Iron oxide pigments: Stocks
How long India's ochre reserves would last
How long India's ochre reserves would last What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply
| Country | Reserves kt | Current output kt (mine, 2025e; Germany includes synthetic) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India (ocher) | 37,000 | 3,400 | 11 | n/a |
| Germany (natural and synthetic) | – | 280 | – | n/a |
| Pakistan (ocher) | – | 80 | – | n/a |
| Italy | – | 32 | – | n/a |
| Cyprus | – | 22 | – | n/a |
Recycling
USGS reports no recycling. Reserves are given only in words for most countries (Germany and Cyprus moderate, Pakistan large); India's 37 Mt is the only number. Synthetic pigment is not resource-constrained, as raw materials are widely available. Spain (19 kt) and France (13 kt) follow; US output is withheld and no world total is calculated.
Reserves are qualitative for most countries. USGS calls them moderate in the US, Cyprus and Germany and large in Pakistan, Spain and the world. India reports 37 million t, about 11 years of its 2025 ochre output. Natural deposits are not a constraint, since resources for synthetic pigment are adequate worldwide. Pigments are dispersed into concrete and paint, so recycling is none. There is no government stockpile.
None.