Asbestos: Production
Four countries, one dominant supplier
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.World Mining Data puts output at about 1.21 million t in 2024, little changed since 2020. Russia supplies 51%, Kazakhstan 19%, China 16% and Brazil 14%. With an HHI of 3,422, supply is highly concentrated. Only four countries mine it. USGS gives a lower 2024 world total of 949,000 t and 960,000 t for 2025, with Russia at 310,000 t. Brazil's only producer is under legal pressure. Its Supreme Court ruled asbestos unconstitutional, and Goias state set a five-year deadline to stop mining once a closure plan is agreed. The US has mined none since 2002.
Asbestos · WMD
2020 1.13 m 2021 1.30 m 2022 1.26 m 2023 1.24 m 2024 1.21 m World production, tonnes (World Mining Data 2026).Top producers 2024
Russia 51.1% Kazakhstan 18.6% China 16.5% Brazil 13.8% Concentration: HHI 3,422, highly concentrated.USGS estimate
World, 2024 949,000 metric tons (mine production) World, 2025e 960,000 metric tons (mine production)Largest producers by company, global
- Kostanay Minerals: 250 kt chrysotile (more than) (2022)
- SAMA (Brazil's only producer, Minacu, Goias): 167 kt export sales (2024)
- Chinese producers: 250 kt (country total, estimate) (2025)
Largest producers by company, India
India has no working asbestos mine but 22.9 Mt of resources, 59% in Rajasthan and 36% in Karnataka (IBM 2021). It imported 308,506 t in 2020-21, 63% from Russia and 23% from Brazil (IBM), almost all for asbestos-cement sheets and pipes.