Mineral Commodities

Magnesium metal

World primary production and smelter capacity, 2024–2025

On the U.S. 2025 critical minerals listUSGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026

Share of world primary smelter production, 2025 · world total 1.1 million metric tons

  • China 86%
  • Russia 5.5%
  • Brazil 1.8%
  • Israel 1.8%
  • Turkey 1.4%
  • Kazakhstan 1.2%
  • Iran 0.5%
  • Other countries 1.5%

China accounted for 86% of world primary smelter production of magnesium metal in 2025 (950,000 metric tons of 1.1 million metric tons). Only 4 of the 72 commodities with a world total had a larger single-country share. The three largest producers, China, Russia, and Brazil, together supplied 94%. U.S. imports of magnesium metal rose from 50 thousand metric tons in 2021 to 82 thousand metric tons in 2025.

Producer log

8 countries listed separately

World primary production and smelter capacity. Units: thousand metric tons. 2025 figures are USGS estimates.
CountryPrimary smelter production 2024Primary smelter production 2025Share of world 2025Change on 2024Smelter capacity 2025
China95395086%−0.3%1,480
Russia59605.5%+1.7%81
Brazil20201.8%0%22
Israel17201.8%+18%34
Turkey15151.4%0%15
Kazakhstan15131.2%−13%21
Iran550.5%0%6
United States0064
Other countries000%42
World total1,0801,100100%+1.9%1,800

United States

supply, trade and import sources

more than 75%

Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.

2021>25
2022>75
2023>75
2024>50
2025>75

Import sources, 2021–24

  • Israel 47%
  • Turkey 31%
  • Russia 8%
  • China 6%
  • Other countries 8%

Uses named for it in the 2025 critical minerals list: alloys for aerospace, cars and electronics.

United States, 2021–2025 (thousand metric tons, unless the row says otherwise). W = withheld by USGS; NA = not available; 2025 estimated.
Item20212022202320242025
Production: PrimaryWW———
Production: Secondary (new and old scrap)103115108109110
Imports for consumption50107937082
Exports109553
Consumption: Reported, primary4850534640
Consumption: ApparentWWWWW
Stocks, producer, yearendWWWWW
Employment, number400400200200—
Open in the producer explorerWhich minerals depend most on one country Who produces the U.S. critical minerals

Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Magnesium metal chapter (PDF page 130). How to read these figures.