U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1298

Worldwide Asbestos Supply and

Consumption Trends from

1900 through 2003
Worldwide Asbestos Supply and 

Consumption Trends from

1900 through 2003

By Robert L. Virta

 Circular 1298

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

This Circular supersedes USGS Open-File Report 03–083
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006

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Suggested citation:

Virta, R.L., 2006, Worldwide asbestos supply and consumption trends from 1900 through 2003: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1298, 80 p., available only online.

ISBN 1-411-31167-1
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope of Circular ..........................................................................................................2

Definitions ..............................................................................................................................................2

History of Asbestos Use.......................................................................................................................2

Data Sources..................................................................................................................................................4

World Supply, Demand, and Trade..............................................................................................................4

United States .........................................................................................................................................5

Canada....................................................................................................................................................6

Other Market-Economy Countries .....................................................................................................7

Brazil ..............................................................................................................................................7

Cyprus............................................................................................................................................7

Greece ...........................................................................................................................................8

Italy.................................................................................................................................................8

South Africa..................................................................................................................................8

Swaziland......................................................................................................................................9

Zimbabwe....................................................................................................................................10

Countries Currently or Formerly Having Centrally Planned Economies ....................................10

China ............................................................................................................................................10

Kazakhstan and Russia.............................................................................................................11

Other Producing Countries................................................................................................................12

World Consumption .....................................................................................................................................12

Introduction..........................................................................................................................................12

United States .......................................................................................................................................13

Other Countries in Central and North America..............................................................................13

Europe...................................................................................................................................................13

Asia and the Middle East...................................................................................................................14

Africa.....................................................................................................................................................14

South America.....................................................................................................................................15

Oceania.................................................................................................................................................15

General Trends ....................................................................................................................................15

Discussion.....................................................................................................................................................16

Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................17

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................17

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17

Appendix. World Asbestos Production, Trade, and Consumption from 1920 through 2003 ...........35
iv

Figures

[Figures follow References Cited]

1. Bar graph of calculated apparent consumption of asbestos by region, 1920–2003.....24

2–3. Line graphs of calculated apparent consumption of asbestos by major asbestosconsuming countries:

2. 1920–1990......................................................................................................................25

3. 1995–2003......................................................................................................................26

Tables

[Tables follow figures]

1. Early developments of the asbestos industry .....................................................................27

2. Salient U.S. statistics for asbestos, 1900 through 2003 .....................................................28

3. U.S. end uses for asbestos, 1965 through 2003...................................................................31

4. World production of all types of asbestos, 1900 through 2003.........................................32

A1–A19. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in—

A1. 1920 ................................................................................................................................36

A2. 1930 ................................................................................................................................37

A3. 1940 ................................................................................................................................39

A4. 1950 ................................................................................................................................41

A5. 1960 ................................................................................................................................43

A6. 1970 ................................................................................................................................45

A7. 1975 ................................................................................................................................47

A8. 1980 ................................................................................................................................50

A9. 1985 ................................................................................................................................53

A10. 1990 ................................................................................................................................55

A11. 1995 ................................................................................................................................57

A12. 1996 ................................................................................................................................59

A13. 1997 ................................................................................................................................61

A14. 1998 ................................................................................................................................63

A15. 1999 ................................................................................................................................66

A16. 2000 ................................................................................................................................69

A17. 2001 ................................................................................................................................72

A18. 2002 ................................................................................................................................75

A19. 2003 ................................................................................................................................78

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

square meter 10.76 square foot

square meter 1.196 square yard

metric ton (t, 1,000 kilograms) 1.102 short ton (2,000 pounds)

Worldwide Asbestos Supply and 

Consumption Trends from

1900 through 2003

By Robert L. Virta

consumption and production in former Soviet-bloc countries. Consumption and production in Kazakhstan and Russia 

increased through 2003 from 2001, albeit to a much lower 

level than in the 1980s.

In 2003, world consumption was estimated to be 2.11 

Mt, about 45 percent that of 1980. Relatively few countries in 

Asia, the Middle East, South America, and the former Soviet 

Union remained as the leading users of asbestos. China was the 

leading consuming nation, using an estimated 492,000 metric 

tons (t) in 2003. China was followed, in decreasing order of 

consumption, by Russia (429,000 t), India (192,000 t), Kazakhstan (174,000 t), Ukraine (156,000 t), Thailand (133,000 t), 

Brazil (78,400 t), and Iran (75,800 t). These eight countries 

accounted for 82 percent of the world’s apparent consumption 

in 2003. Following Iran, in decreasing order of consumption by 

tonnage, were Uzbekistan (42,400 t), Vietnam (39,400 t), Indonesia (32,300 t), the Republic of Korea (23,800 t), Kyrgyzstan 

(23,700 t), Japan (23,400 t), and Mexico (20,100 t). Consumption in all other countries was estimated to be less than 15,000 t 

each in 2003. Sizable consumption increases occurred in Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Ukraine 

between 2000 and the end of 2003. Consumption patterns in 

countries using less than 5,000 t per year were too erratic to 

ascertain any trends in their use of asbestos.

Introduction

The use of asbestos is one of the most controversial 

issues surrounding the industrial minerals industry. Its carcinogenic nature, an overall lack of knowledge of minimum safe 

exposure levels, its widespread use for more than 100 years, 

and the long latency for the development of lung cancer and 

mesothelioma are the main contributing factors to these controversies. Another factor is that, despite decades of research, 

the mechanisms responsible for its carcinogenic properties are 

still largely unknown.

The United States produced about 3.29 million metric 

tons (Mt) of asbestos and used approximately 31.5 Mt between 

Abstract

This Circular updates and supersedes U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) Open-File Report 03–083, “Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 to 2000,” with 

the addition of supply and consumption estimates and analysis 

from 2001 through 2003 and revisions to the consumption estimates for 1998 through 2000. The text from Open-File Report 

03–083 also has been updated in this Circular to include revisions to and expansion of the time-series coverage.

The use of asbestos is one of the most controversial 

issues surrounding the industrial minerals industry. Its carcinogenic nature, an overall lack of knowledge of minimum safe 

exposure levels, its widespread use for more than 100 years, 

and the long latency for the development of lung cancer and 

mesothelioma are the main contributing factors to these controversies. Another factor is that, despite decades of research, 

the mechanisms responsible for its carcinogenic properties are 

still largely unknown.

The United States produced about 3.29 million metric tons (Mt) of asbestos and used approximately 31.5 Mt 

between 1900 and 2003. About half of this amount was used 

after 1960. In 2002, the last asbestos mine in the United 

States closed, marking the end of more than 110 years of U.S. 

asbestos production. Cumulative world production from 1900 

through 2003 was about 181 Mt. If one assumes that unusually 

large stocks were not maintained and that world consumption 

roughly equaled production, then about half of the world production and consumption occurred between the end of 1976 

and the end of 2003.

