Salient Mica Statistics

This table presents key data on the production, consumption, trade, and value of various forms of mica in the United States, including scrap and flake mica, ground mica, and sheet mica types such as muscovite and phlogopite. These statistics are critical for understanding the supply and demand dynamics of mica, a mineral widely used in electrical insulators, cosmetics, paints, and construction materials due to its thermal and electrical insulating properties. Tracking production quantities, values, imports, and exports provides insight into the domestic industry's health and its integration with global markets, which is essential for policymakers and industry stakeholders to make informed decisions.

Analysis of the data from 2019 through 2023 reveals several notable trends. U.S. production of scrap and flake mica decreased from 42,000 metric tons in 2022 to 37,000 metric tons in 2023, accompanied by a value decline from $4.2 million to $3.8 million. Ground mica production also fell from a revised 66,000 metric tons in 2022 to 61,000 metric tons in 2023, with a corresponding value drop from $21 million to $19 million. Imports showed a downward trend, decreasing from 27,000 metric tons in 2022 to 24,000 metric tons in 2023, while exports declined from 5,300 to 4,700 metric tons over the same period. Globally, mica production remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 376,000 metric tons in 2022 to 379,000 metric tons in 2023. These figures suggest a modest contraction in U.S. mica production and trade activity in 2023, reflecting potential shifts in domestic demand or supply chain factors within the broader context of steady global output.