China

In 2024, China’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.0%, driven by robust exports facilitated by low inflation, undervalued Chinese currency, expanding production capacity, and policies directing state bank credit toward manufacturing. The country also faced weak consumer spending, deeper decline in property investment, and slower growth in infrastructure (Setser, 2024; Asian Development Bank, 2025, p. 103–105; China Nonferrous Metals News, 2025b).  

In 2024, China produced a combined total of 79.2 million metric tons (Mt) of 10 commonly used nonferrous metals (aluminum, antimony, copper, lead, magnesium, mercury, nickel, tin, titanium, and zinc), which was an increase of 4.3% compared with that in 2023. The total profit of enterprises in nonferrous metals industry increased by 10% to \$59 billion. Fixed asset investment in the nonferrous metal mining and beneficiation industry increased by 27% from that in 2023, which was higher than the 12% for overall industrial investment and the 9.2% for the manufacturing industry. Fixed asset investment in the nonferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industry increased by 24%. The total exports value of nonferrous metals increased by 16%, and the total imports value of nonferrous metals (including concentrates, scrap, and unwrought metals) increased by 10% (China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, 2025, p. 1–3; Fujian Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, 2025).  

In 2024, the metals for which China’s production accounted for 50% or more of total global production were primary gallium (99%), mined mercury (94%, estimated), primary magnesium (88%, estimated), silicon metal (87%, estimated), refined bismuth (86%, estimated), mined tungsten (82%, estimated), refined tellurium (76%, estimated), mined vanadium (71%), mined rare earths (71%, estimated), refined indium (70%), pig iron (67%), ferrosilicon and titanium sponge (67% each, estimated), alumina and smelted aluminum (60% each), and raw steel (54%). The industrial minerals for which China’s production accounted for 50% or more of world production were natural graphite (82%), lime (74%), wollastonite (70%, estimated), magnesium compounds (61%, estimated), and fluorspar (58%, estimated) (U.S. Geological Survey, 2026, p. 41, 51, 55, 81, 83, 93, 99, 103, 117, 121, 123, 127, 153, 171, 189, 197, 201, 203, 207).  

Other mineral commodities produced by China in 2024 included selenium (49%, estimated), cement (46%, estimated), refined copper (45%), phosphate rock (44%, estimated), mined lead (42%), cadmium (39%), mined molybdenum (39%, estimated), arsenic trioxide (38%, estimated), mined antimony (34%), industrial garnet and mined zinc (34% each, estimated), perlite and titanium mineral concentrates (ilmenite) (33% each, estimated), nitrogen (ammonia, 31%), asbestos (26%), barite (26%, estimated), rhenium (25%, estimated), mined tin (24%, estimated), sulfur (23%), bromine and mica (23% each, estimated), sand and gravel (industrial) (21%, estimated), salt and strontium (20% each, estimated), bauxite (19%), lithium (19%, estimated), beryllium and talc (18% each, estimated), kaolin (16%, estimated), silver (14%), potash (13%, estimated), feldspar and zeolite (12% each, estimated), gold and iron ore (Fe content) (11% each), bentonite (11%, estimated), mined copper (8%), vermiculite and zirconium mineral concentrates (8% each, estimated), gypsum (7%, estimated), diatomite (6%), mined manganese (4%), mined nickel and mined tantalum (3% each, estimated), helium (2%), mined cobalt (0.7%, estimated), and mined niobium (0.04%, estimated). Boron and andalusite were also produced; however, their global production share was not available (U.S. Geological Survey, 2026, p. 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 59, 61, 63, 69, 73, 85, 71, 73, 77, 79, 91, 95, 97, 109, 115, 119, 125, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 141, 143, 147, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 181, 183, 185, 187, 195, 199, 205, 211, 213, 215).  

China maintained its position as the world’s leading importer of numerous raw material commodities. In 2024, the mineral commodities for which imports by China accounted for 50% or more of total global imports by value were aluminum ore and concentrate (86%), chromite (85%), tin ore and concentrate (76%), iron ore and concentrate (73%), manganese ore and concentrate (65%), copper ore and concentrate (63%), nickel ore and concentrate (61%), lithium carbonate (68%), nickel intermediates (58%), and antimony ore and concentrate (53%) (Trade Data Monitor, 2026). 

