Zirconium: Production
Why output has fallen since the 2021 peak
What this tab covers Who produces it and how much: world output over recent years, the top producing countries with their shares, USGS world figures for 2024 and 2025, and the largest producing companies globally and in India.World Mining Data shows zircon output peaking at 1.47 Mt in 2021 and falling to 1.23 Mt in 2024. USGS gives 1.3 Mt in 2024 and 1.2 Mt in 2025, gross weight. Australia (25%) and South Africa (24%) lead, followed by China, Mozambique, Senegal and Indonesia. The HHI of 1,591 is at the low end of moderate. A handful of miners matter: Iluka and Tronox were among the top four producers of both titanium and zirconium in 2013 (Tilton & Guzmán, pdf p. 183). Projects are under development in Australia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
Zircon · WMD
2020 1.24 m 2021 1.47 m 2022 1.41 m 2023 1.30 m 2024 1.23 m World production, tonnes (World Mining Data 2026).Top producers 2024
Australia 25.2% South Africa 24.1% China 11.4% Mozambique 10.1% Senegal 8.4% Indonesia 6.6% United States 3.3% Madagascar 2.5% Concentration: HHI 1,591, moderately concentrated.USGS estimate
World, 2024 1,300 thousand metric tons, gross weight (zirconium mineral concentrates, mine) World, 2025e 1,200 thousand metric tons, gross weight (zirconium mineral concentrates, mine)Largest producers by company, global
- Iluka Resources: 159 kt zircon sand produced (157.2 kt sold at $1,643/t) (2025)
- Kenmare Resources: 50 kt primary zircon (2025)
Largest producers by company, India
India mines zircon through IREL and KMML, but its output is not listed separately by USGS. It is the second-largest zircon importer after China, buying 94.6 kt worth $178 million in 2024, 8.1% of world imports by value (Comtrade), mostly for ceramic tiles. Zirconium is on India's 2023 critical list.