Vermiculite Production by Country

Vermiculite production by country measures how much vermiculite each country produces, expressed in thousand metric tons. Vermiculite is a hydrous clay mineral that expands when heated, used in insulation, construction, and horticulture. The statistics are based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. The table below lists 10 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 Vermiculite Production in 2025

South Africa produced the most vermiculite in 2025 with 160 thousand metric tons, more than three times the level of the next largest producer. Brazil ranked second with 50, followed by China (40), Russia (40), Zimbabwe (30), Uganda (20), Bulgaria (10), Türkiye (10), India (2), and Uzbekistan (1).

Vermiculite Production by Country

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#	Country	Latest Data (thousand metric tons)	Year
1	South Africa ZA	160	2025
2	Brazil BR	50	2025
3	China CN	40	2025
4	Russia RU	40	2025
5	Zimbabwe ZW	30	2025
6	Uganda UG	20	2025
7	Bulgaria BG	10	2025
8	Türkiye TR	10	2025
9	India IN	2	2025
10	Uzbekistan UZ	1	2025

Among the 10 countries with available 2025 data, South Africa accounted for about 44 percent of the reported production values, and South Africa and Brazil together accounted for about 58 percent. Only South Africa produced more than 100 thousand metric tons in 2025.

Vermiculite Production Around the World

In Africa, South Africa (160 thousand metric tons) is the dominant producer, ahead of Uganda (20). In Asia, China (40) leads, ahead of India (2) and Uzbekistan (1). In Europe, Russia (40) and Türkiye (10) are the listed producers. In the Americas, Brazil (50) is the largest producer, while the United States figures are withheld.

Vermiculite Production Structure

Vermiculite is a one-producer-dominated market among the listed countries: South Africa's 160 thousand metric tons alone is 44 percent of total reported output, and every other producer is below 60 thousand metric tons. The top of the list is small in absolute terms, with 8 of 10 producers below 30 thousand metric tons.

Largest Changes in Vermiculite Production, 2024–2025

Russia recorded the largest increase, rising from 37 thousand metric tons in 2024 to 40 in 2025 (up 3). Zimbabwe rose from 28 to 30 (up 2), and China from 39 to 40 (up 1). Uganda recorded the largest decline, falling from 24 to 20 (down 4), and Brazil from 53 to 50 (down 3), South Africa from 163 to 160 (down 3), and Türkiye from 13 to 10 (down 3). Bulgaria, India, and Uzbekistan held 10, 2, and 1 thousand metric tons, unchanged.

Total reported production among the 10 listed countries declined from 370 thousand metric tons in 2024 to 363 in 2025, a decrease of 7 thousand metric tons, or about 1.9 percent. The change was spread across small producers in opposite directions, with four countries falling and three rising.

Vermiculite Production by Country

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#	Country	2024	2025
1	South Africa	163	160
2	Brazil	53	50
3	China	39	40
4	Russia	37	40
5	Zimbabwe	28	30
6	Uganda	24	20
7	Bulgaria	10	10
8	Türkiye	13	10
9	India	2	2
10	Uzbekistan	1	1

Methodology

The statistics are based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, with major processing by Our World in Data. Values refer to vermiculite 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.