Manufactured abrasives
World production capacity, 2024–2025
Share of world fused aluminum oxide, production capacity, 2025 · world total 1.3 million metric tons
- China 61%
- Austria 6.9%
- Germany 6.1%
- United States 4.6%
- Australia 3.8%
- Brazil 3.8%
- France 3.1%
- India 3.1%
- All other countries 7.3%
China accounted for 61% of world fused aluminum oxide production capacity in 2025 (800,000 metric tons). China supplied 92% of U.S. imports of fused aluminum oxide, crude in 2021–24, more than any other country. The three largest producers, China, Austria, and Germany, together supplied 74%. U.S. imports of manufactured abrasives (silicon carbide) fell from 125,000 metric tons in 2021 to 95,000 metric tons in 2025.
Producer log
12 countries listed separately
| Country | Fused aluminum oxide, production capacity 2024 | Fused aluminum oxide, production capacity 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Silicon carbide, production capacity 2024 | Silicon carbide, production capacity 2025 | Change on 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 800,000 | 800,000 | 61% | 0% | 450,000 | 450,000 | 0% |
| Austria | 90,000 | 90,000 | 6.9% | 0% | 0 | 0 | |
| Germany | 80,000 | 80,000 | 6.1% | 0% | 35,000 | 35,000 | 0% |
| United States | 60,000 | 60,000 | 4.6% | 0% | 40,000 | 40,000 | 0% |
| Australia | 50,000 | 50,000 | 3.8% | 0% | 0 | 0 | |
| Brazil | 50,000 | 50,000 | 3.8% | 0% | 40,000 | 40,000 | 0% |
| France | 40,000 | 40,000 | 3.1% | 0% | 20,000 | 20,000 | 0% |
| India | 40,000 | 40,000 | 3.1% | 0% | 5,000 | 5,000 | 0% |
| Japan | 15,000 | 15,000 | 1.1% | 0% | 60,000 | 60,000 | 0% |
| Mexico | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 45,000 | 0% | ||
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 0% | ||
| Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 0% | ||
| Other countries | 80,000 | 80,000 | 6.2% | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||
| World total | 1,310,000 | 1,300,000 | 100% | −0.8% | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 0% |
United States
supply, trade and import sources
more than 95%
Net import reliance (fused aluminum oxide) in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
2021>95
2022>95
2023>95
2024>95
2025>95
Import sources of fused aluminum oxide, crude, 2021–24
- China 92%
- Other countries 8%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Fused aluminum oxide, crude | 10,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 |
| Production: Silicon carbide | 35,000 | 40,000 | 45,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 |
| Production: Metallic abrasives | 176,000 | 180,000 | 198,000 | 193,000 | 160,000 |
| Shipments, metallic abrasives | 193,000 | 199,000 | 227,000 | 223,000 | 180,000 |
| Imports for consumption: Fused aluminum oxide | 159,000 | 225,000 | 120,000 | 161,000 | 150,000 |
| Imports for consumption: Silicon carbide | 125,000 | 165,000 | 114,000 | 113,000 | 95,000 |
| Imports for consumption: Metallic abrasives | 26,400 | 20,100 | 17,800 | 16,900 | 16,000 |
| Exports: Fused aluminum oxide | 13,500 | 14,400 | 9,570 | 9,190 | 8,000 |
| Exports: Silicon carbide | 12,000 | 12,000 | 10,100 | 9,680 | 8,600 |
| Exports: Metallic abrasives | 20,100 | 23,900 | 24,100 | 19,300 | 18,000 |
| Consumption, apparent: Fused aluminum oxide | 146,000 | 210,000 | 110,000 | 152,000 | 140,000 |
| Consumption, apparent: Silicon carbide | 148,000 | 193,000 | 148,000 | 143,000 | 120,000 |
| Consumption, apparent: Metallic abrasives | 199,000 | 195,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | 180,000 |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Silicon carbide | 76 | 79 | 70 | 72 | 74 |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Metallic abrasives | 3 | net exporter | net exporter | net exporter | net exporter |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manufactured abrasives chapter (PDF page 46). How to read these figures.