The United States and Western European nations were 

the largest consumers of asbestos during the first two-thirds 

of the 20th century. They were surpassed by the collective 

production and consumption of Kazakhstan and Russia by the 

1970s. After the onset of the health issues concerning asbestos 

in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the decline in world production and consumption began to be evident in the late 1970s and 

early 1980s. The 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, a major 

user of asbestos, resulted in a significant decline in asbestos 
1900 and 2003. In 2002, the last asbestos mine in the United 

States closed, marking the end of more than 110 years of U.S. 

asbestos production. Cumulative world production from 1900 

through 2003 was about 181 Mt. If one assumes that unsually 

large stocks were not maintained and that world consumption 

roughly equaled production, then about half of the world production and consumption occurred between the end of 1976 

and the end of 2003.

Purpose and Scope of Circular

Of interest, from a historical and exposure standpoint, is 

how much asbestos was used in each country over time. This 

information provides a means by which to determine past, 

current, and future markets for asbestos and some insight 

into the potential for past occupational asbestos exposures in 

various countries. Total and market-specific usage data for 

asbestos generally are lacking because most countries did not 

have the resources or feel the need to gather and evaluate that 

kind of information. Even in the United States, only asbestos 

production (sales) data have been tracked for more than 100 

years; import data were not gathered until 1931, and asbestos 

consumption by market was not documented until about 1972, 

with only estimates extending back to 1965. This Circular 

reviews production and market changes throughout the world 

and provides some insight into the levels of asbestos use in 

individual countries over time.

This Circular updates and supersedes U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) Open-File Report 03–083, “Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 to 2000,” with 

the addition of supply and consumption estimates and analysis 

from 2001 through 2003 and revisions to the consumption estimates for 1998 through 2000. The text from Open-File Report 

03–083 also has been updated in this Circular to include revisions to and expansion of the time-series coverage.

After the introduction and identification of data sources, 

this Circular provides information on asbestos trends in two 

main sections: “World Supply, Demand, and Trade” and 

“World Consumption.” Table 1 summarizes early developments in the asbestos industry; table 2 has salient U.S. 

statistics for asbestos, table 3 has U.S. end uses for asbestos, 

and table 4 has world production data for asbestos. Figures 1, 

2, and 3 are graphs of apparent consumption of asbestos by 

region and country; figures and tables follow the “References 

Cited.” The text is supplemented by the appendix, in which 

tables A1–A19 provide snapshots of world production, trade, 

and consumption of asbestos at specific times: for 1920–1970, 

at 10-year intervals; for 1970 through 1995, at 5-year intervals; and for 1996 through 2003, annually.

Data in the appendix tables are presented for individual 

countries and regions. To form the regions, countries are 

grouped by continent with a few exceptions. Middle Eastern 

countries are grouped with Asia. Eastern countries of the 

former Soviet Union, despite being in Asia, are included in 

Europe so as to be grouped with Russia and other western 

countries of the former Soviet Union and to facilitate comparisons of data for the same region at different times.

Definitions

Asbestos is a generic name given to the fibrous variety of 

six naturally occuring minerals that have been used in commercial products (Virta, 2001). The term “asbestos” is not a 

mineralogical definition. It is a commercial designation for 

mineral products that possess high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and high 

electrical resistance and that can be woven.

Minerals that can crystallize as asbestos belong to two 

groups: serpentine and amphibole. The asbestos variety of serpentine is chrysotile. Most of the asbestos used after the late 

1800s was chrysotile. The commercial asbestos varieties of 

amphibole include the following: crocidolite (riebeckite asbestos), amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite asbestos), anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. These 

types were mined over the long history of asbestos use.

History of Asbestos Use

Asbestos use began about 4,500 years ago. Early evidence of its use to strengthen clay pottery as long ago as 2500 

B.C. has been found in Finland (Selikoff and Lee, 1978, p. 

6–7; Gross and Braun, 1984, p. 9). Anecdotes about its use 

have been reported by many, including Pliny the Elder (about 

79 B.C.) and Marco Polo (about A.D. 1250) (Bowles, 1946, p. 

13–14). Some of the earlier uses were in crematory shrouds, 

lamp wicks, and incombustible napkins and tablecloths. The 

tablecloths could be tossed in the fire to be cleaned without 

fear of damage (Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 14–16; Bowles, 

1937, p. 5–7; Sinclair, 1959, p. 1–3; Natural Resources Board 

of Southern Rhodesia, 1963). Ben Franklin reportedly used an 

asbestos purse, not to protect his money, but to prevent it from 

burning the proverbial hole in his pocket (Alleman and Mossman, 1997).

The modern asbestos industry began in the early 1800s 

when a textile manufacturing industry was established in 

Italy to produce such items as fabrics, string, and book 

covers (Bowles, 1946, p. 14; Sinclair, 1959, p. 3, 277; Alleman and Mossman, 1997). Consumption at that stage still 

was extremely low compared with 20th century usage. With 

increased industrialization, new uses were developed to take 

advantage of the strength, heat resistance, and flexibility of 

asbestos fibers. These uses included packings for steam glands 

on high-temperature machines, insulation for boilers and 

steampipes, and fireproof paint and wall materials. Textiles 

remained a small yet valuable market during this period of 

expanded use (Sinclair, 1959, p. 278; Alleman and Mossman, 

1997).

As the asbestos manufacturing industry grew worldwide in the late 1800s, concerns over supply arose because 

production in Italy, the world’s primary supplier of asbestos, 

   Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
and other countries totaled only a few thousand tons per year 

(Bowles, 1934, p. 7–24; Howling, 1937, p. 59; Selikoff and 

Lee, 1978, p. 14). The discovery and development of large 

asbestos deposits in Canada, Russia, and South Africa in the 

late 1800s resolved the supply issue (Sinclair, 1959, p. 3; 

Selikoff and Lee, 1978, p. 8).

A timeline listing significant developments in the early 

history of the asbestos industry was published in 1953 (Stover 

Publishing Co., 1953, p. 4–6). Selikoff and Lee (1978, p. 

17–18) presented a historical timeline of significant events 

regarding the development of the asbestos industry through 

1972. Several of the more important of these developments are 

listed in table 1.

 In 1907, the development of the Hatschek machine for 

making asbestos-cement flat and corrugated panels resulted in 

a significant increase in demand for asbestos (Rosato, 1959, 

p. 63; Sinclair, 1959, p. 279). This technology enabled the 

mass production of inexpensive, fireproof building materials. 

In 1929, a process was developed for the mass production of 

asbestos-cement pipe, enabling its widespread use in watersupply and waste lines (Rosato, 1959, p. 79). Simultaneously, 

the rise of the automobile industry in the early 1900s resulted 

in an increased demand for asbestos for the manufacture of 

brakes, clutch components, and engine gaskets (Sinclair, 1959, 

p. 278). These developments resulted in a rapid increase in 

the use of asbestos worldwide. By 1910, world production 

exceeded 109,000 metric tons (t), which was more than three 

times as much as production in 1900 (table 4). In 1910, the 

United States was the leading user of asbestos in the world, 

consuming an estimated 43 percent of world production 

(tables 2 and 4).

