Barite - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A dense barium sulfate mineral widely used as a weighting agent in drilling fluids.Production and reserves refer to barite mineral. Reserve estimates reflect the grade specifications used in drilling applications.
Barite Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (thousand metric tons)
Barite Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | India | 1,600 | 1,600 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,600 | 3,000 | 34.5% | +87.5% |
| #2 | China | 2,800 | 2,100 | 1,900 | 1,900 | 2,100 | 2,200 | 25.3% | -21.4% |
| #3 | Morocco | 410 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 930 | 1,000 | 11.5% | +143.9% |
| #4 | Kazakhstan | 445 | 450 | 650 | 600 | 650 | 700 | 8.0% | +57.3% |
| #5 | Iran | 202 | 224 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 3.4% | +48.5% |
| #5 | Mexico | 323 | 321 | 316 | 260 | 244 | 300 | 3.4% | -7.1% |
| #7 | Laos | 180 | 110 | 303 | 600 | 250 | 260 | 3.0% | +44.4% |
| #7 | Türkiye | 180 | 258 | 250 | 250 | 261 | 260 | 3.0% | +44.4% |
| #9 | Russia | 287 | 150 | 250 | 250 | 200 | 230 | 2.6% | -19.9% |
| #10 | Pakistan | 86 | 50 | - | - | 94 | 100 | 1.1% | +16.3% |
| - | World Total | - | 6,730 | 8,260 | 8,500 | 8,000 | 8,700 | 100.0% | - |
Barite Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 120,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Iran | 100,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Kazakhstan | 85,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | India | 51,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Türkiye | 34,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | Russia | 12,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barite: Production: Sold or used, mine | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Barite: Production: Ground and crushed | thousand metric tons | 1,670 | 2,220 | 2,260 | 2,280 | 2,300 |
| Barite: Imports: For consumption | thousand metric tons | 1,660 | 2,330 | 2,420 | 1,880 | 2,300 |
| Barite: Imports: General | thousand metric tons | 1,440 | 1,890 | 2,220 | 1,810 | 1,700 |
| Barite: Exports | thousand metric tons | 62 | 87 | 75 | 65 | 67 |
| Barite: Consumption, apparent (crude and ground) | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Barite: Employment, mine and mill, number | number | 330 | 380 | 440 | 400 | 400 |
| Barite: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | >75% | >75% | >75% | >75% | >75% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Barite
Which country leads barite production (mine production)?
India leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 3,000 thousand metric tons (estimated) (34.5% of the reported world total). World output was 8,700 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported barite reserves?
China ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 120,000 thousand metric tons (Reserves).
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for barite?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at >75% (Net import relianceas a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (All) were India (39%), China (21%), Morocco (19%).
How is barite classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: High-density weighting agent in oil and gas drilling muds, medical imaging contrast media, and industrial fillers. Barite statistics measure the sulfate mineral (BaSO₄) rather than elemental barium. Drilling-grade barite requires specific gravity standards (4.1 to 4.2) that govern which deposits qualify as reserves.