In 2024, China’s real GDP increased by 5.0% compared with an increase of 5.4% (revised) in 2023. The nominal GDP was \$18.9 trillion.¹ In 2024, the mining sector contributed an estimated 2.9% to the GDP compared with 2.8% in 2023. In 2024, the number of people employed in the mining sector was 3.26 million, which accounted for 2.0% of the country’s total employment. The total domestic investment in fixed assets was \$7.21 trillion in 2024, which was an increase of 3.1% from 2023. Fixed asset investments in the mining sector increased 11%, of which professional and support activities for mining increased by 68%; mining and processing of nonferrous metal ores, by 27%; mining and processing of nonmetallic ores, by 13%; mining and processing of ferrous metal ores, by 6.9%; and mining of other ores, by 22% (Interesse, 2024a; National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2025, secs. 3–1, 3–3, 3–6, 4–5, 10–1, 10–12; State Council Information Office, The, 2025). 

In 2024, the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, which refers to the investments in China by entities based in other countries, decreased by 29% to \$116 billion compared with that in 2023. Excluding Hong Kong, Singapore was the leading source of FDI inflows to China (accounting for 9.2% of the total FDI inflows), followed by the Cayman Islands (4.7%), the British Virgin Islands (3.3%), the United States (2.4%), and the Republic of Korea (2.0%). In 2024, 2.2% of the total FDI inflows was directed to 46 newly established mining companies at yearend (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2025, secs. 11–14, 11–15).  

In 2024, China’s total outward direct investment (ODI), which refers to the investment of domestic entities in companies or projects in foreign countries, increased by 8.5% to \$192 billion compared with \$177 billion in 2023. The ODI in the mining sector increased by 116% to \$21.3 billion compared with \$9.88 billion in 2023. As of yearend 2024, the total accumulated value of China’s ODI amounted to \$3.14 trillion, and the mining sector accounted for 7.9% of the total compared with 6.5% as of yearend 2023. In 2024, Africa (except Egypt in north Africa) received 56% of China’s total investment of \$12.6 billion in overseas metal-associated mines and industry, including Guinea (\$3.14 billion), Zambia (\$1.27 billion), and Ghana (\$900 million). Southeast Asia accounted for 22%, including Malaysia (\$1.91 billion) and Indonesia (\$840 million). South America accounted for 13%, including Brazil (\$760 million) and Peru (\$600 million) (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024, sec. 11–18; 2025, sec 11–18; American Enterprise Institute, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in China is provided by the Mineral Resources Law, which was enacted in March 1986 and amended in 1996, 2009, and 2024. The mineral industry is administered by complementary rules, regulations, and guidelines issued by the State Council, local congresses, and central-level ministries, commissions, and agencies under the direct supervision of the State Council (Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 2024). 

A revised Mineral Resources Law was announced in November and was scheduled to enter into force in July 2025. The objectives of the revision are to (1) construct a strategic mineral resource reserve system that coordinates mineral production activities involving facilities, production capacity, mining rights, and reserves; (2) establish a mineral resource supply forecasting and early warning system alerting changes in supply and demand, price fluctuation, and security risk; and (3) clarify emergency response measures including releasing information, dispatching and organizing resources, and implementing piece intervention. The revised law established the legal framework for a national critical mineral stockpiling system for emergency response. In November, the Energy Law was also announced (effective January 1, 2025). The law integrated both Government and commercial petroleum stocks into the national reserves, which were managed by dedicated state oil companies under the supervision of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, 2024; National Energy Administration, 2024; Cheng and others, 2025; Thomson Reuters, 2025). 

On August 15, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs of China issued Announcement No. 33 of 2024 regarding export control on antimony and products thereof; processing technology for antimony and gold; and manufacturing processes and equipment for superhard material, such as synthetic diamond. The announcement became effective on September 15, 2024, and was expected to affect the supply chain of critical minerals used in military ammunition, nuclear weapons, night-vision devices, and batteries (Ministry of Commerce, 2024a; VOA News, 2024). 

On December 1, the MOFCOM enforced the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items (Decree of No. 792), which covered nuclear, biological, chemical, and missile-related controls. Exporters must obtain regulatory approval before exporting approximately 700 controlled dual-use items listed in the “Export Control List of the People’s Republic of China for Dual-Use Items”. The controlled items consist mostly of processed metals and metal alloys with specific properties and purities and include beryllium, bismuth, calcium graphite, hafnium, magnesium, nickel, rhenium, tungsten, and zirconium (Interesse, 2024a; Ministry of Commerce, 2024b, p. 8, 11–14; 2024d). 

