Perlite Production by Country

Perlite production by country measures how much perlite each country produces, expressed in thousand metric tons. Perlite is a volcanic glass mineral that expands into a lightweight aggregate when heated, used as insulation, in horticulture, and in construction. The statistics are based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. The table below lists 13 countries with 2024 and 2025 data available for all of them. The United States figures are withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.

Countries With the Largest Perlite Production in 2025

China produced the most perlite in 2025 with 1,500 thousand metric tons. Türkiye ranked second with 1,400, followed by Greece (840), Hungary (80), Iran (70), Georgia (40), Slovakia (40), Argentina (30), Armenia (30), Mexico (30), New Zealand (20), Philippines (20), and South Africa (10).

Perlite Production by Country

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#	Country	Latest Data (thousand metric tons)	Year
1	China CN	1500	2025
2	Türkiye TR	1400	2025
3	Greece GR	840	2025
4	Hungary HU	80	2025
5	Iran IR	70	2025
6	Georgia GE	40	2025
7	Slovakia SK	40	2025
8	Argentina AR	30	2025
9	Armenia AM	30	2025
10	Mexico MX	30	2025
11	New Zealand NZ	20	2025
12	Philippines PH	20	2025
13	South Africa ZA	10	2025

Among the 13 countries with available 2025 data, China accounted for about 36 percent of the reported production values, and China and Türkiye together accounted for about 71 percent. Only China and Türkiye produced more than 500 thousand metric tons in 2025.

Perlite Production Around the World

In Asia, China (1,500 thousand metric tons) leads, ahead of Iran (70), Georgia (40), Armenia (30), and the Philippines (20). In Europe, Türkiye (1,400) is the largest producer, ahead of Greece (840), Hungary (80), and Slovakia (40). In the Americas, Argentina (30) and Mexico (30) are the listed producers, while the United States figures are withheld. In Oceania, New Zealand (20) is the only listed producer, and in Africa, South Africa (10) is the only listed producer.

Perlite Production Structure

Perlite production is dominated by a two-producer core: China and Türkiye together account for 71 percent of reported output, with a gap of 560 thousand metric tons between Türkiye and Greece. Greece ranks a distant third at 840 thousand metric tons, while all other listed producers remain below 100 thousand metric tons.

Largest Changes in Perlite Production, 2024–2025

Türkiye recorded the largest increase, rising from 1,360 thousand metric tons in 2024 to 1,400 in 2025 (up 40). Philippines rose from 15 to 20 (up 5), Hungary from 77 to 80 (up 3), New Zealand from 18 to 20 (up 2), and Armenia, Georgia, and Mexico each rose by 1 thousand metric tons. Argentina and Slovakia each fell by 2 thousand metric tons, and South Africa fell by 1. China, Greece, and Iran held 1,500, 840, and 70 thousand metric tons, unchanged.

Total reported production among the 13 listed countries rose from 4,062 thousand metric tons in 2024 to 4,110 in 2025, an increase of 48 thousand metric tons, or about 1.2 percent. Türkiye's gain of 40 thousand metric tons explains about 83 percent of the net increase, with the remaining change spread across several small producers.

Perlite Production by Country

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#	Country	2024	2025
1	China	1500	1500
2	Türkiye	1360	1400
3	Greece	840	840
4	Hungary	77	80
5	Iran	70	70
6	Georgia	39	40
7	Slovakia	42	40
8	Argentina	32	30
9	Armenia	29	30
10	Mexico	29	30
11	New Zealand	18	20
12	Philippines	15	20
13	South Africa	11	10

Methodology

The statistics are based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, with major processing by Our World in Data. Values refer to perlite production, in thousand metric tons, as mine production. 2025 figures are estimates from the source. The United States figures are withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.