Estonia

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Estonia is provided by Earth’s Crust Act of 2016. The Ministry of Climate oversees the mineral sector; the Environmental Board, Keskkonnaamet, provides mineral exploration and mining permits; and the Geological Survey of Estonia provides services related to geologic mapping, geologic surveys, and preserves and ensures access to geologic information. Most mineral commodities were produced by private foreign-owned companies. Estonia produced 1,206,600 metric tons (t) of peat for horticultural use in 2024, an increase of 17% compared with that in 2023. 

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

In 2024, Estonia was the world’s seventh-ranked producer of peat, accounting for 7.0% (estimated) of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, clay, limestone, lead (refined), lime, niobium (refined), rare earths, sand and gravel, sulfur, and tantalum (refined). Production of mineral commodities contributed about 2.39% to Estonia’s gross domestic product (GDP). Specifically, mining and quarrying contributed 0.52%; the manufacture of metals and metal products, 1.39%; and the manufacture of non-metallic commodities, 0.48%. In the 2021–24 timeframe, 4% of United States imports of niobium oxide and 5% of United States imports of rare-earth compounds and metals originated in Estonia. (Brioche, 2026; Eurostat, 2026a, b; Friedline, 2026; Johnston, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Estonia is provided by Earth’s Crust Act of 2016, last amended in 2024, on December 11. The Ministry of Climate oversees the mineral sector; the Environmental Board, Keskkonnaamet, provides mineral exploration and mining permits; and the Geological Survey of Estonia provides services related to geologic mapping, geologic surveys, and preserves and ensures access to geologic information. Most mineral commodities were produced by private foreign-owned companies. 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… (Republic of Estonia Environmental Board, 2024; Riigi Teataja, 2024; Republic of Estonia Ministry of Climate, 2025; Geological Survey of Estonia, The, 2026). 

Commodity Review 

Niobium and Rare Earths.—In 2024, NPM Silmet OÜ (Silmet), a subsidiary of Neo Performance Materials Inc. (Neo) of Canada, was headquartered in Sillamäe, Estonia; the company remained the only producer of niobium, rare earths, and tantalum in the country. Silmet’s production capacity was 250 metric tons per year (t/yr) of refined niobium and 50 t/yr of refined tantalum in its Rare Metals Segment, as well as 3,200 t/yr of rare earth oxides (REOs) in its Chemicals and Oxides Segment. At the end of 2023, Neo announced that niobium and tantalum refining at its Silmet plant in Estonia switched from using ores to using oxides and recycled materials, i.e. from primary to secondary production. In 2024, Silmet continued to source its rare earth feedstock from Russia, but was exploring alternative sources, such as the Caldeira project in Brazil, owing to potential sanctions-related disruptions. Neo subsidiary Magnequench International, LLC (Magnequench) sourced 5% to 15% of its REOs internally from Silmet. Neodymium oxide produced by Silmet was exported to Thailand and used by Neo’s Korat Plant to produce neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) powder. In 2024, Magnequench continued the construction of the first rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in Europe in Narva, Estonia; production was expected to start in 2025, with an initial capacity of 2,000 t/yr (Neo Performance Materials Inc., 2025, p. 9, 14, 19, 20, 24, 26, 44). 

Peat.—Estonia produced 1,206,600 t of peat for horticultural use in 2024, an increase of 17% compared with 1,027,200 t in 2023. Estonia also produced about 49,900 t of peat for fuel use in 2024, which was the same amount as was produced in 2023. At the end of 2024, Estonia had 128 operating peat extraction sites, with a licensed area of approximately 213 square kilometers. Owing to new climate policies, the Estonian peat sector was under scrutiny in 2024, although peat production continued. In the draft of the Climate-Resilient Economy Law, specifically Regulation No. 87 of 2024, the number of peatlands suitable for mining was to be reduced by 80% starting in 2026. However, at the end of 2024, the Estonian Parliament withdrew the bill, so any changes to peat harvesting areas were put on hold (Production table; International Peatland Society, 2025, p. 28; Päsik, 2025, p. 3). 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• Brioche, A.S., 2026, Peat: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 138–139. 

• Eurostat, 2026a, Gross domestic product (GDP) and main components (output, expenditure and income): Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Eurostat. (Accessed January 21, 2026, at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10_gdp__custom_1975….) 

• Eurostat, 2026b, Gross value added and income by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2): Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Eurostat. (Accessed January 21, 2026, at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10_a64__custom_1975….) 

• Friedline, C.A., 2026, Niobium (columbium): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 134–135. 

• Geological Survey of Estonia, The, 2026, Avaleht [Home page]: Tallinn, Estonia, The Geological Survey of Estonia. (Accessed January 26, 2026, at https://egt.ee/en.) 

• International Peatland Society, 2025, Annual report 2024: Jyvaeskylae, Finland, April 14, 49 p. (Accessed September 26, 2025, at https://peatlands.org/assets/uploads/2025/04/ar24text.pdf.)  

• Johnston, S.N., 2026, Rare earths: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 152–153. 

• Neo Performance Materials Inc., 2025, Annual information form: Toronto, Canada, Neo Performance Materials, Inc., March 18. (Accessed February 23, 2026, at https://www.neomaterials.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Neo-AIF-2025-vF….) 

• Päsik, Annika, 2025, Estonian peat sector–Where are we heading to?: Baltic Peat Producers Forum, 23d, Riga, Latvia, September 17–18, 12 p. (Accessed September 26, 2025, at https://www.balticpeatproducersforum.eu/_files/ugd/3ca7e2_6a7fb9947a594….) 

• Republic of Estonia Environmental Board, 2024, Mining: Tallinn, Estonia, April 12. (Accessed January 26, 2026, at https://keskkonnaamet.ee/en/environmental-use-radiation/mining.) 

• Republic of Estonia Ministry of Climate, 2025, Mineral resources: Tallinn, Estonia, July 28. (Accessed January 26, 2026, at https://kliimaministeerium.ee/en/energy-mineral-resources/mineral-resou….) 

• Riigi Teataja, 2024, Earth’s Crust Act: Tallinn, Estonia, Riigi Teataja, December 29. (Accessed January 26, 2026, at https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/508122020002/consolide/current.)