Infographic

Magnesium in numbers

Magnesium (Mg) drawn as one poster: 1.1 Mt of world smelter production in 2025, China the largest producer, 7 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025MagnesiumMgAlloying metal · symbol MgMagnesium metal is used in aluminium alloys, die-castings for cars and electronics, and steeldesulphurisation.WORLD SMELTER PRODUCTION 20251.1 Mtprimary Mg metal. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.TOP PRODUCER: CHINA86%950 kt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 20242.1 MtLargest in China (1.8 Mt). primary Mg metal.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS7Current government critical or strategic lists namingmagnesium, across 6 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS94%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202575%PRICE 20252,500 $/tTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where magnesium comes fromChina950 kt86%Russia60 kt5.5%Brazil20 kt1.8%Israel20 kt1.8%Türkiye15 kt1.4%Kazakhstan13 kt1.2%Iran5.0 kt0.5%Smelter production, primary Mg metal. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.Primary metal output was about 1.1 Mt in 2025, with China producing about 950 kt (about 86%).1937–2022A century of magnesium production0.00 t375 kt750 kt1.1 Mt1.5 Mt193719491961197319861998201020222022: 1.1 Mt1937: 20 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES7 countries reported magnesium output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest magnesium trade routesIsrael → United States$88 mChina → India$71 mChina → South Korea$59 mChina → Japan$54 mChina → Canada$50 mHS 810411: Unwrought magnesium, >=99.8% magnesium. World trade $916 m in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025European Union: strategic 2024United Kingdom (BGS): critical 2024Australia: critical 2024Canada: critical 2024United States (DOE): critical 2023South Korea: critical 2023prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Magnesium infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

Download the Magnesium infographic

The finished poster, as a vector SVG or a 2× PNG, with every figure and its sources on it. Free to share with a credit to Prospector Trails.

Downloads are made in your browser from the drawing above; nothing is sent to a server.

The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World smelter production, 2025
1.1 Mt (primary Mg metal) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
China, 950 kt (86% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
94% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2024
2.1 Mt (primary Mg metal), largest in China USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
7 current lists in 6 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
75% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
2,500 $/t (Price, annual average: European free market, dollars per metric ton) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World production, 1937
20 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2022 (historical series)
1.1 Mt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Israel → United States, $88 m (HS 810411, Unwrought magnesium, >=99.8% magnesium); world trade $916 m CEPII BACI trade database

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

Read more

Magnesium storyCritical mineral listsAll infographics