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The table titled "U.S. Imports Of Aluminum Oxide, Boron Carbide, Silicon Carbide, And Metallic Abrasives, By Country Or Locality And Type" provides a comprehensive overview of the quantities and origins of these essential materials imported into the United States. This data is significant for understanding the supply chain dynamics of the mineral industry, as aluminum oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide, and metallic abrasives are critical components in various industrial applications, including manufacturing, construction, and electronics. Tracking these imports helps stakeholders assess market trends, identify reliance on foreign sources, and make informed decisions regarding domestic production and trade policies.
The data presented in this table is sourced from the USGS Mineral Yearbook, which compiles annual statistics on mineral production and trade. It is important to note the footnote notations that accompany the figures: "e" indicates estimates, "p" signifies preliminary data that may be subject to revision, and "r" denotes revised figures that have been updated for accuracy. These notations provide context for interpreting the data and highlight the evolving nature of mineral statistics as new information becomes available.
| TABLE 6 | ||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS OF ALUMINUM OXIDE, BORON CARBIDE, SILICON CARBIDE, | ||||||||||
| AND METALLIC ABRASIVES, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY AND TYPE1 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2024 | |||||||||
| Quantity | Value2 | Quantity | Value2 | |||||||
| Country or Locality | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | ||||||
| Aluminum oxide: | ||||||||||
| Crude: | ||||||||||
| Bahrain | 491 | 528 | 1530 | 1360 | ||||||
| Canada | 982 | 768 | 1150 | 867 | ||||||
| China | 66600 | 42800 | 106000 | 66300 | ||||||
| Other | 915 | 1040 | 2260 | 2120 | ||||||
| Total | 68900 | 45200 | 111000 | 70700 | ||||||
| Ground and refined: | ||||||||||
| Austria | 5490 | 13900 | 8910 | 21300 | ||||||
| Bahrain | 966 | 951 | 2270 | 2070 | ||||||
| Brazil | 11000 | 10500 | 6660 | 6380 | ||||||
| Canada | 14200 | 15800 | 14600 | 14600 | ||||||
| China | 10000 | 11100 | 8900 | 10600 | ||||||
| France | 1430 | 2680 | 1820 | 4150 | ||||||
| Germany | 3050 | 7180 | 1610 | 4880 | ||||||
| Hungary | 1320 | 2100 | 1330 | 1930 | ||||||
| Italy | 1060 | 1690 | r | 729 | 1290 | |||||
| Japan | 1130 | 2130 | 885 | 1680 | ||||||
| Other | 1310 | 2350 | 2140 | 2870 | ||||||
| Total | 51000 | 70300 | 49800 | 71700 | ||||||
| Silicon carbide: | ||||||||||
| Crude: | ||||||||||
| China | 83200 | 71800 | 81000 | 63400 | ||||||
| South Africa | 1160 | 1740 | 2300 | 2600 | ||||||
| Other | 474 | 3170 | 316 | 3620 | ||||||
| Total | 84800 | 76700 | 83600 | 69600 | ||||||
| Ground and refined: | ||||||||||
| Brazil | 2770 | 7510 | 4450 | 9110 | ||||||
| Canada | 3270 | 4450 | 1540 | 1900 | ||||||
| China | 18500 | 26200 | 18700 | 23500 | ||||||
| Japan | 867 | 7960 | 883 | 7640 | ||||||
| Mexico | 467 | 1240 | 381 | 1040 | ||||||
| Norway | 2520 | 65200 | 2410 | 62800 | ||||||
| Other | 401 | r | 12400 | 777 | 21600 | |||||
| Total | 28800 | 125000 | 29200 | 128000 | ||||||
| Boron carbide: | ||||||||||
| China | 384 | 9800 | 701 | 15800 | ||||||
| Germany | 142 | 4980 | 108 | 7000 | ||||||
| India | 46 | 1120 | 18 | 459 | ||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 17 | 153 | 25 | 239 | ||||||
| Other | 6 | r | 76 | r | 8 | 134 | ||||
| Total | 594 | 16100 | 861 | 23700 | ||||||
| Metallic abrasives: | ||||||||||
| Canada | 9560 | 11300 | 7350 | 8480 | ||||||
| China | 909 | 1890 | 1170 | 1680 | ||||||
| Germany | 677 | 4390 | 1190 | 6240 | ||||||
| Japan | 1680 | 6040 | 1490 | 4890 | ||||||
| South Africa | 1590 | 2670 | 959 | 1160 | ||||||
| Thailand | 1770 | 3940 | 2300 | 4730 | ||||||
| Turkey | 692 | 644 | 939 | 803 | ||||||
| Other | 912 | r | 1990 | r | 1490 | 4210 | ||||
| Total | 17800 | 32900 | 16900 | 32200 | ||||||
rRevised.
1Table includes data available through May 13, 2025. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Customs value.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Abrasives, Manufactured statistics | Mineral commodity prices