Production and consumption declined during World War 

I and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Immediately after 

both events, there was rapid growth in construction and other 

market sectors, which continued into the 1940s. Sales and use 

of asbestos increased to meet the demands of these new and 

expanding markets. In addition to automotive and asbestoscement products, demand grew for asbestos millboard and 

paper for electrical panels; textiles for insulating electrical 

wiring; spray-on asbestos products for protecting steel girders 

in buildings; reinforcing, heat-resistant fillers for plastics; 

fire-resistant roofing materials such as asbestos felts, shingles, 

and asphalt roofing compounds; inexpensive, durable, and 

dimensionally stable flooring products, such as vinyl asbestos 

tile and flooring felts; heat- and acid-resistant gaskets and 

packings; thermal insulation on boiler systems for buildings 

and homes; fireproof suits for firefighters; reinforcement for 

plasters and caulking compounds; and filler and reinforcer 

in paints and asphalt road surfacing (Stover Publishing Co., 

1953, p. 9–15; Rosato, 1959, p. 23–27; Selikoff and Lee, 1978, 

p. 19–20; Cossette and Delvaux, 1979, p. 104–107; Roskill 

Information Services Ltd., 1990, p. 99–126).

The onset of World War II resulted in declining production in most regions of the globe except Canada, South 

Africa, and the United States. While asbestos production and 

use declined worldwide, U.S. war demands absorbed much 

of the increased production from Canada, South Africa, and 

the United States. U.S. consumption increased to about 60 

percent of world production in 1942 from 37 percent in 1934 

(tables 2 and 4). However, postwar reconstruction and recovering economies again resulted in increased world demand for 

asbestos, and production of asbestos increased to supply these 

demands.

By 1958, asbestos was used in about 3,000 applications 

(Quebec Asbestos Information Service, 1959). By this time, 

asbestos was being honored for its “service to humanity” 

(Alleman and Mossman, 1997) and called a “boon to humanity” (Bowles, 1946, p. 6) and “faithful servant of mankind” 

(Bowles, 1946, p. 37), “the most important of the non-metallic 

mineral products of the world—and certainly one of the most 

wonderful” (Summers, 1919, p. 10), and even the “magic mineral” (Quebec Asbestos Information Service, 1959).

The myriad uses of asbestos resulted in a continued 

increase in demand for asbestos after World War II. Peak 

demand for asbestos was achieved around 1977, when about 

25 countries were producing a total of almost 4.8 Mt per 

year of asbestos, and about 85 countries were manufacturing asbestos products (table 4). In the United States and, to a 

lesser extent, in many European countries, the use of asbestos 

waned in the early to late 1970s (Alleman and Mossman, 

1997). Health research conducted during the 1920s to 1940s 

had revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and 

asbestosis, but in the late 1950s and early 1960s, an association between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was conclusively proven (Selikoff and Lee, 1978, p. 22–23, 31–32; Gross 

and Braun, 1984, p. 20–21; U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, 1992, p. 33–34). With that finding, public 

opposition to the use of asbestos increased significantly.

Liability also became a major issue for producers and 

manufacturers. In the United States, asbestos producers 

and manufacturers of asbestos products faced an increasing 

number of class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of those suffering from asbestos-related diseases (Virta, 2002, p. 15). This 

liability contributed to a shift by many product manufacturers 

to (1) asbestos substitutes, such as aramid fiber, cellulose fiber, 

polyvinyl alcohol fibers, or wollastonite, or (2) alternative 

products, such as fiberglass shingles, mineral wool insulation, 

ductile iron and polyvinyl chloride pipe, graphite packings, 

metallic disk brake pads, and aluminum siding (Hodgson, 

1989; Virta, 1994). Similar movements toward the use of nonasbestos products followed in many other countries, particularly in Western Europe.

The health and liability factors resulted in a dramatic 

decline in the use of asbestos in the industrialized countries 

after the mid-1970s, a movement toward increasingly strict 

exposure limits for occupational settings, new consumer and 

environmental regulations, and, by 2003, full or partial bans 

on the use of asbestos in 16 countries—Argentina, Austria, 

Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, 

Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the European 

Union (EU) banned the use of asbestos, with some exempIntroduction   
tions, in 2005. Despite the bans and restrictions, many countries still consider asbestos use vital to their development, as 

shown in the appendix.

Data Sources

The data cited in this Circular were extracted from a variety of sources because no single source contains a complete 

set of all statistics needed. For the United States, annual compilations of mineral data for the last century were published 

under two titles by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and 

the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) as responsibilities were 

periodically reassigned. The two sources used were “Mineral 

Resources of the United States” (USGS, 1901–1926; USBM, 

1927–1933) and “Minerals Yearbook” (USBM, 1933–1996; 

USGS, 1997–2005). Asbestos chapters in these two sources 

are cited under the agencies as shown in the previous sentence; 

in addition, selected asbestos chapters are cited by personal 

author names when a specific credit is needed. Chapters 

on mineral industries of other countries were published in 

international volumes of the USBM and USGS “Minerals 

Yearbook” for 1963 through 2003; they are cited by personal 

author names.

Also used in compiling this Circular were asbestos chapters in the “Statistical Summary of the Mineral Industry” and 

“World Mineral Statistics” and their predecessor reports by the 

British Geological Survey (BGS) and its forerunners (Great 

Britain Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, 1924; Great 

Britain Imperial Institute, 1932, 1948; Great Britain Colonial 

Geological Surveys, 1956; Great Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, Overseas Division, 1967; Great Britain Institute 

of Geological Sciences, 1973, 1981; BGS, 1984, 1991, 1995, 

2001, 2002). Other resources include asbestos and chrysotile 

chapters of the “Canadian Minerals Yearbook” (Vagt, 1975; 

Hoskin, 1991; Perron, 2001, 2003) and reports on the South 

African asbestos industry (Gössling, 1977; Griffiths, 1989, p. 

21; van der Merwe, 1989; Munzhelele, 2000). International 

trade data for 1998 through 2003 were obtained from the 

United Nations (UN) Statistics Division (2005).

In general, revisions to statistical data have not been published in any systematic fashion. As a result, data from various 

sources frequently do not agree for any given year. Another 

problem is that data by country were often revised but not 

published; only the revised total world production data were 

published. Thus, the sum of production of individual countries 

may not equal the revised world production for a given year. 

Another problem is that the data are a mix of ore production, fiber production, and fiber sold or used. Ore production 

consists of crude rock and asbestos, fiber production consists 

of asbestos fiber recovered through the processing of crude 

ore, and fiber sold or used is asbestos fiber entering commerce 

during the year. Also, data were not available from all countries for all years. When estimates were made in publications, 

usually there was no indication that data were estimates or 

any indications of how the estimates were made. There is no 

way to resolve these problems short of the impossible task of 

retrieving all of the survey data, and so they will have to be 

accepted as a limitation of this historical review.

