Pumice: Criticality

Concentrated in Turkey, yet easily replaced

What this tab covers How exposed economies are to a supply disruption: the EU, US and India listings, the concentration score, and a quantified exposure for the US, EU, India, China, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia. Where the EU scored it, a chart of supply risk against economic importance, with import reliance, recycling input and substitutes.

Exposure by region

Region	Exposure	Share of world output	Share of world imports	Share of world exports	Net trade (US$)	On own critical list	Position
US	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Produced 430 kt in 2025 with net import reliance of 10%; Greece supplied 80% of imports (USGS).
EU	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Greece (1.0 Mt), Spain (0.3 Mt) and France (0.28 Mt) are producers; not assessed in the EU critical raw materials list (USGS 2025).
India	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Not listed as a producer by USGS; relies on imports for abrasive and laundry uses.
China	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Not listed separately as a producer by USGS (2025).
Japan	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Not listed separately as a producer by USGS (2025).
Latin America	n/a	–	–	–	–	no list	Ecuador (0.8 Mt), Guatemala (0.57 Mt), Chile (0.53 Mt) and Jamaica (0.29 Mt) produce pumice and pozzolan (USGS 2025).
Middle East	n/a	–	–	–	–	no list	Turkey (9.7 Mt, nearly half the world), Jordan (1.1 Mt) and Saudi Arabia (0.98 Mt) are leading producers (USGS 2025).
Australia	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Not listed separately as a producer by USGS (2025).

Exposure rating: High when the region is a net importer whose import share is at least three times its share of world output (or, for farm goods, it produces under 70% of what it consumes); Medium for other net importers (or 70-95% self-sufficiency), raised to High when world supply is highly concentrated in another country; Low for net exporters or self-sufficient regions. Net importer status uses tonnage where reported, otherwise value. Output: n/a. Trade: UN Comtrade (EU = sum of member states, including intra-EU trade). Critical lists: US 2025, EU 2024/1252, India 2023, China 2016 strategic minerals, Japan METI, Australia 2024.

Pumice is not on the US 2025 or India 2023 critical mineral lists. Turkey holds about half of world output, but pumice is a low-value bulk material with many substitutes. Crushed aggregates, diatomite, expanded shale and clay, and vermiculite all compete. Supply risk is local: permitting, land designations and freight costs. Interest in natural pozzolans as low-carbon cement substitutes could make well-located deposits more valuable.

EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No US net import reliance, 2025 10% share of apparent consumption

Substitutes

Crushed aggregates, diatomite, expanded shale and clay, and vermiculite