France

France was the world's fourth-ranked producer of silicon metal

Pictured: silicon metal

Statistics and information on the mining industry in France.

Overview

In 2024, France was the world's 3d-ranked producer of diatomite, accounting for 9.9% of global production; the 3d-ranked producer of kyanite and related minerals (variety: andalusite); the 4th-ranked producer of silicon metal, accounting for an estimated 1.6% of global production (excluding the United States production); the 5th-ranked producer of indium, accounting for 1.9% of global production; the 6th-ranked producer of industrial sand and gravel, accounting for an estimated 2.9% of global production; the 6th-ranked producer (tied with Canada and India) of scrap and flake mica, accounting for an estimated 3.7% of global production; the 7th-ranked producer (tied with India) of abrasives (fused aluminum oxide), accounting for 3.1% of global production (excluding the United States production); the 7th-ranked producer of iron oxide pigments (excluding the United States production); the 9th-ranked producer of talc, accounting for an estimated 3.9% of global production; the 11th-ranked producer of lime, accounting for 0.8% of global production; 13th-ranked producer of salt, accounting for 1.6% of global production; the 16th-ranked producer of pumice and pumicite, accounting for an estimated 1.4% of global production; and the 19th-ranked producer of gypsum, accounting for 1.5% of global production. France also produced 2% of the global production of silicon carbide and 0.5% of the global production of ferrosilicon. Other mineral commodities produced included aluminum, bentonite, cement, refined cobalt, ferromanganese, pig iron, kaolin, lead, refined nickel, nitrogen, sand and gravel (construction), silicomanganese, raw steel and steel products, stone, and zinc.

The mining and quarrying sector contributed less than 1% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for about \$2.7 billion of the \$3.2 trillion GDP. By Harmonized System chapter, the leading mineral commodity group exported to the United States by value was precious metals and precious stones. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in France is provided by the Mining Code (Ordinance Nos. 2011–91, 2022–1423, 2022–536; and law No. 2021–1104). The Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energetic, and Technologic Sovereignty oversees the mineral industry and grants mining permits. Mineral-producing companies in France were privately owned, with most of them headquartered in Europe.

Imerys Group was the sole producer of kyanite, mica, and talc in the country. Imerys Group produced an estimated 60,000 t of kyanite (variety: andalusite) at its open pit Glomel Mine in Brittany. In 2024, the prefecture of Cotes-d’Armor permitted Imerys Group to begin digging a fourth pit at the location, which would extend the mine’s life to 2042. The mine employed 120 people. Imerys Group also mined an estimated 19,000 t of mica at its three quarries in Echassières, Etang sur Arroux, and Ploemeur, and an estimated 280,000 t of the talc at Trimouns Mine in Vernaux.

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

Introduction

In 2024, France was the world's 3d-ranked producer of diatomite, accounting for 9.9% of global production; the 3d-ranked producer of kyanite and related minerals (variety: andalusite); the 4th-ranked producer of silicon metal, accounting for an estimated 1.6% of global production (excluding the United States production); the 5th-ranked producer of indium, accounting for 1.9% of global production; the 6th-ranked producer of industrial sand and gravel, accounting for an estimated 2.9% of global production; the 6th-ranked producer (tied with Canada and India) of scrap and flake mica, accounting for an estimated 3.7% of global production; the 7th-ranked producer (tied with India) of abrasives (variety: fused aluminum oxide), accounting for 3.1% of global production (excluding the United States production); the 7th-ranked producer of iron oxide pigments (excluding the United States production); the 9th-ranked producer of talc, accounting for an estimated 3.9% of global production; the 11th-ranked producer of lime, accounting for 0.8% of global production; the 13th-ranked producer of salt, accounting for 1.6% of global production; the 16th-ranked producer of pumice and pumicite, accounting for an estimated 1.4% of global production; and the 19th-ranked producer of gypsum, accounting for 1.5% of global production. France also produced 2% of the global production of silicon carbide and 0.5% of the global production of ferrosilicon. Other mineral commodities produced included aluminum, bentonite, cement, refined cobalt, ferromanganese, pig iron, kaolin, lead, refined nickel, nitrogen, sand and gravel (construction), silicomanganese, raw steel and steel products, stone, and zinc (Brioche, 2026; Crangle, 2026a–d; Goodin, 2026; Hatfield, 2026; Jasinski, 2026; Kim, 2026; MacGregor, 2026a, b; Olson, 2026; Schnebele, 2026).