When possible, data were extracted from one source to 

maintain consistency over the longest period of time. For the 

next section of the Circular, entitled “World Supply, Demand, 

and Trade,” data extracted from the USBM and USGS “Minerals Yearbook” chapters on asbestos were used as the basis for 

the evaluation. Many of the data are available in the asbestos 

chapter on the USGS Web site at http://minerals.usgs.gov/

ds/2005/140 (Buckingham and Virta, 2006). Some of the numbers under “World Supply, Demand, and Trade” do not match 

those of Buckingham and Virta (2006) because estimates for 

nonresponding survey countries are included in this Circular. 

These estimates were based on world asbestos market conditions, accounts from other data sources, and long-term production trends within the country. Adjustments also were made 

for countries reporting crude ore production rather than fiber 

production.

For the section “World Consumption,” data extracted 

from the publications of the BGS and its predecessor agencies were used to calculate the apparent consumption for 

each country for 1920 through 1997; see appendix tables A1 

through A13. When discrepancies arose or data were not available in the BGS publications, data extracted from the abovementioned references or estimates that were the most consistent with market conditions at the time were used. After 1997, 

production data reported in the USGS “Minerals Yearbook” 

chapters on asbestos (USGS, 1997–2005) and trade data from 

the UN Statistics Division (2005) were used to estimate world 

consumption; see appendix tables A14 through A19.

As noted in USGS Open-File Report 03–083 (Virta, 

2003b), a calculated trade imbalance began to be evident in 

1998, worsening by 2000. This apparent imbalance resulted 

because trade data for all countries were not available at the 

time that Open-File Report 03–083 was published. This problem was resolved by using UN Statistics Division (2005) trade 

data for 1998 onward.

Despite the caveats, the data are deemed sufficiently 

reliable to make a fairly accurate evaluation of asbestos 

consumption trends worldwide as well as those of regions and 

individual countries. The reader should note, however, that 

the tables in the Circular body and appendix are snapshots of 

world activities at a particular time. Activities that may have 

occurred during the intervals are not taken into consideration.

World Supply, Demand, and Trade

The following section includes descriptions of asbestos 

trends in the United States, Canada, and the following three 

groups: other market-economy countries (in which countries 

are discussed alphabetically), countries currently and formerly 

having centrally planned economies, and other producing 

 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
countries. For consistency, data used in this section were 

extracted from the USBM and USGS “Mineral Resources of 

the United States” and “Minerals Yearbook” (USGS, 1901–

1926, 1997–2005; USBM, 1927–1933, 1933–1996). See the 

section “Data Sources” for further explanation.

United States

Commercial asbestos production has been recorded in 

15 States since 1900: Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, 

Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, 

Virginia, and Wyoming. There probably were small amounts 

of unrecorded production in additional States. The largest 

producer States were Arizona, California, North Carolina, 

and Vermont. Most of the asbestos mined in the United States 

was chrysotile, although much of the early production was of 

amphibole asbestos. These amphibole asbestos mines generally were short lived. The longest sustained production of 

amphibole asbestos was from North Carolina, where anthophyllite asbestos was mined from the early 1930s to 1979 

(USGS, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; USBM, 1927–1933, 1933–

1996; Bowles, 1934, p. 2–7, 1959, p. 6–7).

U.S. asbestos production was relatively low at the start 

of the 20th century, less than 10,000 tons per year until 1936 

(see table 2, column labeled “Domestic sales or use,” which is 

equivalent to production). After the Great Depression of the 

early 1930s and with the onset of World War II, U.S. production increased through 1942 to meet increased war demands. 

After 1942 and during the recession following World War 

II, demand and, consequently, U.S. production declined, not 

regaining their former levels for another 6 years. It wasn’t 

until 1965 that U.S. production reached 100,000 metric tons 

per year (t/yr). Annual world production by 1965 had already 

exceeded 2.8 Mt (table 4). U.S. production exceeded 100,000 

t/yr for only 10 years, 1965 to 1973 and in 1976. Peak production was about 136,000 t in 1973, which was 3 percent of the 

world’s asbestos production and only 17 percent of the U.S. 

demand for that year (see table 2, where demand is equivalent 

to “Apparent consumption”). After 1973, the asbestos health 

controversy began to seriously affect demand, causing U.S. 

production to stagnate and then take a precipitous decline. 

The production of 5,000 t in 2001 was only 4 percent of the 

peak in 1973. In 2002, the last asbestos mine in the United 

States closed, marking the end of more than 110 years of U.S. 

asbestos production.

Despite having produced 3.29 Mt of asbestos between 

1900 and the end of 2003, the United States almost always 

was dependent on imports to meet most of its demand. 

Imports supplied 94 percent of the U.S. asbestos needs during 1900 through 2003. For only 8 of those 104 years (1967, 

1969–1973, 1975, and 1985) was U.S. import dependence 

(calculated as imports divided by apparent consumption) less 

than 90 percent. Canada was the major supplier of asbestos 

to the United States throughout most of the century, averaging 94 percent from 1910 to 2003. South Africa supplied up 

to 6 percent of U.S. imports but averaged 4 percent after 1915 

(table 2). Swaziland and Zimbabwe were two other lesser, yet 

important, suppliers of asbestos to the United States.

About 98 percent of the 29.6 Mt of asbestos imported 

into the United States between 1900 and the end of 2003 was 

chrysotile, mostly from Canada. Crocidolite imports were 

364,000 t (1.2 percent of total asbestos imports) and amosite 

imports were 282,000 t (1 percent of total imports). About 

34,200 t of anthophyllite asbestos were imported from Finland, the major supplier. The United States has not imported 

amosite since 1985 and has not imported crocidolite since 

about 1995. Most of the asbestos imports reported as crocidolite after 1995 are believed to be chrysotile on the basis of 

their sources and customs values (table 2).

Asbestos consumption in the United States was minimal 

in the 1800s. At that stage, markets primarily were such applications as textiles (fireproof cloth used to manufacture such 

items as boots, gloves, and theater curtains) and insulation 

and packings for steam locomotive and other boiler systems 

(Bowles, 1937, p. 8–10). Consumption did not increase significantly until the early 1900s, when an expanding population and increased industrialization resulted in a demand for 

a steady supply of cost-effective, mass-produced construction 

materials. Asbestos products that filled this need included 

asbestos-cement pipes and sheets, coatings and compounds, 

flooring, friction materials such as brakes and clutches, and 

insulation. These were the large tonnage uses for asbestos. 

Other smaller, but still important, applications were in asbestos 

paper, asphalt emulsions, gaskets, packings, plastics, roofing 

felts, shingles, and textiles (Clifton, 1976, 1980b, 1985).

Starting from a rather small apparent consumption of 

20,400 t/yr in 1900, U.S. markets expanded to a peak of 

803,000 t/yr in 1973. Demand after 1900 was fairly continuous, with a short period of rapid growth in demand during 

World War I. The end of the Great Depression by the middle 

1930s and the onset of World War II in the late 1930s brought 

about a brief surge in demand to meet U.S. requirements. After 

1950, demand increased in step with economic growth in the 

United States. There was a general flattening of the demand 

curve in the 1950s during the Korean conflict and later in the 

early 1970s. The flattening of demand occurred after the early 

1970s because the use of asbestos was becoming controversial 

and markets for asbestos in the United States appear to have 

matured. After 1973, asbestos consumption declined rapidly. 

