Perlite: Extraction
How water locked in volcanic glass becomes a feature
What this tab covers How it is mined, drilled or grown, and processed into a tradeable form: the main methods compared, their unit economics, by-products, and the companies that do this work globally and in India.Perlite is a siliceous volcanic glass that holds a few per cent of water. It is quarried from open pits, then crushed, dried and screened into 'processed crude perlite'. When rapidly heated, the water turns to steam and the grains expand up to 20 times their original volume. Because expanded perlite is so light, crude ore is usually shipped dense and expanded close to customers. In the United States, nine mines in six Western states, led by New Mexico, fed 53 expansion plants in 29 states in 2025.
Perlite is cheap to mine but bulky once expanded, so the industry splits in two. Mines crush and size dense crude ore and ship it, often across oceans. Expansion plants near customers then heat it into a light, white product. This keeps freight costs down because expanded perlite weighs only a fraction of crude per cubic metre. Greece and Turkey are the main exporters; China is the largest producer but uses most of its own output.
Methods compared
| Method | Share of supply | Typical scale | Recovery / efficiency | By-products | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-pit mining and crude processing for export (Greece, Turkey) | Turkey 1.4 Mt (30%) and Greece 0.84 Mt (18%) of world output in 2025 (USGS); Turkey 20% and Greece 15% of world perlite and vermiculite export value in 2024 (UN Comtrade) | n/a | n/a | n/a | Not published; US crude perlite $78/t f.o.b. mine in 2025 is the nearest public price (USGS) |
| Domestic mining and expansion (US, China) | China 1.5 Mt (33%) and US 0.46 Mt (10%) of world output in 2025 (USGS) | US: 730,000 t crude ore mined, 460,000 t processed crude sold or used in 2025 (USGS) | About 63% of US crude ore mined became saleable processed crude in 2025 (indicative, basis: 460 kt sold or used / 730 kt mined, USGS) | n/a | US average value $64/t (2021) to $78/t (2025) f.o.b. mine (USGS) |
| Expansion at market (furnace processing) | All expanded perlite; 53 US plants in 29 states (USGS 2025) | n/a | n/a | Fines sold as fillers | Not published |
How each method works
Open-pit mining and crude processing for export (Greece, Turkey)Large perlite deposits on Milos and in western Turkey are mined in open pits, crushed, dried and screened, then loaded on bulk carriers to expansion plants in North America and Europe.
Low-cost, high-quality ore close to ports; exposed to freight costs.
USGS MCS 2026; UN Comtrade 2024 Domestic mining and expansion (US, China)US mines in New Mexico and other western states ship crude by rail to expansion plants across the country; China mines and expands mainly for its own construction and agriculture markets.
Secure local supply; US still imported 23% of its needs in 2025.
USGS MCS 2026 Expansion at market (furnace processing)Crude perlite of the right size is dropped through a vertical or horizontal furnace; the bound water flashes to steam, the softened glass expands, and the product is cooled, classified and bagged for construction, horticulture or filtration.
Saves freight on a very light product; energy use for furnaces.
USGS MCS 2026 Unit economics are indicative ranges from the sources named; costs vary widely by deposit, region and year.Who does it: global
| Company | Country | Activity | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imerys Volume not published; acquired business had about EUR 50 million revenue in 2024 | France | perlite mining (Greece) and expansion; filter aids and fillers; acquired Chemviron's European diatomite and perlite business in January 2025 | not published | 2025 | Imerys press release (Jan 2025) |
| Dicalite Management Group Volume not published | US | perlite and diatomite mining and expansion | not published | 2025 | Company information |
| Showa Chemical Industry Volume not published | Japan | perlite and diatomite filter aids | not published | 2025 | Company information |
Who does it: India
| Company | Country | Activity | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keltech Energies Volume not published; uses imported crude perlite | India | perlite expansion and perlite-based products | not published | FY2025 | Company information |
India is not listed as a perlite producer by USGS and imports crude perlite; it took 5% of world perlite and vermiculite import value in 2024 (UN Comtrade).