Asbestos: Overview
Who still uses a mineral most of the world has banned
What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.Key uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos-cement roofing sheets and pipes (mainly Asia) | n/a | most of about 930,000 t of world fibre use in 2025basis | Chrysotile fibres reinforce cement cheaply. A corrugated sheet uses only about 8-10% chrysotile with about 45% cement and 30-35% fly ash (IBM), giving a light, rot-proof roof for low-cost housing, farm sheds and factories where price matters most. USGS MCS 2026, Asbestos; IBM Indian Minerals Yearbook 2021, Asbestos | Fibre-cement with cellulose, polypropylene or other synthetic fibres Galvanised or coated steel sheet Plastic and concrete pipes |
| Chloralkali diaphragms | n/a | 50 t in the US in 2025 (all US fibre use)basis | An asbestos diaphragm is chemically inert and semipermeable, keeping chlorine at the anode from reacting with caustic soda at the cathode. Old diaphragm plants kept using it because converting cells is costly; US plants must switch by 2029-2036. USGS MCS 2026, Asbestos | Membrane cells Mercury cells Non-asbestos diaphragms |
| Friction products (brake linings, clutch facings, oilfield brake blocks) | n/a | n/a basis | Fibres withstand heat and add strength to brake materials at low cost, which is why they lasted longest in aftermarket brakes in some markets. USGS MCS 2026, Asbestos and Wollastonite | Wollastonite Aramid fibres Steel and ceramic fibres |
| Gaskets and seals | n/a | n/a basis | Asbestos sheet gaskets resist heat and chemicals and seal well under pressure, so they survived in a few demanding services. USGS MCS 2026, Asbestos | Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Aramid-reinforced gaskets Graphite and other non-asbestos sheet |
| Historic insulation and fireproofing | n/a | n/a basis | Asbestos was once used widely for heat and fire insulation because it does not burn. Health and liability costs ended most of this use. USGS MCS 2026, Asbestos (substitutes) | Calcium silicate Glass and ceramic fibres Perlite |
From mine to user
- Mining Chrysotile is mined from serpentinite in large open pits in Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Brazil; world mine output was about 960,000 t in 2025 (USGS).
- Milling and fibre separation Ore is crushed and dried, and fibres are separated and graded by length; US tariff lines separate crudes and milled fibre groups 3, 4 and 5.
- Bagging and export Kostanay Minerals in Kazakhstan exports about 95% of its output to Central Asia, India, Sri Lanka, China and Southeast Asia (Forbes Kazakhstan, 2022).
- Asbestos-cement manufacture Sheet and pipe plants mix about 8-10% chrysotile with cement and fly ash (IBM).
- Construction use Sheets and pipes go to rural housing, farm and factory roofing and water pipes, mostly in Asia (USGS).
- End of life Asbestos is not recycled (USGS); old material must be removed and landfilled under health controls.
Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25
No public daily or monthly benchmark price for this commodity in the datasets used.
World production 1.21 m tonnes, 2024 Largest producer Russia 51.13% of world Reserve life 156 yrs reserves ÷ 2025 outputThree things to know
- US asbestos consumption fell from 803,000 t in 1973 to an estimated 50 t in 2025.
- World asbestos use fell nearly 55% between 2000 and 2025, to about 930,000 t.
- Russia supplies about half of world asbestos output; only four countries still mine it.
Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days
- Congress raises asbestos pollution issue in MP’s Kymore, seeks independent probeThe Times of India · 2026-10-10
- TOI Impact: MPPCB starts probe into Kymore asbestos landfill, 700 more claim files in the worksThe Times of India · 2026-09-29
- From the Archives: The rise and fall of Quebec’s asbestos industryThe Northern Miner · 2026-10-16
- Fencing to protect reserve visitors from asbestosBBC · 2026-10-06
- 'No asbestos case among staff in 20 yrs, nearby areas never tested'The Times of India · 2026-09-28