Magnesium compounds
World magnesite mine production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world magnesite mine production (gross weight), 2025 · world total 21 million metric tons
- China 60%
- Brazil 8.6%
- Russia 8.1%
- Turkey 7.6%
- Austria 3.1%
- Spain 3%
- Australia 1.9%
- Slovakia 1.6%
- All other countries 5.6%
China accounted for 60% of world magnesite mine production in 2025 (12.7 million metric tons of 21 million metric tons). The largest reserves are in Russia (30% of the world figure), not in the top producer. World reserves equal about 371 years of 2025 output at that rate, the second longest of the 19 commodities where both figures exist. Net imports covered 59% of U.S. magnesium compounds consumption in 2025.
Producer log
13 countries listed separately
| Country | Magnesite mine production (gross weight) 2024 | Magnesite mine production (gross weight) 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Magnesite reserves (gross weight) | Share of world reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 12,900 | 12,700 | 60% | −1.6% | 700,000 | 9% |
| Brazil | 1,850 | 1,800 | 8.6% | −2.7% | 200,000 | 2.6% |
| Russia | 1,690 | 1,700 | 8.1% | +0.6% | 2,300,000 | 30% |
| Turkey | 1,600 | 1,600 | 7.6% | 0% | 110,000 | 1.4% |
| Austria | 664 | 650 | 3.1% | −2.1% | 49,000 | 0.6% |
| Spain | 655 | 640 | 3% | −2.3% | 35,000 | 0.4% |
| Australia | 410 | 400 | 1.9% | −2.4% | 280,000 | 3.6% |
| Slovakia | 334 | 330 | 1.6% | −1.2% | 1,200,000 | 15% |
| Canada | 230 | 230 | 1.1% | 0% | not available | |
| Iran | 200 | 200 | 1% | 0% | 10,000 | 0.1% |
| Greece | 134 | 130 | 0.6% | −3% | 280,000 | 3.6% |
| India | 117 | 85 | 0.4% | −27% | 66,000 | 0.8% |
| United States | withheld | withheld | 35,000 | 0.4% | ||
| Other countries | 341 | 340 | 1.6% | 2,500,000 | ||
| World total | 21,100 | 21,000 | 100% | −0.5% | 7,800,000 | 100% |
The world total excludes U.S. output, which USGS withholds.
Output versus reserves
same commodity, two measures
Magnesite mine production (gross weight), 2025
- China 60%
- Brazil 8.6%
- Russia 8.1%
- Turkey 7.6%
- Austria 3.1%
- All other countries 12%
Magnesite reserves (gross weight) (world 7.8 billion metric tons)
- Russia 29%
- Slovakia 15%
- China 9%
- Australia 3.6%
- Greece 3.6%
- All other countries 39%
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 371 years of output.
United States
supply, trade and import sources
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
Import sources of caustic-calcined magnesia, 2021–24
- China 74%
- Canada 21%
- Other countries 5%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production | 432 | 412 | 428 | 398 | 400 |
| Shipments (gross weight) | 634 | 606 | 616 | 674 | 680 |
| Imports for consumption | 647 | 591 | 490 | 496 | 640 |
| Exports | 95 | 104 | 89 | 62 | 60 |
| Consumption, apparent | 984 | 899 | 830 | 832 | 980 |
| Employment, plant, number | 270 | 280 | 270 | 270 | 280 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Magnesium compounds chapter (PDF page 128). How to read these figures.