Vanadium is widely dispersed in the earth crust. Primary industrial compounds produced directly from vanadium raw materials are principally fused pentoxide, air‐dried pentoxide, the sesquioxide and technical‐grade ammonium metavanadate. Recovery of vanadium from titaniferous magnetites by salt roasting, acid leaching, and amine solvent extraction is common. Conversion of fused pentoxide to alloy additives is by far the largest use of vanadium compounds. Air‐dried pentoxide, ammonium vanadate, and some fused pentoxide are used as such, purified, or converted to other forms for catalytic, chemical, ceramic, or specialty applications. Physical and chemical properties, manufacturing, health and safety factors, and economic aspects are discussed.