Minerals in the National Economy

In 2024, France’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.1%. The nominal GDP was \$3.2 trillion; as such, France was ranked the seventh largest economy in the world. France’s GDP constituted 16% of the GDP of the European Union (\$19.5 trillion). The mining and quarrying sector contributed about \$2.7 billion¹ to the country’s GDP and employed 15,400 people (International Monetary Fund, 2025; National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, 2025a, b).

Government Policies and Programs

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in France is provided by the Mining Code (Ordinance Nos. 2011–91, 2022–1423, 2022–536; and law No. 2021–1104). The Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energetic, and Technologic Sovereignty oversees the mineral industry and grants mining permits. The French geological survey, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (Bureau of Geologic and Mineral Research, or BRGM) was tasked with resurveying the nation’s subsurface mineral resources starting in 2025. 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… (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, 2025; Soraz, 2025; Government of France, undated; LégiFrance, 2026).

Production

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1).

Structure of the Mineral Industry

State ownership in the mineral industry was minimal. The Government majority owned the uranium mining and nuclear fuel company, Orano S.A. (90.33%), which managed 235 of 248 former uranium mines in France. Otherwise, companies were privately owned by domestic and foreign companies, the latter which were mainly headquartered in Europe. The Facilities Table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities (Orano Group, The, 2024a; 2024b, p. 17).

Mineral Trade

By value, France foremost exported mineral commodities (Harmonized System chapters 25–27, 71–76, and 78–81) to Italy, Germany, and Spain. By value, France foremost imported mineral commodities from Belgium, the United States, and Germany. The leading exported mineral commodity group, by value, was mineral fuels (\$28 billion), followed by iron and steel (\$14 billion) and precious metals and precious stones (\$14 billion). The leading imported mineral commodities, by value, were mineral fuels (\$88 billion), articles of iron and steel (\$14 billion), and iron and steel (\$13 billion). The leading mineral commodity group exported to the United States was precious metals and precious stones (\$884 million). The leading mineral commodity group imported from the United States was mineral fuels (\$15 billion) (Trade Data Monitor, LLC, 2026).

Commodity Review

Abrasives (Manufactured).—Imerys Fused Minerals Beyrède S.A.S. produced brown corundum at its plant in Beyrede. Niche Fused Alumina S.A.S., which produced white corundum at its plant in La Bathie, was placed under court-ordered administration in April. In October, the company was taken over by the Alteo Group and renamed Alteo Fused Alumina S.A.S. The company planned to retain 119 of the original 170 employees (Facilities table; Desmas, 2024a, b).

Cement.—France produced an estimated 15 million metric tons (Mt) of hydraulic cement. Ciments Calcia S.A., EQIOM, LaFarge France S.A., and Vicat Group operated cement plants throughout the country. Heidelberg Materials AG of Germany (owner of Ciments Calcia S.A.) announced the closure of its plants in Beffes and Villiers-au-Bouin in October 2025 following a decline in sales following weak demand in the cement industry (Facilities table; Production table; Heidelberg Materials AG, 2024).

Gypsum.—France produced 4.8 Mt of gypsum. Placoplatre S.A. had seven quarries in production. In July, the Montreuil Administrative Court suspended execution of the May 2023 Prefectoral Decree authorizing the operation of the company’s future quarry at Vaujours due to compliance issues with environmental regulations (i.e., the Environmental Code). For the remainder of the year, Placoplatre S.A. halted development of the site and worked on the regularization process (Facilities table; Production table; Tribunal Court of Montreuil, 2024, p. 1; Fort de Vaujours, 2024; Delaire, 2026).