By 2000, consumption was only about 15,000 t, or 1.9 percent 

of the level in 1973 and equivalent to consumption in the late 

1800s. In 2003, U.S. consumption was 4,650 t (table 2).

In relation to overall world consumption, the United 

States was the largest market economy and world user of 

asbestos during much of the 20th century. U.S. asbestos use 

was high because much of the early manufacturing research 

was conducted in the United States, industrial demand for 

asbestos grew rapidly in the early 1900s, and a ready supply 

of asbestos was just across the border in Canada (Sinclair, 

1959, p. 279). The United States used about 17 percent of 

World Supply, Demand, and Trade 
the world’s asbestos production between 1900 and the end 

of 2003. This long-term percentage is remarkable because 

after 1980, the U.S. annual share consistently was less than 

10 percent. Between 1900 and the end of 1949, U.S. apparent 

consumption averaged 63 percent of world production and 

increased in times of war. This average clearly demonstrated 

the strength of the U.S. asbestos industry in its early history. 

As more countries developed asbestos-manufacturing industries after World War II, the U.S. share of the world market 

declined, averaging 13 percent from 1950 through 2003 (tables 

2 and 4).

Following World War II, demand for asbestos fiber 

increased at a faster rate in other parts of the world than in 

the United States. Much of this growth was spurred by the 

massive reconstruction efforts in Europe after the war and 

later by growing economies. Consumption in the United States 

declined from 51 percent of the world production in 1950 to 

19 percent in 1970. With the onset of awareness of the asbestos health issues, U.S. consumption declined even further. By 

1975, U.S. consumption was 13 percent of world production; 

by 1985, 4 percent; and by 2000, less than 1 percent (tables 2 

and 4).

About 71 percent of the U.S. consumption of asbestos 

occurred between 1950 and the end of 2003, about 50 percent 

occurred between 1960 and the end of 2003, and about 39 

percent occurred after 1965, which is the year of the earliest 

available estimate of U.S. asbestos consumption by market 

share (tables 2 and 3). Thus, a fair idea of the markets into 

which a sizable share of the asbestos went throughout most of 

the history of U.S. asbestos usage can be determined. Table 

3 presents the end-use data for asbestos from 1965 through 

2003. The totals in table 2 do not match exactly the apparent consumption totals in table 3 because table 2 includes 

changes in government and industry stocks where available 

and because table 3 excludes amounts smaller than 500 t. With 

that caveat, the average percentage breakout of the major U.S. 

markets between 1965 and the end of 2003 follows: flooring, 21 percent; asbestos-cement pipe, 18 percent; roofing 

products, 12 percent; friction products, 11 percent; asbestoscement sheet, 6 percent; packing and gaskets, 4 percent; paper, 

3 percent; coatings and compounds, electrical insulation, and 

textiles, 2 percent each; plastics and thermal insulation, less 

than 1 percent each; and other, 18 percent (table 3).

 Because of the asbestos health issue, markets changed 

over this time period (table 3). The largest losses were in 

asbestos-cement pipe and sheet, coatings and compounds, 

flooring, and insulation. In 1965, before concerns about the 

asbestos health issue intensified, flooring accounted for 25 

percent of the market share, followed by asbestos-cement 

pipe (19 percent), roofing (10 percent), friction products 

(8.9 percent), asbestos-cement sheet (6.9 percent), electrical 

insulation and packing and gaskets (3 percent each), paper and 

textiles (2 percent each), coatings and compounds and plastics 

(less than 1 percent each), and other uses (20 percent). By 

1980, consumption was 19.5 percent for flooring, followed 

by friction products (14.5 percent), asbestos-cement pipe 

(11.7 percent), roofing (6.7 percent), asbestos-cement sheet 

(6.4 percent), packing and gaskets (3.3 percent), coatings and 

compounds (3.1 percent), electrical insulation (1.7 percent), 

thermal insulation (0.8 percent), plastics and textiles (0.6 percent each), paper (0.3 percent), and other uses (30.9 percent) 

(Clifton, 1976, 1980b, 1985). In 2000, the end-use markets 

were roofing (60 percent), gaskets (20 percent; packings were 

no longer being manufactured in the United States), friction 

products (13.3 percent), coatings and compounds, plastics, and 

other uses (6.7 percent) (Virta, 2003a). By 2003, coatings and 

compounds accounted for 25 percent of consumption; roofing 

products, 60 percent; and other uses, 15 percent (Virta, 2005a).

Some anecdotal information on markets before 1965 

is available. Josephson and Marsh (1948) reported that U.S. 

usage of asbestos grades of shorter length in floor tile began to 

increase rapidly following the development of suitable production methods. Production of asbestos floor tile increased to 

34,681 million square meters (41,479 million square yards) 

in 1947 from just 4,124 million square meters (4,933 million square yards) in 1939, an 8-fold increase in as many 

years. Corrugated sheet production increased to 4,258 million 

square meters (45,839 million square feet) in 1947 from 701 

million square meters (7,551 million square feet) in 1939. 

Less dramatic but still substantial increases were recorded 

in many other product categories (Josephson and Barsigian, 

1950). Kennedy and Foley (1960) reported that 96 percent 

of the chrysotile used in the United States in 1959 was used 

principally in asbestos-cement and asbestos-asphalt building 

materials.

Canada

Chrysotile mining began in Canada around 1878 (Bowles 

and Barsigian, 1945; Sinclair, 1959, p. 3). By 1920, Canada 

already was producing about 162,000 t/yr, or 84 percent of 

the world’s production (table 4). Production suffered in the 

early 1930s because of the Great Depression in the United 

States (the largest Canadian market) and recessions worldwide 

that affected the entire asbestos industry. By 1935, the U.S. 

economic recovery bolstered the Canadian asbestos industry. 

The onset of World War II slowed production around 1940, 

but it recovered around 1946. During that time, mines and mill 

capacities in Canada were being increased rapidly to meet 

growing world demand (Josephson and Marsh, 1948). Production was slowed briefly by a strike in the Canadian industry 

in 1949 (Josephson and Barsigian, 1951) but quickly resumed 

following resolution of the dispute. Despite Russia emerging 

as a major asbestos-producing republic of the former Soviet 

Union, Canada still retained 61 percent of global production in 

1950 (table 4).

 Competition arose as Italy, Russia, South Africa, Swaziland, the United States, and Zimbabwe began to increase 

their production in the 1940s and 1950s (table 4), soon to be 

followed by China in the early 1960s and Brazil and Cyprus in 

the mid-1970s. By 1960, Canada’s share of global production 

 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
declined to 46 percent despite an increase in its production. 

