Lead
World mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world mine production, 2025 · world total 4.5 million metric tons
- China 42%
- Australia 11%
- Peru 6.4%
- United States 6.2%
- Russia 5.8%
- India 4.9%
- Mexico 4.4%
- Bolivia 2.2%
- All other countries 17%
China accounted for 42% of world mine production of lead in 2025 (1.9 million metric tons of 4.5 million metric tons). The largest reserves are in Australia (36% of the world figure), not in the top producer. World reserves equal about 21 years of 2025 output at that rate, the third shortest of the 19 commodities where both figures exist. Among the main producers, Mexico changed most: −17% on 2024.
Producer log
12 countries listed separately
| Country | Mine production 2024 | Mine production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Reserves | Share of world reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,940 | 1,900 | 42% | −2.1% | 22,000 | 23% |
| Australia | 481 | 480 | 11% | −0.2% | 34,000 | 36% |
| Peru | 291 | 290 | 6.4% | −0.3% | 5,000 | 5.3% |
| United States | 304 | 280 | 6.2% | −7.9% | 4,600 | 4.8% |
| Russia | 260 | 260 | 5.8% | 0% | 8,900 | 9.4% |
| India | 226 | 220 | 4.9% | −2.7% | 1,900 | 2% |
| Mexico | 240 | 200 | 4.4% | −17% | 5,600 | 5.9% |
| Bolivia | 110 | 100 | 2.2% | −9.1% | 1,600 | 1.7% |
| Iran | 70 | 70 | 1.6% | 0% | 2,000 | 2.1% |
| Sweden | 75 | 70 | 1.6% | −6.7% | 1,700 | 1.8% |
| Turkey | 66 | 70 | 1.6% | +6.1% | 1,600 | 1.7% |
| Tajikistan | 39 | 40 | 0.9% | +2.6% | not available | |
| Other countries | 498 | 500 | 11% | 5,900 | ||
| World total | 4,600 | 4,500 | 100% | −2.2% | 95,000 | 100% |
Output versus reserves
same commodity, two measures
Mine production, 2025
- China 42%
- Australia 11%
- Peru 6.4%
- United States 6.2%
- Russia 5.8%
- All other countries 29%
Reserves (world 95 million metric tons)
- Australia 36%
- China 23%
- Russia 9.4%
- Mexico 5.9%
- Peru 5.3%
- All other countries 21%
Reserves are the part of identified deposits that USGS considers economic to extract now; they change as prices, technology and surveys change. At the 2025 rate, the world reserve figure equals about 21 years of output.
United States
supply, trade and import sources
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption, refined metal.
Import sources of refined metal, 2021–24
- Canada 31%
- South Korea 16%
- Mexico 15%
- Australia 13%
- Other countries 25%
Uses named for it in the 2025 critical minerals list: ammunition, batteries, ceramics, and glass.
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Mine, lead in concentrates | 294 | 273 | 270 | 304 | 280 |
| Production: Mine, recoverable lead | 286 | 264 | 263 | 296 | 270 |
| Production: Primary refinery | — | — | — | — | — |
| Production: Secondary refinery, old scrap | 1,050 | 1,010 | 1,010 | 1,030 | 1,000 |
| Imports for consumption: Lead in concentrates | 1 | under ½ | under ½ | under ½ | under ½ |
| Imports for consumption: Refined metal, unwrought | 614 | 652 | 519 | 410 | 520 |
| Exports: Lead in concentrates | 262 | 255 | 246 | 260 | 220 |
| Exports: Refined metal, unwrought (gross weight) | 22 | 26 | 23 | 37 | 22 |
| Consumption, apparent | 1,640 | 1,630 | 1,500 | 1,410 | 1,500 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Lead chapter (PDF page 122). How to read these figures.