Cyprus
Cyprus was the world's fifth-ranked producer of iron oxide pigments
Pictured: iron-oxyhydroxide gossan
Statistics and information on the mining industry in Cyprus.
Overview
In 2024, Cyprus was the world's fifth-ranked producer of iron oxide pigments, excluding the United States. Other mineral commodities produced included secondary aluminum, cement, bentonite, common clay, fertilizers, gold, gypsum, lime, nickel, perlite, sand and gravel, sand and gravel (construction), and stone (crushed and dimension). Production of mineral commodities represented a minor part of the economy of Cyprus.
In 2024, Cyprus’ total export of goods decreased by approximately 12% to \$4.5 billion from \$5.1 billion in 2023. In 2024, the country’s leading mineral commodity in terms of exports was mineral fuels and oils, which was valued at $1 billion; followed by iron and steel, \$39 million; copper and articles thereof, \$29 million; aluminum and articles thereof, \$24 million.
The top export destinations were Libya (which received 19% of total Cyprus’s exports, by value), Greece and Lebanon (8% each), and the United Kingdom (5%). Cyprus’ total import of goods decreased by approximately 7% to \$13.3 billion from \$14.3 billion in 2023. The country’s leading mineral commodity in terms of imports was mineral fuels and oils, which was valued at $3 billion, or accounted for 23% of total imports, followed by iron and steel products, \$254 million; aluminum and articles thereof, \$97 million; and miscellaneous articles of base metal, \$40 million. The main import partners were Greece (which supplied 24% of Cyprus’s total imports, by value); China and Italy (8% each); Germany (6%); and Spain (5%). In 2024, Cyprus exported about 2,715 metric tons of iron oxide pigments, mostly to the United States, Pakistan, Italy, and China, in descending order of tonnage.
The Mines and Quarries Service is the Government authority responsible for regulating the mining and quarrying sector in Cyprus. It oversees mineral resource development and administers the legislative framework governing the mineral industry. This framework is established under the Mines and Quarries Act of 1965, as amended in 2022, which defines the provisions relating to the ownership, control, and operation of mines and quarries within the territory of Cyprus and sets out the rules for their exploitation. The Geological Survey Department acts as the State’s technical advisor on all geologic matters. It is the government agency responsible for conducting geologic research and providing expert opinions on geologic issues. The role and responsibilities of the Geological Survey Department are defined under the Geological Survey Act of 2013.
In 2024, Cyprus was the world's fifth-ranked producer of iron oxide pigments, excluding the United States. Other mineral commodities produced included secondary aluminum, cement, bentonite, common clay, fertilizers, gold, gypsum, lime, nickel, perlite, sand and gravel, secondary metals from scrap, silver, sand and gravel (construction), and stone (crushed and dimension). Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). Production of mineral commodities represented a minor part of the economy of Cyprus (Kim, 2026).
In 2024, Cyprus’ total export of goods decreased by approximately 12% to \$4.5 billion from \$5.1 billion in 2023. In 2024, the country’s leading mineral commodity in terms of exports was mineral fuels and oils, which was valued at $1 billion; followed by iron and steel, \$39 million; copper and articles thereof, \$29 million; aluminum and articles thereof, \$24 million.
The top export destinations were Libya (which received 19% of total Cyprus’s exports, by value), Greece and Lebanon (8% each), and the United Kingdom (5%). Cyprus’ total import of goods decreased by approximately 7% to \$13.3 billion from \$14.3 billion in 2023. The country’s leading mineral commodity in terms of imports was mineral fuels and oils, which was valued at $3 billion, or accounted for 23% of total imports, followed by iron and steel products, \$254 million; aluminum and articles thereof, \$97 million; and miscellaneous articles of base metal, \$40 million. The main import partners were Greece (which supplied 24% of Cyprus’s total imports, by value); China and Italy (8% each); Germany (6%); and Spain (5%) (Cyprus Statistical Service, 2025; TradeInt, 2026).
The Mines and Quarries Service is the Government authority responsible for regulating the mining and quarrying sector in Cyprus. It oversees mineral resource development and administers the legislative framework governing the mineral industry. This framework is established under the Mines and Quarries Act of 1965, as amended in 2022, which defines the provisions relating to the ownership, control, and operation of mines and quarries within the territory of Cyprus and sets out the rules for their exploitation. The Geological Survey Department acts as the State’s technical advisor on all geologic matters. It is the government agency responsible for conducting geologic research and providing expert opinions on geologic issues. The role and responsibilities of the Geological Survey Department are defined under the Geological Survey Act of 2013 (CyLaw, 2025; Geological Survey Department, 2025a, b; Mines and Quarries Service, The, 2025).
All mineral-producing facilities, including quarries, in Cyprus were privately owned. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports — International — Europe and Central Eurasia, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/europ…;
Commodity Review
Iron Oxide Pigments.—In 2024, iron oxide pigment production increased to an estimated 21,000 metric tons (t) from 20,315 t in 2023. The 3IC Group operates a section of the Aradippou Quarry, alongside the gypsum operation of Peletico Plasters Ltd. Cyprus exported 2,715 t of natural mineral substances, a category that includes iron oxide pigments (umber and ocher). The United States was the primary export destination, accounting for 48% of total export volume, valued at about \$1.47 million. Other export destinations included Pakistan, which accounted for 32% of total export volume, as well as China and Italy, each receiving 10% (Production table, Cyprus Best Companies, 2026, World Integrated Trade Solution, 2026).