Indium.—Nyrstar N.V., wholly owned by Trafigura Group (Pvt.) Ltd., was the only producer of indium in France. It produced an estimated 20 t of indium at its smelter at Auby (Facilities table; Production table).

Iron Oxide Pigments.—France produced 11,268 t of iron oxide pigments. Le Moulin à Couleurs S.A.R.L. was the sole company producing iron oxide pigments in the country. The company mined ore for pigments from quarries in Ardennes. Pigments were mostly sold domestically; about a quarter of production was exported (Facility table; Production table; Le Moulin à Couleurs, undated).

Kyanite and Related Minerals.—Imerys Group, the sole producer of andalusite in France, produced an estimated 60,000 t of andalusite. Andalusite was mined at the open pit Glomel Mine in Brittany. In 2024, the prefecture of Cotes-d’Armor permitted Imerys Group to begin digging a fourth pit at the location, which would extend the mine’s life to 2042. The mine employed 120 people (Facilities table; Production table; Le Morvan, 2023; Farriol, 2024).

Silicon and Ferrosilicon.—France produced an estimated 92,000 t of silicon metal and an estimated 32,000 t of ferrosilicon, both of which were entirely produced by Grupo Ferroglobe plc. The company produced silicon metal at its plants in Anglefort and Les Clavaux, and ferrosilicon at its plants in Laudun and Pierrefitte (Facilities table; Production table).

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

Table includes data available through February 18, 2026. All data are reported unless otherwise noted. Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits. In addition to the commodities listed, alumina, antimony, barite, bauxite, diatomite, metallurgical coke, feldspar, germanium, sandstone, slate, soda ash (synthetic), sodium compounds, sulfur (byproduct of natural gas and petroleum), and tin may have been produced, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
Commodity	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Aluminum, primary, metal	417,000	438,900	410,000	390,000^e	420,000^e
Bentonite	36,000^e	36,000^e	176,628	180,000^e	180,000^e
Cement, hydraulic	16,400,000	17,500,000	16,700,000	15,400,000	15,000,000^e
Cobalt, refinery, chloride, Co content	90^e	110^e	153	127	101
Ferroalloys, ferromanganese, electric furnace	68,281	108,000	119,000	74,300	74,100
Ferroalloys, ferrosilicon	41,000^e	41,000^e	41,000^e	36,000^e	32,000^e
Ferroalloys, silicomanganese, electric furnace	62,052	68,000	46,000	41,000	30,000^e
Gypsum, crude, including anhydrite	1,869,312	3,370,757	2,393,826	3,052,903	4,768,430
Indium, refinery, primary, In content (kilograms)	38,000^e	38,000^e	20,000^e	20,000^e	20,000^e
Iron oxide pigments, mineral, natural	4,799	5,574	15,601	12,099	11,268
Kaolin	231,579	289,057	310,251	231,178	230,000^e
Kyanite and related materials, andalusite	65,000^e	65,000^e	65,000^e	65,000^e	60,000^e
Lead, refinery, secondary	60,000	70,000	65,000	66,000	66,000
Mica	19,000^e	19,000^e	19,000^e	19,000^e	19,000^e
Nickel, intermediate, chemicals, Ni content	1,323	2,125	2,003	1,411	1,156
Nickel, refinery, metal, Ni content	6,032	6,730	4,839	5,714	6,549
Nitrogen, ammonia, N content	824,416	566,970	706,173	573,646	379,549
Pig iron	7,695,671	9,469,617	8,183,476	6,249,182	6,545,625
Pumice and related materials	120,000^e	120,000^e	120,000^e	120,000^e	120,000^e
Raw steel	11,596,000	13,947,000	12,118,567	9,996,204	10,754,987
Salt, all sources	5,500,000^e	5,800,000^e	5,900,000^e	4,600,000^e	4,500,000^e
Sand and gravel, construction, unspecified	230,712,300	228,494,684	254,666,268	249,112,045	233,436,134
Sand and gravel, industrial, unspecified	9,926,380	13,256,626	13,394,154	11,730,052	12,564,124
Silicon, metal	87,000^e	100,000^e	98,000^e	92,000^e	92,000^e
Steel products, hot-rolled	11,111,000	13,131,000	11,503,000	9,442,000	10,000,000^e
Stone, crushed, chalk	2,391,729	1,268,992	977,399	1,259,763	1,162,447
Stone, crushed, dolomite	542,929	534,165	533,778	476,001	424,214
Stone, crushed, granite, crude	376,805	434,406	500,783	743,392	696,496
Stone, crushed, limestone, agricultural and industrial	8,242,226	9,064,886	8,344,420	7,500,443	6,582,365
Stone, crushed, marble, including travertine, crude	18,888	12,346	13,803	14,739	19,704
Talc and related materials, talc, crude	260,000^e	310,000^e	320,000^e	290,000^e	280,000^e
Zinc, smelter, primary and secondary	166,000	165,000	109,300	102,000^e	150,000^e