Canadian production peaked in the 1970s (table 4), almost 

coinciding with the peak U.S. consumption (table 2), as would 

be expected because the United States was the major destination for Canadian asbestos. Then, in 1975, the Canadian asbestos producers suffered from a major mill fire, a landslide in 

a major mine, strikes, and political and transportation issues, 

resulting in a sharp (36 percent) decline in production (Vance, 

1975). The industry rebounded quickly, however, only to face 

the asbestos health issue, which began in the United States 

in the early 1970s and quickly spread to other countries. Two 

other factors affecting sales were declines in some of the world 

economies and political instability in some of the developing 

nations, which were important purchasers of Canadian asbestos in the late 1970s (Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1983, 

p. 20). Canadian production declined through 2000 as asbestos 

markets worldwide waned. By 2003, Canadian production was 

200,500 t, or 9 percent of world production, down from 43 

percent in 1970. Canada produced about 61.2 Mt of asbestos 

between 1900 and the end of 2003, all of it chrysotile (table 4).

Canada, for the most part, has been a major exporter of 

asbestos over time. Roughly 77 percent of Canadian production has been exported since 1900, with exports exceeding 80 

percent since 1960. The United States was the largest market 

for exported Canadian asbestos. In 1930, U.S. asbestos imports 

from Canada were 181,000 t (table 2), or about 83 percent of 

Canadian production (table 4). U.S. imports declined during 

the Great Depression in the United States in the early 1930s 

but picked up again during World War II. The United States 

imported about 65 percent of Canadian production in 1940. 

U.S. imports from Canada accounted for 78 percent of Canadian production in 1950, 37 percent in 1970 (as the asbestos 

health issue was developing), 6 percent in 1990, and about 2.2 

percent in 2003 (USBM, 1933–1996; USGS, 1997–2005).

Canadian asbestos producers had developed a broad 

range of customers before the decline of the U.S. market, and 

so those countries soon moved ahead of the United States as 

the major Canadian customers. As U.S. markets changed, the 

proportions of asbestos grades exported to the United States 

also changed. In 1973, the U.S shares of all Canadian exports 

were divided among asbestos grades as follows: 34 percent 

(11 of 32 t) of crude fiber, 24 percent (203,000 of 837,000 t) 

of milled fiber (groups 3, 4, and 5), and 59 percent (498,000 of 

846,000 t) of short fiber (groups 6 to 9) (Vagt, 1975). Groups 

are Canadian asbestos product designations with group 3 

containing a higher proportion of longer fibers than group 4, 

group 4 containing a higher proportion of longer fibers than 

group 5, and so forth. Among Canadian customers in 1973, the 

United States was followed by Japan for crude fiber, Germany, 

the United Kingdom, France, and Japan for the milled fiber, 

and Japan and the United Kingdom for short fiber. In all, 

Canada exported to more than 70 countries in 1973.

By 1990, among importers of Canadian asbestos, the 

United States had dropped to second, behind Japan, for the 

crude fiber (as U.S. imports were 13 percent of 1,469 t), to 

seventeenth for the milled fiber (8 percent of 378,000 t), and 

to second, behind Japan, for the short fiber (14 percent of 

270,000 t) (Morel-à-l’Huissier and Hoskin, 1992). In 1999, the 

United States was grouped with other countries for all but the 

crude fiber because of the low import tonnage (Perron, 2001). 

In 2003, major export markets for Canadian asbestos were, 

in decreasing order by tonnage, India, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Algeria, Mexico, and Malaysia. Thus, 

Asian markets were relatively small in the 1970s but grew in 

dominance as markets shifted away from the United States 

and European countries in the 1980s. A detailed account of all 

exports from Canada is beyond the scope of this Circular; the 

“Canadian Minerals Yearbook” chapters on asbestos contain 

such information (Perron, 2001, 2003).

Other Market-Economy Countries

Brazil

Brazil is a relative newcomer in the asbestos industry. 

Although small amounts of asbestos were mined as early as 

1932, it wasn’t until 1967 that Brazil began significant production of chrysotile (Harben, 1984). Even then, production was 

only 16,300 t in 1970 (table 4). In 1971, the industry received 

a boost because of the Brazilian Goals and Bases Program. 

About $9.2 million was invested by the government to increase 

production (Clifton, 1973). Within 10 years, production was 

almost 170,000 t. Production peaked in 1991 at 237,000 t. 

Following a decline to about 170,000 t in 1995, production 

increased to about 194,000 t in 2002 and 2003. Markets in 

Brazil were primarily those dealing with the manufacturing of 

asbestos-cement products (85 percent of sales for the dominant 

Brazilian producer) and friction products, including brakes and 

clutches (O’Driscoll, 1989, p. 34; Kendall, 1996, p. 49).

Export of asbestos began from Brazil in about 1980. In 

1986, the major destinations for the largest Brazilian asbestos producer were Argentina, India, and Mexico, and smaller 

shipments were made to China, Japan, Portugal, and Spain 

(Roskill Information Services, Ltd., 1986, p. 14). By 1987, 

exports accounted for 25 to 30 percent of sales, and in the late 

1980s, major destinations for exported fiber included Africa, 

Asia, island nations in the Caribbean, and Latin America 

(O’Driscoll, 1989, p. 34). In 2003, major export markets were, 

in decreasing order by tonnage, Thailand, India, Iran, Indonesia, and Mexico (UN Statistics Division, 2005).

Cyprus

Cyprus was a small producer of chrysotile and thus is 

included under other countries in table 4. Although mention of 

asbestos products appears in early Greek history, systematic 

mining of small amounts of asbestos in Cyprus did not occur 

until around 1907 (Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 39; Howling, 

1937, p. 48). Significant commercial production did not begin 

until about 1950. Before that time, production was less than 

15,000 t/yr, and that amount was attained only in the late 

World Supply, Demand, and Trade 
1940s. World War II affected production drastically because 

Cyprus had an export-oriented asbestos industry. The industry 

recovered after the war. Within 25 years, production peaked at 

about 38,000 t in 1976 (Maliotis and Ilich, 1986). From there, 

a rapid decline occurred and production ceased around 1988.

Exports were the key to the asbestos industry’s survival in 

Cyprus. In 1962, about 69 percent of production was exported 

(May, 1964). By 1980, exports had reached 86 percent of 

production (table A8). Like Greece and Italy, Cyprus exported 

asbestos to Europe (Belgium and Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, and the 

United Kingdom), Africa (Egypt), and Asia and the Middle 

East (India, Indonesia, Japan, Syria, Taiwan, and Thailand) 

(Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1990, p. A4). The bulk of 

the exported asbestos was used by the asbestos-cement industry (Virta, 1987).

Greece

The earliest report of asbestos production in Greece was 

by Strabo in the 1st century A.D., and later reports were made 

by Solinus and Plutarch. They indicated that the fiber was 

carded and woven into handkerchiefs (Evans, 1906). Despite 

this early start, large-scale production of asbestos (mainly 

chrysotile) in Greece did not begin until the 20th century, and 

even then, production was sporadic.