Nickel.—In 2024, Cyprus produced 638 t of nickel in the form of nickel sulfate hexahydrate, matching the output of 2023. Production primarily relied on nickel laterite ore imported from Ivory Coast. Hellenic Minerals Ltd. operated a low-energy hydrometallurgical production plant at the Skouriotissa Mine, producing high-purity nickel batteries in line with the European Union’s sustainable industry goals. The majority of Cyprus’ nickel sulfate production was exported for use in international industries, particularly electric vehicle batteries. In 2024, most exports were shipped to Hong Kong, China, with a total value of approximately \$985,000 (Production table, Kounnou, 2024, World Integrated Trade Solution, 2026a, b).
Production table
(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)
| Commodity | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum, secondary, metal, semimanufactured | 15,800e | 20,500e | 22,000e | 10,000e | 10,000e |
| Bentonite | 92,645 | 81,655 | 86,562 | 102,442 | 54,627 |
| Cement, hydraulic | 1,496,494 | 1,439,679 | 1,858,334 | 1,726,098 | 1,239,168 |
| Clinker | 580,300 | 338,300 | 249,549 | 266,678 | 422,542 |
| Common clay, for brick and tile manufacture | 136,779 | 244,666 | 146,143 | 160,642 | 178,086 |
| Common clay, for use in cement | 713,721 | 713,721 | 648,040 | 675,631 | 523,903 |
| Gold, mine, Au content (kilograms) | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gypsum, crude | 4,793 | 4,252 | 4,105 | 5,731 | 4,717 |
| Gypsum, crude, calcined | 646,340 | 661,175 | 688,270 | 690,909 | 690,000e |
| Iron oxide pigments, umber, umber and ocher | 3,073 | 3,594 | 4,431 | 20,315 | 21,000e |
| Lime, hydrated | 4,649 | 5,582 | 5,427 | 8,297 | 9,520e |
| Nickel, refinery, metal | 01 | 2271 | 9531 | 6381 | 6381 |
| Sand and gravel, construction, unspecified | 7,905,100 | 9,401,246 | 9,445,246 | 10,035,309 | 10,995,144 |
| Silver, mine, Ag content (kilograms) | 486 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stone, crushed, limestone, havara and filling materials | 135,883 | 150,357 | 171,896 | 291,328 | 444,214 |
| Stone, crushed, marble, granules and chippings | 4,200 | 5,780 | 3,740 | 6,220 | 8,020 |
| Stone, crushed, marl | 2,937,236 | 2,501,927 | 2,682,226 | 2,815,128 | 2,182,929 |
| Stone, dimension, unspecified | 46,477 | 32,255 | 61,802 | 55,936 | 36,837 |
References Cited
- CyLaw, 2025, Ο περί Ρύθμισης Μεταλλείων και Λατομείων Νόμος (ΚΕΦ.270) [The law on the regulation of mines and quarries (chap. 270)]: Nicosia, Cyprus, Cyprus Best Companies. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/0_270/full.html.) [In Greek]
- Cyprus Best Companies, 2026, 3IC Group—Business details: Lanarca, Cyprus, The Cyprus Institute of Legal Information. (Accessed January 6, 2026, at https://www.cyprusbestcompanies.com/directory/3ic-group.html.)
- Cyprus Statistical Service, 2025, Foreign trade statistics—November 2024 (Final data) and December 2024: Nicosia, Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus Statistical Service, February 10. (Accessed April 7, 2026, at https://www.gov.cy/en/economy-and-finance/foreign-trade-statistics-nove….)
- Geological Survey Department [Republic of Cyprus], 2025a, The Law for Geological Surveys of 2013–N.140(I)/2013: Nicosia, Cyprus, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, p. 1238–1299. (Accessed January 6, 2026, at https://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/gsd/gsd.nsf/All/55DA399DB4481CD4C225835B002A….)
- Geological Survey Department [Republic of Cyprus], 2024b, Mission: Nicosia, Cyprus, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment. (Accessed January 6, 2026, at https://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/gsd/gsd.nsf/page02_en/page02_en.)
- Kim, Ji-Eun, 2026, Iron oxide pigments: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 110–111.
- Kounnou, Andri, 2024, With hydrometallurgy, green energy solutions?: Marseille, France, SAS 22-m, July 8. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.22-med.com/en/with-hydrometallurgy-green-energy-solutions/.)
- Mines and Quarries Service, The, [Republic of Cyprus], 2025, Responsibilities: Nicosia, Cyprus, The Mines and Quarries Service. (Accessed January 6, 2026, at https://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/Mines/MinesSrv.nsf/dmlresponsibilities_en/dm….)
- TradeInt, 2026, Cyprus Trade Data: Singapore, Trade Intelligence Holdings, (Accessed April 7, 2026 at https://www.tradeint.com/product/countries-covered/asia-import-export-t….)
- World Integrated Trade Solution, 2026a, Cyprus other mineral substances, nes exports by country in 2024: Washington, DC, The World Bank. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/CYP/year/2024/trad….)
- World Integrated Trade Solution, 2026b, Sulphates of nickel exports to Hong Kong, China in 2024: Washington, DC, The World Bank. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/All/year/2024/trad….)
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