Barite: Movement

Why the US is the world's top barite buyer

Why the US is the world's top barite buyer What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Natural barium sulfate trades under HS 2511.10. In 2024 exports were worth $668 million, led by India (22.6%), China (21.5%), Morocco (15.7%) and Turkey (10.3%). Imports of $852 million were led by the United States (28.1%), Saudi Arabia (16.2%) and Argentina (5.8%). Freight shapes the trade. Barite is heavy and cheap, so ocean shipping beats long rail hauls. Nevada barite serves central and western US drilling, while other regions use imports, which came from India (39%), China (21%), Morocco (19%) and Mexico (14%) in 2021-24.

Main trade routes, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.

Barite · HS 251110

World exports 2024 $668.4 m sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $851.8 m sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value India 22.6% China 21.5% Morocco 15.7% Turkey 10.3% Netherlands 5.7% Kazakhstan 4.3% Top importers, share of value United States 28.1% Saudi Arabia 16.2% Argentina 5.8% Italy 4.4% Turkey 3.3% Norway 3.3% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.