Abrasives: Production
Why China owns most of the world's grit furnaces
Why China owns most of the world's grit furnaces What this tab covers Who produces it and how much: world output over recent years, the top producing countries with their shares, USGS world figures for 2024 and 2025, and the largest producing companies globally and in India.USGS reports capacity, not output, for the furnace products. World fused aluminium oxide capacity was about 1.3 million t in 2025, and silicon carbide capacity about 1 million t. China holds 800,000 t of the alumina capacity (about 62%) and 450,000 t of the silicon carbide (45%). It was the leading maker of both. That is high concentration for fused alumina. North American output keeps shrinking under lower-cost Chinese competition. US silicon carbide output fell from 40,000 t in 2024 to 30,000 t in 2025. Metallic abrasives fell from 193,000 t to 160,000 t.
USGS estimate
World, 2024 1,310,000 metric tons of fused aluminium oxide production CAPACITY (silicon carbide capacity: 1,000,000 t both years) World, 2025e 1,300,000 metric tons of fused aluminium oxide production CAPACITY (silicon carbide capacity: 1,000,000 t both years)Largest producers by company, global
Chinese fused alumina and silicon carbide makers 800 kt fused alumina capacity (country total; plus 450 kt silicon carbide), latest reported year.Largest producers by company, India
India has about 40,000 t of fused alumina and 5,000 t of silicon carbide capacity (USGS 2025). Two listed firms lead: CUMI, which also makes grain in Russia, and Saint-Gobain's Grindwell Norton, which sources silicon carbide from its Bhutan subsidiary.