Asbestos trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in asbestos was worth $414.8 million in 2024, about 934.6 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 23% since 2017, and down 23% 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 | $414.8M | 934.6K t |
| 2023 | $541.6M | 1.07M t |
| 2022 | $508.4M | 1.05M t |
| 2021 | $402.7M | 1.09M t |
| 2020 | $303.9M | 907.4K t |
| 2019 | $307.0M | 937.1K t |
| 2018 | $334.6M | 988.2K t |
| 2017 | $337.9M | 931.4K t |
Top asbestos exporting countries
Russia is the largest exporter with 55% of world exports, followed by Brazil and Kazakhstan. The top three supply 96% between them, out of 30 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | $227.3M | 55% |
| Brazil | $90.0M | 22% |
| Kazakhstan | $80.7M | 20% |
| China | $14.0M | 3.4% |
| Germany | $1.2M | 0.3% |
| Poland | $582K | 0.1% |
| South Africa | $515K | 0.1% |
| United States | $96K | 0% |
| Lithuania | $94K | 0% |
| Switzerland | $79K | 0% |
| Netherlands | $34K | 0% |
| United Kingdom | $22K | 0% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
India is the biggest buyer with 45% of world imports, ahead of China and Indonesia. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 68% across 72 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $187.3M | 45% |
| China | $46.7M | 11% |
| Indonesia | $46.5M | 11% |
| Uzbekistan | $45.6M | 11% |
| Sri Lanka | $21.0M | 5.1% |
| Thailand | $15.7M | 3.8% |
| Tajikistan | $14.1M | 3.4% |
| Bangladesh | $12.1M | 2.9% |
| Kyrgyzstan | $6.4M | 1.5% |
| Turkmenistan | $6.1M | 1.5% |
| Kazakhstan | $4.0M | 1% |
| Vietnam | $2.9M | 0.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.44 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $1.14 per kg and Germany $0.32 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.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 2524: Asbestos. HS 2524 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most asbestos?
Russia exported $227.3 million in 2024, 55% of the world total, followed by Brazil (22%) and Kazakhstan (19%). In all, 30 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most asbestos?
India imported $187.3 million in 2024, 45% of world imports, ahead of China (11%) and Indonesia (11%). The top three importers together take 68%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in asbestos?
It was worth $414.8 million in 2024, about 934.6 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 23% since 2017. The peak year was 2023 at $541.6 million. 30 countries reported exports and 72 reported imports.
What is the average price of asbestos per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.44 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $1.14 per kg and Germany $0.32 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for asbestos?
The HS code for asbestos is heading 2524, in chapter 25 (salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 2524 page.
How can I find asbestos buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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