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The table presents annual production figures of natural iron oxide pigments from various countries and localities around the world, measured in metric tons. These pigments are essential raw materials widely used in industries such as paints, coatings, plastics, cosmetics, and construction due to their color stability, non-toxicity, and durability. Tracking production volumes by country helps to understand global supply dynamics, identify leading producers, and assess market trends that influence pricing, trade flows, and industrial demand.
Analysis of the data reveals that India remains the dominant producer, with estimated output steadily increasing from 3.28 million metric tons in 2019 to 3.2 million metric tons in 2023. France experienced a remarkable surge in production, rising from 5,762 metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 16,000 metric tons in 2023, nearly tripling its output since 2019. Conversely, Germany’s production has declined significantly, dropping from 397,665 metric tons in 2019 to 240,310 metric tons in 2023, reflecting a notable downward trend. Smaller producers like Cyprus and Pakistan showed moderate growth, with Cyprus increasing from 3,013 metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 5,000 metric tons in 2023, and Pakistan rising from 120,097 metric tons to 95,000 metric tons over the same period, despite some fluctuations. Total world production, excluding the United States due to withheld data, has remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 3.85 million metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 3.6 million metric tons in 2023.
| TABLE 6 | ||||||||||||
| NATURAL IRON OXIDE PIGMENTS: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||
| (Metric tons) | ||||||||||||
| Country or locality2 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cyprus | 3013 | 3073 | 3594 | 4431 | r | 5000 | e | |||||
| France | 5762 | 4799 | 5574 | 15601 | r | 16000 | e | |||||
| Germany3 | 397665 | 403474 | 390340 | 322606 | 240310 | |||||||
| India, ocher4 | 3280956 | 2940000 | 3000000 | e | 3100000 | e | 3200000 | e | ||||
| Italy | 32626 | 33238 | 19720 | 30000 | e | 30000 | e | |||||
| Pakistan | 120097 | 96165 | 79688 | r | 90000 | r, e | 95000 | e | ||||
| Spain | 13363 | 9396 | 12833 | r | 16145 | r | 16000 | e | ||||
| United States | W | W | W | W | W | |||||||
| Total5 | 3850000 | 3490000 | 3510000 | 3580000 | r | 3600000 | ||||||
eEstimated. rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
1Table includes data available through June 18, 2024. All data are reported unless otherwise noted, totals may include estimated data. Totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2In addition to the countries and (or) localities listed, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Honduras, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Paraguay, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom may have produced iron oxide pigments, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
3Production includes natural and synthetic iron oxide pigments.
4Production is based on fiscal year, with a starting date of March 31 preceding the year shown.
5Excludes United States production.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Iron Oxide Pigments statistics | Mineral commodity prices