Significant asbestos production in Greece did not begin 

until the early 1980s (table 4) as production declined in other 

parts of the world. In 1981, a new mill and mine near Zidani 

were opened. Production progressed slowly as technical difficulties were encountered and the world asbestos markets 

were soft (Sassos, 1983). Production increased to 66,000 t 

in 1990 from 17,000 t in 1982 (table 4). In 1991, the mining 

operation had one of several financial problems, resulting in a 

drastic downturn in production. In 1992, the company began 

operating again under new management (Skillen, 1993, p. 

37). Production in Greece peaked at 80,200 t in 1996. Mining 

ceased in 1998, although fiber recovery from stockpiles and 

sales from stocks may have continued through 2001.

When the Zidani mine opened, the largest planned market 

was in asbestos-cement products. About 10 percent of the 

mine’s output was to be used in other products such as floor 

tiles, asbestos paper products, putties, and paints (Industrial 

Minerals, 1978). In 1980, 20 to 25 percent of production was 

used domestically (Clifton, 1981). By 1993, 95 percent of the 

fiber was exported to Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, 

and Brazil, predominantly for asbestos-cement and roofing 

applications (Skillen, 1993, p. 37). Around 1978, Greece was 

importing about 30,000 t/yr of asbestos for its own asbestoscement industry (Industrial Minerals, 1978).

Italy

Italy was the second largest producer of asbestos in 

Europe, behind Russia, for most of the 20th century. Italy 

was surpassed by Greece in 1989 only with the shutdown of 

the Italian asbestos industry. Systematic production of Italian 

deposits began in the middle of the 19th century, although 

manufacturing had been reported earlier (Howling, 1937, 

p. 59; Alleman and Mossman, 1997). Production remained 

below 10,000 t until 1941 (table 4). Prior to the discovery of 

the Canadian deposits in the late 1800s, Italy supplied much 

of the world’s asbestos needs (Bowles, 1934, p. 19; Howling, 1937, p. 59). Most of that early production was tremolite. After World War I, the Balangero mine near San Vittore 

opened, and production of chrysotile comparable to Canadian 

fiber increased (Howling, 1937, p. 62). After a brief decline 

during World War II, production increased steadily. Around 

1968, the only operating mine in Italy upgraded its facilities to 

increase production (Icke, 1969). Asbestos production peaked 

at 165,000 t in 1976 and ceased in 1991. The Italian industry 

collapsed after the passage of government legislation banning 

the use of asbestos (Loughbrough, 1992, p. 43). Markets for 

Italian fiber included adhesives, asbestos-cement products, 

bitumen, electrical insulation, friction products, jointings, 

paper, and plastics (Mining Magazine, 1987). In 1985, it was 

estimated that about 70 percent of domestic sales were for 

asbestos-cement applications (Craynon, 1988, p. 482).

Italy had an active asbestos-manufacturing industry and 

thus exported less than half of its asbestos production. Exports 

of 63,818 t accounted for about 40 percent of production in 

1980; the remainder was used domestically in asbestos-cement 

products (Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1983, p. 45). In 

1985, Italy’s asbestos exports were estimated to be 66,200 

t; the leading importers of Italian fiber were West Germany 

(15,400 t), France (10,000 t), and Japan (7,130 t) (Craynon, 

1988, p. 470). Italy imported crude fiber, requiring 41,400 t in 

1984 (Sondermayer, 1987, p. 486).

South Africa

South Africa was probably the second most important 

market-economy producer of asbestos from about 1950 

through the mid-1980s. Asbestos production in South Africa 

began in the late 1800s but had progressed to only a few 

hundred tons by the start of the 20th century (table 4). Production increased slowly from 1900 to about 25,000 t in the 1940s 

after a mild downturn in the 1930s.

After World War II, production increased rapidly, 

undoubtedly aided by major rebuilding efforts worldwide and 

growing economies starting in the 1950s. The number of mills 

in the Transvaal area increased from 6 to 27 in 1948–1949, 

allowing for increased fiber production (South African Mining 

Journal, 1949). Mining increased from 41,500 t in 1948 to its 

peak of 380,000 t in 1977 with only minor setbacks (table 4). 

Around 1956, the amosite and crocidolite producers resolved 

problems with mine pumping and ventilation, although these 

problems didn’t appear to affect production significantly 

(Kennedy and Mattila, 1958). Chrysotile production capacity received a boost with the completion of a new mill near 

Barberton in 1969 (Readling, 1971). As awareness of the 

 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
asbestos health issue increased in the early 1970s, sales began 

to decline and, by 1977, producers were reporting higher than 

expected stocks, indicating that production was outpacing 

demand (Clifton, 1980a). After peaking in 1977, production 

declined rapidly to 135,000 t in 1987, 50,000 t in 1997, and 

6,220 t in 2003.

South Africa was unique in that it was the major world 

supplier for amosite and crocidolite and also produced 

chrysotile and minor amounts of anthophyllite and tremolite. Production of amosite, crocidolite, and chrysotile each 

dominated a different time period: amosite between 1938 and 

1955, crocidolite from 1956 through 1982, and chrysotile prior 

to 1938 and after 1982. Production histories differed for the 

different types of asbestos as summarized below:

Amosite. South African amosite was first mined in the 

Barberton District in 1907 and in the Pietersburg District in 

1914 (Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 30; Kupferburger, 1930). 

Amosite accounted for the largest share of production 

between 1938 and 1955. Following an expansion program 

begun in 1948, amosite production increased through 1973, 

when it peaked at 106,000 t (Howling, 1937, p. 36; Bowles, 

1959, p. 31; van der Merwe, 1989; Roskill Information 

Services Ltd., 1990, p. 43). Demand for amosite began to 

decline in the early 1970s, in response to health concerns. 

Amosite mining ceased around 1992, although stocks were 

sold after that time (Mining Journal, 1992; Industrial Minerals, 1993; British Geological Survey, 1995, p. 24).

Crocidolite. Crocidolite production in South Africa was 

reported as early as 1893 (Diller, 1921, p. 555; Becker 

& Haag, 1928, p. 29; Munzhelele, 2000). Crocidolite 

production in South Africa peaked in 1977 at 201,000 t 

and dominated from 1956 through 1982 (Howling, 1937, 

p. 36; Bowles, 1959, p. 31; van der Merwe, 1989; Roskill 

Information Services Ltd., 1990, p. 43). Demand for 

crocidolite began to decline in the late 1970s. Crocidolite 

mining ended in 1997 (Munzhelele, 2000; British Geological Survey, 2002, p. 25).

Chrysotile. Chrysotile, whose production in South Africa 

began in 1905, was produced in small amounts in the 

country’s early mining history, with production being less 

than 1,000 t/yr before 1949 (Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 30; 

Bowles, 1959, p. 31). Chrysotile accounted for the largest 

share of asbestos production in South Africa prior to 1938 

and after 1982, as amosite and crocidolite production 

declined in the early 1970s and late 1970s, respectively, in 

response to health concerns. Chrysotile production peaked 

in 1989 at about 115,000 t and was 6,000 t in 2003 (Howling, 1937, p. 36; Bowles, 1959, p. 31; van der Merwe, 

1989; Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1990, p. 43; 

USGS, 1997–2005).

