Titanium minerals - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
Ilmenite and rutile provide feedstock for titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal.The tables cover ilmenite and rutile concentrates, measured by titanium dioxide content. These minerals supply pigment and titanium metal production.
Titanium minerals Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production: ilmenite (thousand metric tons)
Titanium minerals Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production: ilmenite · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 2,800 | 3,400 | 3,140 | 3,100 | 3,040 | 3,200 | 34.0% | +14.3% |
| #2 | Mozambique | 965 | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,600 | 1,930 | 1,900 | 20.2% | +96.9% |
| #3 | South Africa | 1,020 | 900 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 1,260 | 1,300 | 13.8% | +27.5% |
| #4 | Australia | 480 | 600 | 400 | 400 | 600 | 780 | 8.3% | +62.5% |
| #5 | Norway | 444 | 468 | 410 | 430 | 432 | 390 | 4.1% | -12.2% |
| #6 | Senegal | 300 | 482 | 410 | 340 | 345 | 370 | 3.9% | +23.3% |
| #7 | Canada | 595 | 430 | 520 | 500 | 360 | 360 | 3.8% | -39.5% |
| #8 | Madagascar | 254 | 414 | 320 | 320 | 300 | 300 | 3.2% | +18.1% |
| #9 | India | 174 | 204 | 210 | 210 | 230 | 240 | 2.6% | +37.9% |
| #10 | Ukraine | 464 | 316 | 190 | 60 | 286 | 200 | 2.1% | -56.9% |
| #11 | United States | - | - | 200 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 1.1% | - |
| - | World Total | - | - | - | - | 9,210 | 9,400 | 100.0% | - |
Titanium minerals Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves: ilmenite · Unit: thousand metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 52.1 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Australia | 170,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were estimated to be 45 million tons for ilmenite and 12 million tons for rutile, respectively, TiO2 content. |
| #2 | China | 110,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Canada | 50,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Mine production of titaniferous magnetite is primarily used to produce titaniferous slag. |
| #4 | Norway | 37,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Madagascar | 30,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Mine production of titaniferous magnetite is primarily used to produce titaniferous slag. |
| #6 | South Africa | 28,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Mine production of titaniferous magnetite is primarily used to produce titaniferous slag. |
| #7 | India | 15,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Ukraine | 5,900 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | United States | 2,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Rounded to the nearest 100,000 tons to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. - United States rutile production and reserves data are included with ilmenite. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 490,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - United States rutile production and reserves data are included with ilmenite. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: Production | thousand metric tons | 100 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: Imports for consumption | thousand metric tons | 969 | 952 | 638 | 658 | 730 |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: Exports, all forms | thousand metric tons | 20 | 110 | 40 | 5 | 10 |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: Consumption, apparent | thousand metric tons | 1,000 | 1,000 | 700 | 800 | 900 |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: Employment, mine and mill, number | number | 340 | 420 | 440 | 460 | 490 |
| Titanium Mineral Concentrates: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 90% | 81% | 86% | 87% | 88% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Titanium minerals
Which country leads titanium mineral concentrates production (mine production: ilmenite)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production: ilmenite, with 3,200 thousand metric tons (estimated) (34.0% of the reported world total). World output was 9,400 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country leads titanium mineral concentrates production (mine production: rutile)?
Australia leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production: rutile, with 200 thousand metric tons (estimated) (44.4% of the reported world total). World output was 450 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported titanium minerals reserves?
Australia ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 170,000 thousand metric tons (Reserves: ilmenite) against a reported world total of >490,000 thousand metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for titanium minerals?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 88% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (All) were South Africa (26%), Canada (16%), Madagascar (16%).
How is titanium minerals 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: Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) white pigments for paints, plastics, and paper, and titanium sponge/metal for aerospace airframes and jet engines. This chapter covers mined heavy-mineral concentrates-ilmenite (including titaniferous slag) and rutile-standardized to TiO₂ content. Approximately 90%+ of titanium mineral concentrates are consumed to make TiO₂ pigment rather than titanium metal.