Strontium Reserves by Country
Iran's reported strontium reserves fell nearly three-quarters in 2025; China, holding six-sevenths of the table, did not move. Eight editions of the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (2019-2026) supply the figures. Reserves are estimated quantities that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, rather than the amount mined in a given year. Listed reserves totalled 14,000,000 metric tons in 2025.
China holds 12,000,000 metric tons against Iran's 2,000,000 — six to one. Two years earlier the split was 12,000,000 to 7,100,000, under two to one; China's unchanged figure meant the entire shift came from Iran's decline. The lead ratio jumped from under 2:1 to 6:1 in a single year. Iran reported 7,100,000 metric tons in 2023 and 2024, then 2,000,000 in 2025 — a reduction of 5,100,000 (-71.8%). USGS notes that Iran's reserves were revised based on company reports. The change left Iran with one-sixth of China's reported reserve figure, compared with more than half in 2023 and 2024. China reported 6,800,000 metric tons in 2018-2019, no value in 2020-2021, then 16,000,000 in 2022 before settling at 12,000,000 from 2023 onward. The two missing years interrupt an otherwise continuous series: China returned with a higher reported figure in 2022, then remained at 12,000,000 through 2025. USGS reports numerical 2025 reserve estimates for only China and Iran in its MCS table. Other countries appear in the production data, but their reserve entries are not given as country-level numerical estimates. This does not mean those countries have no strontium resources or reserves; other assessments have reported strontium reserves in countries including Spain, Mexico and Argentina. USGS reports a world reserve total as ‘Large,’ rather than a numerical figure. Figures come from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019-2026, with 2025 values estimated. Units are metric tons, exactly as reported. Empty means the source reported no value; 0 means the source reports zero. The source’s world total, where published, may be rounded, approximate, a lower bound, or a textual estimate, so shares are computed against the sum of the listed countries. Reserves and production are different measures and should not be combined without equalizing units.
Strontium Reserves by Country
1
12,000,000
2
2,000,000
Iran's sharp 2025 reduction
China's gap and return
Why only two countries have reported reserves
Strontium Reserves by Country
#
1
6,800,000
6,800,000
-
-
16,000,000
12,000,000
12,000,000
12,000,000
2
-
-
-
-
-
7,100,000
7,100,000
2,000,000
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
What are strontium reserves?
Strontium reserves are estimated quantities of strontium that can be economically extracted under applicable conditions, in metric tons. Production measures the amount mined in a year.
Which countries hold strontium reserves?
China (12,000,000 metric tons) and Iran (2,000,000) are the only countries with numerical 2025 reserve estimates in the USGS table, with China holding about 85.7% of the listed total.
Why did Iran's reserves fall in 2025?
Iran's reported estimate fell from 7,100,000 to 2,000,000 metric tons (-71.8%). The table reports the 2025 estimate.
Why are only two countries listed for strontium reserves?
USGS reports reserve figures for China and Iran, while the 2025 table marks the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Spain as NA for reserves. Those countries have production data, but USGS does not provide country-level reserve estimates for them in the table.
Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →
Sources
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Updated: 13.09.2026https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries
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