Salient Barite Statistics

This table presents key quantitative and value metrics related to barite production, trade, and consumption in the United States and globally over the period from 2019 through 2023. It includes data on domestic crude barite production sold or used by producers, exports, imports (both general and for consumption), and processed barite quantities and values. This information is crucial for understanding the supply-demand dynamics of barite, a mineral widely used in drilling fluids for oil and gas exploration, as well as in various industrial applications such as paint, rubber, and plastics manufacturing. Tracking these statistics helps stakeholders assess market trends, trade balances, and the economic health of the barite industry.

Analyzing the data reveals several notable trends. U.S. domestic production figures for crude barite are withheld to protect proprietary information, but export quantities increased from 38,000 metric tons in 2019 to a peak of 87,000 metric tons in 2022 before declining to 75,000 metric tons in 2023. Import quantities for consumption rose steadily from 2.5 million metric tons in 2019 to 2.42 million metric tons in 2023, with a notable dip in 2020 likely due to pandemic-related disruptions. The value of processed barite sold or used by U.S. processors surged significantly in 2023 to $504 million, up from $321 million in 2022, indicating increased demand or higher prices. Globally, barite production showed recovery after a drop in 2020, rising from 5.91 million metric tons that year to 8.08 million metric tons in 2023, approaching pre-pandemic levels. These figures underscore the resilience and importance of barite in both domestic and international mineral markets.