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This table presents estimated global consumption figures for unmanufactured asbestos fibers by country or locality from 2019 through 2023. These estimates are derived from production, import, and export data, offering valuable insights into regional and national demand for asbestos, a mineral historically used in construction, manufacturing, and various industrial applications. Understanding consumption trends is economically and industrially significant because asbestos use is closely linked to regulatory policies, health considerations, and shifts in industrial practices worldwide. Tracking these figures helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and health agencies monitor changes in asbestos demand, assess potential exposure risks, and evaluate the impact of global market dynamics on asbestos supply and consumption.
Analysis of the data reveals that Asia and the Middle East dominate global asbestos consumption, with India leading at 482,000 metric tons in 2023, marking a steady increase from 373,000 metric tons in 2019. China also shows substantial consumption, peaking at 327,000 metric tons in 2022 before slightly declining to 284,000 metric tons in 2023. Bangladesh experienced a significant rise, reaching 42,600 metric tons in 2023 after a dip in 2022. In contrast, consumption in Africa decreased overall from 10,300 metric tons in 2020 to 2,780 metric tons in 2023, with Zimbabwe’s consumption dropping sharply from 9,850 metric tons in 2020 to 2,230 metric tons in 2023. Europe’s consumption declined notably, with Ukraine’s figures falling from 10,300 metric tons in 2019 to just 180 metric tons in 2023, reflecting geopolitical and regulatory influences. The Americas show relatively low consumption, with the United States decreasing from 450 metric tons in 2019 to 150 metric tons in 2023. The global total consumption remained relatively stable around 1.3 million metric tons in 2023, indicating persistent demand despite regulatory pressures and health concerns surrounding asbestos use.
| TABLE 7 | |||||||||||
| ESTIMATED WORLD CONSUMPTION OF UNMANUFACTURED ASBESTOS FIBERS, BY COUNTRY | |||||||||||
| OR LOCALITY, 2019–20231, 2, 3 | |||||||||||
| (Metric tons) | |||||||||||
| Region and country or locality4 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||||||
| Africa: | |||||||||||
| Angola | 170 | r | 170 | r | 430 | r | 70 | r | 200 | 5 | |
| Zimbabwe | 3710 | 9850 | 5000 | 5 | 5000 | 5 | 2230 | ||||
| Other | 10 | 230 | r | 200 | r | 80 | r | 350 | |||
| Total | 3900 | 10300 | 5630 | r | 5150 | r | 2780 | ||||
| Asia and the Middle East: | |||||||||||
| Azerbaijan | 780 | 780 | r | 780 | r | 650 | r | 590 | |||
| Bangladesh | 22900 | 28900 | 29300 | 19100 | 42600 | ||||||
| China | 237000 | 258000 | 291000 | r | 327000 | r | 284000 | ||||
| India | 373000 | 311000 | 408000 | 424000 | 482000 | ||||||
| Indonesia | 122000 | 86200 | 130000 | r | 104000 | 94400 | |||||
| Kazakhstan | 26000 | 5 | 25700 | 28400 | 15700 | r | 15000 | 5 | |||
| Kyrgyzstan | 7870 | 8700 | 12000 | 15200 | r | 11700 | |||||
| Laos | 520 | r | 640 | r | 1800 | 1050 | 470 | ||||
| Malaysia | 3230 | 1130 | 2740 | 3830 | 1700 | ||||||
| Pakistan | 5660 | 2570 | 1600 | 1680 | r | 420 | |||||
| Philippines | 2890 | 2170 | 3550 | 2500 | 2400 | ||||||
| Russia | 139000 | 113000 | 145000 | 109000 | r | 109000 | |||||
| Sri Lanka | 42100 | 48200 | 60600 | r | 24400 | 32500 | |||||
| Tajikistan | 15100 | 14600 | 23700 | r | 23500 | 25300 | |||||
| Thailand | 40100 | 35000 | 32600 | 35300 | 37600 | ||||||
| Turkmenistan | 8790 | 13300 | 13100 | 19600 | 12000 | ||||||
| Uzbekistan | 92700 | 109000 | 95400 | 108000 | 125000 | ||||||
| Vietnam | 22200 | 35100 | 30700 | 26800 | 33200 | ||||||
| Other | 1240 | r | 1070 | r | 650 | r | 270 | r | 8 | ||
| Total | 1160000 | 1100000 | 1310000 | r | 1260000 | r | 1310000 | ||||
| Central America and North America: | |||||||||||
| Cuba | 1150 | 1000 | 5 | 1000 | 5 | 1000 | 5 | 1000 | 5 | ||
| El Salvador | 760 | r | 120 | r | 1110 | 700 | r | 450 | |||
| Mexico | 140 | r | 240 | r, 5 | 330 | r | 40 | 30 | |||
| United States | 450 | 450 | 310 | 290 | 150 | ||||||
| Other | (6) | 10 | r | 60 | r | 8 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 2490 | 1820 | r | 2820 | r | 2040 | r | 1630 | |||
| Europe: | |||||||||||
| Belarus | 7360 | 9440 | 8460 | r | 8000 | 5 | 8000 | 5 | |||
| Ukraine | 10300 | 9020 | 4010 | 760 | r | 180 | |||||
| Other | 20 | r | 20 | r | 7 | r | 20 | r | -- | ||
| Total | 17700 | r | 18500 | r | 12500 | 8780 | r | 8180 | |||
| Oceania | 130 | r | 100 | r | 160 | r | 200 | r | -- | ||
| South America: | |||||||||||
| Bolivia | 660 | r | 580 | r | 540 | r | 540 | r | 480 | ||
| Brazil | -13900 | 7 | 5870 | 18700 | r | -14100 | r, 7 | -1210 | 7 | ||
| Ecuador | 250 | r | 250 | 5 | 250 | 5 | 250 | 5 | 250 | 5 | |
| Peru | 20 | r | 80 | 200 | 50 | r | 100 | 5 | |||
| Other | -90 | r, 7 | -- | 3 | 200 | r | 5 | ||||
| Total | -13100 | 7 | 6780 | r | 19700 | r | -13100 | r, 7 | -380 | 7 | |
| Grand total | 1170000 | 1130000 | 1350000 | r | 1260000 | r | 1320000 | ||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through April 4, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Consumption was calculated as production plus imports minus exports; changes in Government and industry stocks were not considered because data were unavailable. Production was sourced from table 8 and imports and exports were sourced from a commercial trade database (Zen Innovations, Global Trade Tracker).
3Owing to data limitations, the consumption estimates are best used for identifying trends in asbestos consumption rather than absolute consumption for a particular country in a particular year.
4Multiple countries and (or) localities in addition to those listed likely consumed significant quantities of unmanufactured asbestos fibers, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of consumption.
5Estimated based on consumption in previous years instead of by calculation. Import and export data were unavailable or calculated consumption was likely erroneous.
6Less than ½ unit.
7Negative values represent net exports (exports greater than production plus imports).
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Asbestos statistics | Mineral commodity prices