Wollastonite: Criticality

Concentrated in China, yet not on critical lists. Why?

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	Two New York mines (output withheld, up 14% in 2025); a net exporter in 2025 but imports from China and India; not on the US critical list (USGS 2026).
EU	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Finland produced about 11,000 t and Spain about 17,000 t a year in 2019-2021 (IBM world table); Belgium is the main entry point for Indian exports; not on the EU 2023 critical list.
India	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Second largest producer at 120,000 t in 2025 (USGS), all in Rajasthan, but imports more than it exports by tonnage (IBM 2021-22).
China	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Largest producer at 600,000 t in 2025, about 70% of the non-US world total (USGS), and supplier of 99% of India's imports (IBM).
Japan	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	No listed output; imported 1,078 t from India in 2021-22 (IBM).
Latin America	n/a	–	–	–	–	no list	Mexico produced 100,000 t in 2025 (USGS), down from 159,498 t in 2019 (IBM).
Middle East	n/a	–	–	–	–	no list	No listed production; USGS notes significant deposits in Turkey.
Australia	n/a	–	–	–	–	No	Small output of 4,495 t in 2021 (IBM world table); not listed by USGS for 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.

Wollastonite is not on the US 2025 or India 2023 critical-mineral lists. Supply is concentrated in China, but substitutes are plentiful. Glass, ceramic, steel and organic fibres compete where stiffness and heat resistance matter. Kaolin, mica, talc and calcium carbonate compete as plastic fillers, and feldspar, lime and silica compete in ceramics. The main risk for a user is qualification cost when a specific grade becomes unavailable, not physical scarcity.

EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No

Substitutes

Ceramic, glass, steel and organic fibres; kaolin, mica, talc, calcium carbonate in plastics; feldspar, lime, silica in ceramics