World Mineral Production | In Focus

In today's Viz of the Day we highlight global trends in mineral production. The visualizations include production figures for more than 70 mineral commodities in 175 countries, covering a five-year period from 2009 to 2013.

Here are a few highlights:

• According to 2013 data compiled by the British Geological Survey in the World Mineral Production 2009-13, production of bauxite experienced the largest annual increase, growing by nearly 16 percent during the period from 2012-2013. Mine production of tin - up approximately 14 percent compared to 2012 - occupied second place in terms of production growth, followed by chromium ores and concentrates, which increased about 12 percent from 2012 to 2013. 
• Zirconium, on the other hand, showed the largest decrease in global production, falling 17 percent from 2012 to 2013.
• The data also reveals China's dominate production position across a number of minerals. China produced about 22 million metric tonnes of primary aluminium in 2013, or 46.7 percent of global primary aluminum production. It was also the largest producer of crude steel and iron ore (48.4 percent and 45.9 percent of global production, respectively) and remained practically the only mined antimony producer in the world. Antimony is reportedly used as an alloying material for lead and tin for use in products ranging from bullets to bearings, a component in lead-acid batteries, an additive in fire retardants for commercial and domestic applications, and in emerging material components of microelectronics. 

Browse data by country or by mineral to discover more about global mineral production.

By Country | By Mineral