water and must be stored under oil or inert atmosphere — plus energy-intensive production via molten salt electrolysis. Supply is concentrated: one Chinese producer controls about 41% of national design capacity at 65,000 tons, giving it pricing power. Nuclear-grade high-purity sodium commands an additional premium, with only one domestic supplier qualified. Downstream uses span sodium azide for airbags, titanium sponge reduction, and increasingly sodium-ion battery materials, where purity specifications tighten further.