In 2024, Slovakia was the world’s first-ranked producer of natural zeolites, accounting for 22% of global production; eighth-ranked producer of magnesite, accounting for about 1.6% of global production (not including United States production); and seventh-ranked producer of perlite, accounting for about 0.9% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included aluminum, cement, clays, copper (secondary), feldspar, ferroalloys, gold, gypsum, pig iron, lime, nitrogen (ammonia), sand and gravel (construction and industrial), silicon metal, silver, steel (raw and semimanufactured), stone (crushed and dimension), and talc. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the country’s economy. Slovakia’s major trade partners for mineral-related exports by value were Czechia, Hungary, and Germany and for mineral-related imports by value were Czechia, Germany, and Russia.
The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Slovakia is provided by the Mining Act, No. 44/1988 Coll. on the protection and use of mineral resources, as amended; Act No. 51/1988 Coll. on mining activities, explosives, and the State Mining Administration, as amended; and Act no. 58/2014 on explosives, explosive objects, and ammunition, as amended. The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the central body of the State Mining Administration, oversees the country’s mineral sector and manages its mineral deposits and energy resources. The Main Mining Office within the Ministry of Economy, in coordination with five subordinate district mining offices, is responsible for monitoring and recording mining activity, issuing mining permits, and regulating mine safety. In 2024, there were a total of 444 registered mining and quarrying enterprises in Slovakia, of which 309 were privately owned, domestic firms; 48 were firms under foreign control; 2 were domestic, public firms; and the remaining were domestic individuals.
