Aluminous minerals trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in aluminous minerals was worth $130.3 million in 2024, about 231.4 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 12% since 2017, and down 10% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $130.3M | 231.4K t |
| 2023 | $145.5M | 262.6K t |
| 2022 | $148.4M | 310.7K t |
| 2021 | $132.1M | 307.6K t |
| 2020 | $110.5M | 283.9K t |
| 2019 | $126.9M | 337.0K t |
| 2018 | $132.9M | 365.1K t |
| 2017 | $116.7M | 332.1K t |
Top aluminous minerals exporting countries
South Africa is the largest exporter with 37% of world exports, followed by France and Peru. The top three supply 74% between them, out of 50 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $48.4M | 37% |
| France | $28.0M | 22% |
| Peru | $19.9M | 15% |
| United States | $19.3M | 15% |
| Germany | $2.9M | 2.2% |
| China | $2.1M | 1.6% |
| Netherlands | $1.7M | 1.3% |
| Ukraine | $1.4M | 1.1% |
| Latvia | $1.0M | 0.8% |
| Luxembourg | $808K | 0.6% |
| Belgium | $746K | 0.6% |
| United Kingdom | $696K | 0.5% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Germany is the biggest buyer with 16% of world imports, ahead of China and Spain. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 37% across 92 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $21.4M | 16% |
| China | $14.3M | 11% |
| Spain | $11.9M | 9.2% |
| Turkey | $7.7M | 5.9% |
| Belgium | $7.1M | 5.4% |
| South Korea | $6.6M | 5.1% |
| India | $6.2M | 4.7% |
| Italy | $6.0M | 4.6% |
| Poland | $4.8M | 3.7% |
| Japan | $4.7M | 3.6% |
| Netherlands | $4.2M | 3.3% |
| United Kingdom | $3.4M | 2.6% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.56 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $0.80 per kg and Ukraine $0.35 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Aluminous minerals (HS 2508.50) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2508.50: Clays (excluding expanded clays of heading no. 6806): andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite, whether or not calcined. HS 2508 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most aluminous minerals?
South Africa exported $48.4 million in 2024, 37% of the world total, followed by France (21%) and Peru (15%). In all, 50 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most aluminous minerals?
Germany imported $21.4 million in 2024, 16% of world imports, ahead of China (11%) and Spain (9%). The top three importers together take 37%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in aluminous minerals?
It was worth $130.3 million in 2024, about 231.4 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 12% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $148.4 million. 50 countries reported exports and 92 reported imports.
What is the average price of aluminous minerals per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.56 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $0.80 per kg and Ukraine $0.35 per kg, so grade and origin matter. Read it as a benchmark: it blends all grades, origins and contract terms.
What is the HS code for aluminous minerals?
The HS code for aluminous minerals is subheading 2508.50, in chapter 25 (salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2508 page.
How can I find aluminous minerals buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading aluminous minerals, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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