^e Estimated.

References Cited

Brioche, A.S., 2026, Talc and pyrophyllite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 184–185.

Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, 2025, The mineral resources inventory—Answers to your questions—FAQ: Orleans, France, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, February 17. (Accessed February 18, 2026, at https://www.brgm.fr/en/news/feature-article/mineral-resources-inventory….)

Crangle, Rob, 2026a, Diatomite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 76–77.

Crangle, Rob, 2026b, Gypsum: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 94–95.

Crangle, Rob, 2026c, Indium: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 98–99.

Crangle, Rob, 2026d, Pumice and pumicite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 148–149.

Delaire, Hendrik, 2026, Seine-Saint-Denis—Placoplatre a revu sa copie et espère bientôt exploiter le gypse du Fort de Vaujours [Seine-Saint-Denis—Placoplatre has revised its plan and hopes to start mining gypsum from Fort de Vaujours soon: Le Parisien [Paris, France], January 4. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/seine-saint-denis-placop….) [In French.]

Desmas, Margot, 2024a, Le spécialiste des alumines NFA repris par le groupe Alteo, une centaine d’emplois maintenus en Savoie [The alumina specialist NFA has been taken over by Alteo group, with around a hundred jobs preserved in Savoie]: Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France, France 3 Alpes, October 26. (Accessed February 26, 2026, https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/savoie/chamb….) [In French.]

Desmas, Margot, 2024b, Une usine centenaire et 177 emplois menacés—Niche Fused Alumina, leader mondial des laminés, placé en redressement judiciaire [A century-old factory and 177 jobs at risk—Niche Fused Alumina, world leader in laminated products, placed under court-order reorganization]: Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France, France 3 Alpes, April 30. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/savoie/alber….) [In French.]

Farriol, Guillaume, 2024, Côtes-d’Armor—Glomel n’en finit plus de se déchirer sur le projet d’extension de la mine d’andalousite [Côtes-d’Armor—Glomel continues to tear itself apart over its andalusite mine expansion project]: Paris, France, Radio France, October 24. (Accessed February 19, 2026, at https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/environnement/cotes-d-armor-glomel-n-en….) [In French.]

Fort de Vaujours, 2024, Jugement du tribunal administratif de Montreuil [Judgement of the Administrative Court of Montreuil]: Fort de Vaujours, France, Fort de Vaujours. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.fort-de-vaujours.fr/actualites-presse/jugement-du-tribunal-….) [In French.]

Goodin, R.C., 2026, Sand and gravel (industrial): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 164–165.