On December 3, the MOFCOM issued Announcement No. 46 of 2024, which banned the export of dual-use items related to antimony, gallium, germanium, and superhard materials, and implemented stricter end-user review requirements and export control on graphite for U.S. military users or for military purposes. This ban followed the new restriction announcement of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry of Security on December 2, which prohibited the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, software tools, advanced memory chips, chipmaking machinery, and other semiconductor technologies to entities in China and to Chinese entities located in foreign countries (Baskaran and Schwartz, 2024; Ministry of Commerce, 2024c; U.S. Department of Commerce, 2024). 

Mineral Trade  

In 2024, the total value of China’s goods exports was \$3.58 trillion compared with \$3.38 trillion in 2023. The increase was owing to increased trade volumes with Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America under conditions of low domestic demand, undervalued Chinese currency, and geopolitical tension. Base metal and articles thereof accounted for 8.0% of the total exports value compared with 7.9% in 2023, of which major export goods were iron and steel articles (\$99.9 billion), iron and steel (\$70.7 billion), aluminum and articles thereof (\$39.5 billion), and copper and articles thereof (\$14.0 billion). Exports value of mineral products was \$60.7 billion, of which mineral fuel accounted for 88%. In 2024, the total value of goods imports was \$2.58 trillion compared with \$2.56 trillion in 2023. Mineral fuel imports accounted for 20% of the total imports value, the same as 2023; ore, slag, and ash (combined) accounted for 9.7% compared with 9.3% in 2023; and base metal and articles thereof accounted for 5.8% compared with 5.6% in 2023 (Interesse, 2024b; National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024, secs. 11–4; 2025, secs.11–4; Setser, 2024). 

In China, most mining and mineral-processing activities were conducted by state-owned or state-controlled enterprises. The share of state ownership was high in the energy sector and the mining and mineral-processing sector. In 2024, most state-owned companies owned a large portion of the mineral industry’s assets and a small number of the enterprises, except petroleum and natural gas extraction companies, for which the state owned more than 99% of the assets and 85% of the number of enterprises. State-owned companies collectively owned 86% of the assets and 24% of the number of enterprises for the mining and washing of coal; 76% and 10%, respectively, for the mining and processing of ferrous metal ores; 74% and 26%, respectively, for the mining and processing of nonferrous metal ores; 74% and 14%, respectively, for the processing of petroleum, coal, and other fuels; and 67% and 18%, respectively, for the mining and processing of nonmetallic mineral ores (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2025, secs. 13–4, 13–6).  

In contrast, the share of state ownership was relatively smaller in the downstream smelting, rolling, and metal-product-manufacturing sectors. In these sectors, the state-owned companies owned 58% of the assets and 7.5% of the number of enterprise units for the smelting and rolling of nonferrous metals, respectively; 54% and 5.5%, respectively, for the smelting and rolling ferrous metals; 33% and 6.3%, respectively, for the manufacturing of nonmetallic mineral products; and 21% and 2.3%, respectively, for the manufacturing of metal products (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2025, secs. 13–4, 13–6). The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. 

Antimony.—China’s export control on antimony and increasing domestic consumption of antimony ingot reduced exports of antimony products, mainly to India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. Refineries in the country increasingly sourced antimony concentrates from Burma (through Thailand), Russia, and Tajikistan. Production of refined antimony, however, decreased by 4% owing to declining reserves and ore grade in China and the Western sanctions on Russia, which prompted a halt in payment from China for antimony raw materials. As a result, the antimony ingot price increased by 71% to \$19,700 per metric ton on December 31, 2024, compared with that on December 29, 2023, which facilitated a 13% increase in production of antimony concentrate in 2024. Hunan Gold Corp. Ltd. produced a total of 29,209 metric tons (t) of antimony products, a year-on-year decrease of 6.2%, and its own mines produced 15,277 t of antimony, a decrease of 13%. Tibet Huayu Mining Co. Ltd. reported 205,600 t of antimony resources at its Zhaxikang lead-zinc mine, from which it produced 2,235 t in 2024 (Production table; Bedder, 2024; Hunan Gold Corp. Ltd., 2025, p. 13, 14; SMM News, 2025d; Tibet Huayu Mining Co. Ltd., 2024, p. 12; 2025, p. 11, 17, 19)  

