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This table presents global production figures for monazite concentrate, broken down by country or locality over the period from 2019 to 2023. Monazite concentrate is a critical mineral resource primarily used as a source of rare earth elements and thorium, which are essential in various high-tech, energy, and defense applications. Tracking production volumes by country provides valuable insight into the supply dynamics of these strategic materials, influencing global markets, trade policies, and industrial planning. Understanding which countries dominate production helps stakeholders assess supply security and potential geopolitical risks associated with rare earth element sourcing.
Analysis of the data reveals significant shifts in production patterns over the five-year span. Australia emerged as a major producer in 2020 and 2021 with 44,000 and 58,000 metric tons respectively, but production was not reported in 2022 and 2023. Madagascar consistently contributed substantial volumes, peaking at an estimated 35,000 metric tons in 2021 before declining to around 26,000 metric tons in 2023. Nigeria showed remarkable growth, increasing from an estimated 54 metric tons in 2019 to 2,620 metric tons in 2023, indicating rapid expansion in its monazite industry. Thailand’s production surged from 3,200 metric tons in 2019 to a high of 14,000 metric tons in 2021, then declined to 5,200 metric tons by 2023. India maintained a steady output of 5,000 metric tons annually throughout the period. Meanwhile, the United States withheld data for several years, suggesting proprietary concerns or limited production. Overall, global production peaked at 114,000 metric tons in 2021 but dropped sharply to 40,100 metric tons by 2023, reflecting volatility in supply and possibly changes in market demand or reporting practices.
| TABLE 3 | |||||||||||
| MONAZITE CONCENTRATE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||
| (Metric tons, gross weight) | |||||||||||
| Country or locality2 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||||||
| Australia | -- | 44000 | 58000 | -- | e | -- | e | ||||
| Brazile | 1200 | 1200 | 800 | 300 | 240 | ||||||
| Indiae | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | ||||||
| Madagascar | 21046 | 28527 | 35000 | e | 25000 | r, e | 26000 | e | |||
| Malaysia | 54 | 160 | e | 100 | e | 200 | e | 520 | |||
| Nigeria | 54 | e | 210 | 590 | e | 2535 | r | 2620 | |||
| Thailande, 3 | 3200 | 6000 | 14000 | 10100 | 5200 | ||||||
| United States | 1700 | e | 960 | e | W | W | W | ||||
| Vietname, 4 | 2200 | 1200 | 730 | 2000 | 510 | ||||||
| Total | 34500 | 87300 | 114000 | 45100 | r | 40100 | |||||
eEstimated. rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through June 4, 2025. All data are reported unless otherwise noted; totals may include estimated data. Totals, U.S. data, 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, China, Indonesia, North Korea, and some Commonwealth of Independent States countries may have produced rare-earth minerals, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
3China's imports from Thailand.
4China's imports from Vietnam.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Thorium statistics | Mineral commodity prices