Government of France, [undated], Administrations [Administrative bodies]: Paris, France, Government of France. (Accessed February 18, 2026, at https://www.mineralinfo.fr/fr/administrations#:~:text=Le%20ministre%20d…) %A9cret%20n%C2%B0%202025-1009%20du%2029%20octobre%202025%29.) [In French.]

Hatfield, A.K., 2026, Kyanite and related minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 112–113.

Heidelberg Materials AG, 2024, Heidelberg Materials France plans closure of two plants and accelerates decarbonization: Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Heidelberg Materials AG, April 4, 2 p. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com/sites/default/files/2024-04/HM_EN_0….)

International Monetary Fund, 2025, World Economic Outlook (WEO) database: Washington, DC, International Monetary Fund, November 19. (Accessed February 18, 2026, at https://data.imf.org/en/Data-Explorer?datasetUrn=IMF.RES:WEO(9.0.0).) &…;

Jasinski, S.M., 2026, Mica (natural): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 128–129.

Kim, Ji-Eun, 2026, Iron oxide pigments: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 110–111.

LégiFrance, 2026, Code minier (nouveau)—Partie législative (Articles L100–1 à L691–6) [Mining code (new)—Legislative portion (Articles L100–1 to L696–6)]: Paris, France, LégiFrance, March 11. (Accessed April 15, 2026, at https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000023501962/LE….) [In French.]

Le Morvan, Gilles, 2023, Environnement. L’extension de la mine d’andalousite de Glomel—Un projet qui divise [Environment. The expansion of the Glomel andalusite mine—A divisive project: Paris, France, Franceinfo, April 18. (Accessed February 19, 2026, at https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/cotes-d-armor/environn….) [In French.]

Le Moulin à Couleurs, [undated], L’entreprise [The company]: Ardennes, France, Le Moulin à Couleurs. [The Many-Colored Windmill]: (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://www.moulincouleurs.fr/fr/content/7-l-entreprise.) [In French.]

MacGregor, JohnRyan, 2026a, Lime: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 116–117.

MacGregor, JohnRyan, 2026b, Salt: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 160–161.

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, 2025a, Emploi en 2024—6.209—Emploi intérieur total par branche en nombre d'équivalents temps plein (38 postes) [Employment in 2024—6.209—Total domestic employment by production branch in terms of full time equivalent (FTE) hours (38 entries)]: Montrogue, France, National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, May 28. (Accessed February 18, 2026, via https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8574683?sommaire=8574832.) [In French.]

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, 2025b, Les comptes de la Nation en 2024—6.201–203—Valeur ajoutée brute par branche (38 postes) [National accounts in 2023—6.201–203—Gross value added by branch (38 entries)]: Montrouge, France, National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, May 28. (Accessed February 18, 2026, at https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8574681?sommaire=8574832.) [In French.]

Olson, D.W., 2026, Abrasives (manufactured): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 38–39.

Orano Group, The, 2024a, Orano announces the completion of a share capital increase of 300 million euros: Chatillon, France, The Orano Group, October 24. (Accessed April 15, 2026, at https://www.orano.group/en/news/news-group/2024/october/orano-announces….)

Orano Group, The, 2024b, Orano’s mining activities: Chatillon, France, The Orano Group, June, 31 p. (Accessed April 15, 2026, at https://cdn.orano.group/orano/docs/default-source/orano-doc/expertises/…;

Schnebele, E.K., 2026, Silicon: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 170–171.

Soraz, Georges, 2025, Contestation des décisions administratives relatives aux permis d’exploitation minière—Enjeux et procédures [Disputing administrative decisions relating to mining permits—challenges and procedures]: France, CMA Justice, February 2. (Accessed February 18, 2026, at https://www.cma-justice.fr/contestation-des-decisions-administratives-r….) [In French.]

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Trade Data Monitor LLC, 2026, Trade Data Monitor database: Charleston, South Carolina, Trade Data Monitor LLC. (Accessed February 26, 2026, at https://tradedatamonitor.com/.)

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