Cobalt.—In 2024, production of refined cobalt (metal) increased by 123% to 48,000 t, whereas production of mined cobalt was an estimated 2,000 t (revised), unchanged from that in 2023. China heavily relied on imports for nearly 98% of its cobalt supply mainly from Congo (Kinshasa), which accounted for 75% of global production and 50% of global reserves, and had higher ore grades (0.3%–0.5% Co) than those of other countries. Of the 19 existing cobalt mines in Congo (Kinshasa), 15 were operated or funded by Chinese companies. China’s cobalt consumption increased by 5.6% to 122,600 t (Production table; Ewing, 2026a; Report Hall, 2025; Sichuan Dajuece Securities Investment Consulting Co. Ltd., 2025).  

Imported cobalt refinery intermediate feedstock increased by 55% to 248,000 t compared with that in 2023. Of that amount, imports of cobalt hydroxide from Congo (Kinshasa) increased by 66% to 219,000 t and imports of mixed hydroxide precipitates and other nickel-byproducts increased by 15% to 28,300 t. Over the 2022–24 period, 12 new refineries commissioned metal production lines, and their rampup and expanded production capacity primarily facilitated the doubling of metal output in 2024. Significant overcapacity and declines in utilization rates in the battery and related mineral industries led the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (formerly the State Reserve Bank) to stockpile 15,000 t of cobalt metal in 2024 compared with 8,700 t in 2023 and 4,800 t in 2022. In 2024, Nanjing Hanrui Cobalt Co. Ltd. increased refined cobalt production (metal content) by 188% to 12,400 t; Jiangsu Cobalt Nickel Metal Co. Ltd., by 31% to 7,900 t; and Guangxi Yinyi Advanced Material Co. Ltd., by 86% to 4,100 t (Liu and Chow, 2024; Darton Commodities Ltd., 2025, p. 18, 20, 30, 33). 

Ferroalloys.—In 2024, China maintained its competitiveness to producing energy-intensive ferroalloys owing to low electricity cost, which accounted for approximately 60% of total production cost for ferrosilicon. Ferrovanadium production increased by 37% to 62,600 t owing to new standards requiring higher vanadium content to strengthen rebar. Ferrochromium production increased by 20% to 8.56 Mt. Imports of ferrochrome increased by 13% to 3.66 Mt, and ferrochrome production in Nei Mongol increased by 34% to more than 6 Mt. Ferrochrome, used primarily in stainless steel to prevent corrosion, became a surplus commodity in 2024 as low demand from the stainless-steel industry did not match supply. In 2024, production of crude stainless steel increased by 7.5% to a record-high 39.4 Mt and exports of stainless steel increased by 22% to 5.04 Mt (Production table; Long and Tong, 2024a, b; Trend Investing, 2024; Mysteel.net, 2025; SMM News, 2025c, e; South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute, 2025). 

Lithium.—In 2024, China produced an estimated 420,000 t of lithium (lithium carbonate equivalent, LCE), of which approximately 84,000 t of lithium was produced from recycling. Lithium production from lepidolite and spodumene concentrates and salt lake brine was estimated to increase by 35% and by 22%, respectively, compared with that in 2023. Among refined compounds, production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide increased by 35% and 30%, respectively. The significant production increase was facilitated by the doubling of subsidies for electric vehicles (EV) in July 2024 and more than 5 million vehicles sold as of mid-December benefited from the incentives. China imported about 231,000 t of lithium carbonate for refining, from which 113,000 t of lithium hydroxide was exported (Production table; Mining.com, 2025; SHMET News, 2025). 

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a new guideline to restrict projects that only expand production capacity while enhancing technology innovation, product quality, cost reduction, and utilization rates at existing facilities. Capacity utilization at EV gigafactories decreased to 37% in 2024 from 50% in 2023. Uncontrolled expansion of production capacity led to a plunge in product prices across the lithium-battery supply chain. Lithium carbonate prices fluctuated in 2024, reaching a high of \$15,400 per metric ton, a low of \$10,100 per metric ton, and an average of \$12,500 per metric ton, compared with a high of \$71,000 per metric ton and a low \$14,200 per metric ton in 2023 (Benchmark, 2024; Master and others, 2024; Wang, 2025). 

Magnesium.—In 2024, production of primary magnesium increased by 16% to 953,100 t at a 64% capacity utilization rate, of which Shaanxi Province produced 519,400 t, an increase of 20%; Shanxi, 186,200 t (5.1%); Xinjiang 47,800 t (137%); Nei Mongol, 34,800 t (12%); and other Provinces, 79,100 t. Rapid capacity expansion and the resumption of operations, including those of Fugu Jinwantong Magnesium Industry Co. Ltd. and Shaanxi Fugu Yufeng Magnesium Industry Co. Ltd. since November 2023, also contributed to the production increase. China's primary magnesium production capacity increased by 9.3% to 1.49 Mt. As a result, the free-on-board magnesium price decreased to \$2,370 per metric ton in December 2024 from \$3,050 per metric ton in January. Exports of magnesium and articles thereof, including ingot, alloys, powder, products, and scrap, increased by 14% to 459,800 t; however, the total export value decreased by 7.1% to \$1.29 billion (Production table; CM Group, 2023; China Nonferrous Metals News, 2025b; SMM News, 2025a). 

Nickel.—In 2024, production of nickel intermediate (matte) increased by 52% to an estimated 301,000 t and refined nickel, by 35% to 317,000 t. Production of nickel pig iron (NPI) (Ni content) decreased by 20% to 296,000 t and nickel chemicals, by 0.3% to 88,300 t. The decreases in production of NPI and nickel chemicals, which began in 2019 and continued owing to continuous increase in imports from Indonesia. Imports of nickel matte and other intermediates increased by 14% to 1.85 Mt and imports of nickel ore and concentrate decreased by 15% to 37.9 Mt. China’s share of the global refined nickel market accounted for 58% in 2024 compared with 34% in 2015 owing to continuous capacity expansion, including a year-on-year increase of 23% (394,000 t) in 2024. Low-cost supply from Chinese-owned assets in Indonesia, combined with plunged nickel prices, accelerated the shutdown of high-cost nickel production capacity overseas. China-based entities controlled approximately 75% of Indonesia’s total nickel refining capacity across 33 companies, and Tsingshan Holding Group Co. Ltd. and Jiangsu Delong Nickel Industry Co. Ltd. controlled 70% of that total. The average nickel price on the London Metal Exchange decreased to \$16,100 per metric tons from \$21,900 per metric tons in 2023 (Production table; Ferreira, 2024; Jiang and Zeng, 2025; Li, 2025; Mines and Geosciences Bureau, 2025; Mining Newswire, 2025; Trade Data Monitor, 2026). 

Palladium and Platinum.—In 2024, China had the largest palladium and platinum demand by country, accounting for approximately 20% of global palladium consumption. However, domestic production of mined palladium decreased by 27% to 2,930 kg, and that of platinum decreased by 22% to an estimated 2,500 kg owing to domestic resource shortages (Production table; Takayama, 2024; Gu and Qian, 2025, p. 1).  

Total production of palladium in 2024 was 70.2 t, of which 96% was recycled palladium, which did not show seasonal variation in output. Jiangsu Province accounted for 22% of domestic production, followed by Jiangxi (21%), Guangdong (17%), Yunnan (12%), and Gansu (9%). Domestic consumption was 97.0 t, of which 80% was used in the automotive exhaust catalyst industry and 13% in chemical industry. Imports of palladium, including unwrought palladium, palladium powder, semifinished, and plates and sheets, decreased to 28.1 t in 2024 compared with 44.5 t in 2020, owing to increased recycling (Guangzhou Future Exchange, 2025, p. 6, 8–13). 

Total supply of platinum in 2024 was 95.3 t, of which 86% was sourced from imports from South Africa (62%) and Hong Kong and Japan (12% each). Recycled and mined platinum accounted for 11% and 3%, respectively. In 2024, stockpiled platinum decreased by 23% to 105 t and was expected to decrease by 25% to 79 t in 2025, which would provide less than four months of demand (China Fortune Future, 2025, p. 3; Gu and Qian, 2025, p. 6; Sohu.com, 2025). 

Rare Earths.—China’s rare-earth industry continued to be regulated by production quotas jointly determined by the MIIT and the Ministry of Natural Resources. China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech Co. Ltd. and China Rare Earth Group Co. Ltd. shared the 2024 total production quotas, including 270,000 t of rare earths (rare-earth-oxide equivalent) from rare-earth mining and 254,000 t from rare-earth smelting and separating compared with 255,000 t and 244,000 t, respectively, in 2023. The mining quota was allocated as 250,850 t for light rare earths (LRE) and 19,150 t for heavy rare earths (HRE). China Northern Rare Earth accounted for 188,650 t of the LRE quota and 163,982 t of the smelting and separation quota. China Rare Earth Group accounted for all HRE production. China accounted for more than 70% of global rare-earth extraction and 87% of all processing, including 100% of dysprosium and terbium as HRE. China’s increased production quota and deceleration in EV sales led to a price plunge, which challenged rare-earth miners and refiners suffering from falling revenues and profits and Western companies’ attempting to invest in the rare-earth supply chain (Asian Metal Ltd., 2024; Fastmarkets, 2024; Kawase, 2024; Wembridge, 2025).  

In October, the Rare Earth Management Regulations took effect to clarify that rare-earth resources belong to the State throughout the entire supply chain from mining to export and ensure national resources security and industrial security in response to illegal mining and smelting of rare earth in the private sector. This regulation strengthened the State control by relying on two large firms that had consolidated and acquired all small independent enterprises since 2016 (Hendrich and others, 2024; Tabeta, 2024; Wembridge, 2025). 

Silicon.—In 2024, China’s production of silicon metal (industrial grade) increased by 29% to 4.90 Mt, and its production capacity expanded to approximately 8.5 Mt (85% of global capacity) owing to technological transformation of smelting equipment, improvement electricity-use efficiency, and the commissioning of new production capacity. Production of polysilicon increased by 21% to 1.82 Mt, and its production capacity was approximately 2.9 Mt (94% of global capacity). Consumption of silicon metal and polysilicon in China was 5 Mt and 1.5 Mt, respectively (Production table; SMM News, 2024, 2025b). 

China’s silicon industry faced some challenges in the year, including severe domestic competition, market prices falling below production costs, and trade barriers from antisubsidy measures to human rights related restrictions. Key players in silicon industry continued to invest despite the prospect of overcapacity. Tongwei Co. Ltd. announced plans to invest \$3.9 billion to construct a new facility in Ordos, Nei Mongol, designed to produce 500,000 t of industrial-grade silicon and 400,000 t of polysilicon annually. The construction would be in two phases, with each phase expected to take 15 to 18 months to complete (Xiao, 2024; SMM News, 2025b). 

Titanium.—In 2024, production of titanium mineral concentrates (TiO₂ content) decreased by 6% to 3.04 Mt. Production of titanium dioxide increased by 14% to 4.76 Mt. Production of titanium sponge increased by 17% to 256,000 t, with a 80% capacity utilization rate. Production of titanium ingot and titanium processed material increased by 26% to an estimated 190,000 t and by 8.1% to an estimated 172,000 t, respectively. In 2024, imports of titanium ore and concentrate increased by 19% to 5.07 Mt and by 2.5% to \$1.52 billion. China received these imports mostly from Mozambique (which supplied for 47% of the titanium imports, by value), followed by Australia (10%), Norway (8%), and Nigeria and Vietnam (5% each). Exports of titanium dioxide was 1.90 Mt, valued at \$4.18 billion (Production table; An and Zhao, 2025, p. 6–8; China Nonferrous Metals News, 2025a; Ewing, 2026b, c; Trade Data Monitor, 2026). 

Centralized development of titanium industry continued in 2024. Sichuan Province accounted for more than 87% of China’s total titanium concentrate production; Anhui, Guangxi, Henan, Shandong, and Sichuan Provinces accounted for more than 67% (combined) of titanium dioxide production. Liaoning, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces accounted for more than 60% (combined) of titanium sponge production. China consumed 151,000 t of titanium, of which the consumption share of aerospace industry increased to 21.3% from 19.6% in 2023, and that of shipbuilding industry increased to 3.3% from 2.5%. The share of the traditional chemical industry decreased to 48.5% from 50%, and that of the medicine industry decreased to 2.5% from 2.6% (Production table; An and others, 2024, p. 3; An and Zhao, 2025, p. 3, 5).