Anthophyllite and tremolite. Only small amounts of 

anthophyllite and tremolite were produced in South 

Africa, generally on the order of only a few thousand tons 

annually, combined.

•

•

•

•

Like Canada, South Africa has been a net exporter of 

asbestos. More than 75 percent of South African production 

after 1960 was exported annually (Gössling, 1977, p. 75; 

Munzhelele, 2000). For most years, exports were between 85 

and 95 percent of production (although some of this amount 

was probably shipped from stocks during some years). Exports 

went to the Far Eastern countries, Middle Eastern countries, 

and European markets. Between 1935 and 1955, the United 

Kingdom and United States were the largest importers of 

fiber from South Africa (Bowles, 1959, p. 44). These two 

countries accounted for 27 percent and 23 percent of exports, 

respectively, in 1954 (Bowles, 1959, p. 44). These countries 

were followed by various other European countries, Australia, 

Japan, India and Pakistan, and various Latin American countries in 1954 (Bowles, 1959, p. 44). Total exports from South 

Africa were 21,500 t in 1935 and 116,000 t in 1954.

By 1970, major importers of South African asbestos were 

Japan (33 percent), Italy (11.7 percent), the United Kingdom 

(9.5 percent), Germany (9.3 percent), and France (6 percent) 

(Gössling, 1977). Only 3 years later, these export markets had 

changed to Japan (33.7 percent), Spain (15.2 percent), Italy 

(9.4 percent), the United Kingdom (7.8 percent), Germany 

(5.8 percent), France (5.6 percent), and the United States 

(5.6 percent) (Gössling, 1977, p. 74). These same countries 

continued to be major markets as late as 1985. Other historical destinations included Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Taiwan, 

and Yugoslavia (Gössling, 1977, p. 74). South African exports 

peaked around 1975 at 339,000 t, compared to a peak of 1.69 

Mt in 1973 for Canadian exports (van der Merwe, 1989, p. 

144; Louis Perron, written commun., 2001).

Like exporters elsewhere, South Africa was affected by 

asbestos health issues (van der Merwe, 1989). Partial or total 

bans on asbestos use in several European countries in recent 

years eliminated some former markets for the South African 

producers. Smaller losses in markets occurred with the downturn of the U.S. market after 1970. The major export market 

for South Africa in 2003 was Thailand (UN Statistics Division, 2005).

Swaziland

Swaziland was a relatively small producer of chrysotile. 

Except for some sporadic mining, commercial production 

didn’t really begin until 1939, when production was reported 

to be about 7,000 t (table 4). That was the year that the 

Havelock mine began operating (Bowles and Warner, 1940). 

Within 3 years, production had surpassed 20,000 t/yr. Installation of an aerial ropeway through to the rail lines in 1941 

eased a major transportation problem (Bowles and Petron, 

1943). Over the next 35 years, demand rose slowly and was 

interrupted by brief periods of downturns. For a short period in 

the early 1970s, production suffered because of problems with 

rock stability in one of the underground mines (Clifton, 1975). 

Production peaked in 1976 at 41,800 t. Production declined to 

12,700 t in 2000, when production ceased.

World Supply, Demand, and Trade   
Like the other asbestos-producing countries in Africa, 

Swaziland depended on exports to sustain its industries. The 

bulk of the production was shipped to other African nations, 

Europe, and the Far East. Most of the asbestos was used to 

produce asbestos-cement products. Shorter fibers were used 

for friction applications (Roskill Information Services Ltd., 

1990, p. 48).

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is renowned for its production of low-iron, 

long-fiber chrysotile. Mining began around 1908 (Becker 

& Haag, 1928, p. 35; Natural Resources Board of Southern 

Rhodesia, 1963). By 1930, Zimbabwe produced 34,000 t of 

asbestos and was the third largest producer after Canada and 

the combined production of Kazakhstan and Russia (table 4). 

The opening of the Shabanie Railway in 1927 helped spur production by eliminating a major transportation issue (Bowles 

and Stoddard, 1930). Competition from Russia affected Zimbabwean producers in the early 1930s, although this potential 

problem was resolved by European customers apportioning 

orders between the two sources (Bowles and Stoddard, 1933). 

Production began increasing by the mid-1930s. Much of the 

increase was attributed to increased sales of short chrysotile 

fiber grades used by the asbestos-cement industry (Bowles and 

Cornthwaite, 1937).

Despite growing sales, Zimbabwe lost its third place 

standing to South Africa by 1950 but regained it in 1985 

when markets for South Africa’s amphibole asbestos declined. 

Between those times, Zimbabwe declared its independence 

from the United Kingdom in 1965 and had UN economic 

sanctions imposed in 1966. Despite the sanctions from 1966 to 

1979 and strikes in 1972, the companies continued to upgrade 

their production facilities, and production and sales increased 

(British Sulphur Corporation, 1972, p. 3; Clifton, 1974, 1982; 

Clarke, 1982). Production peaked at 281,000 t in 1976 (table 

4). However, market reversals resulted in a decline in sales 

and buildup of large stocks between 1978 and 1980 (Roskill 

Information Services Ltd., 1983, p. 68). Production declined 

to 115,000 t in 1999 but then rebounded to about 147,000 t in 

2003 (table 4).

Like South Africa, Zimbabwe depended on export markets to sustain its asbestos industry. About 97 percent of its 

production was exported to 50 countries by the early 1980s 

(Clarke, 1982). The United Kingdom was the leading importer 

from 1935 to 1956 except during World War II, when the 

United States became the leading importer of Zimbabwean 

fiber. Other important markets were other European countries 

and Australia, India, and Latin America (Bowles, 1959, p. 43). 

In 1980, Southeast Asia was a major market for Zimbabwean 

fiber because of its use in textiles (Industrial Minerals, 1980). 

In 1982, it was estimated that Zimbabwe supplied about 50 

percent of the world’s asbestos fiber for textiles (Clarke, 

1982). Another market for the fiber was in asbestos-cement 

products (Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1983, p. 68). In 

2003, major export markets, in decreasing order by tonnage, 

were Slovakia, Thailand, India, Iran, Brazil, and Japan (UN 

Statistics Division, 2005).

Countries Currently or Formerly Having Centrally 

Planned Economies

China

Production of asbestos (mainly chrysotile) in China is difficult to track over time. As with many of the industrial minerals mining industries in China, accurate production and trade 

data on asbestos are difficult to obtain and frequently are not 

available. The use of asbestos in China began more than 2,000 

years ago, when asbestos was used to make fire insulation, 

asbestos paper, and fire pots (by mixing lime with asbestos). 

The most famous and earliest source for asbestos mined in 

China was Szechuan Province (Wang, 1981, p. 256). Production by individual companies operating in China between 

1918 and 1928 was reported to be less than 100 t/yr combined 

(Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 44). Around 1934, production was 

estimated to be less than a few hundred tons (Bowles, 1934, p. 

22).

China became a moderate-sized producer of asbestos 

around 1960, when production was estimated to be 81,600 t 

(table 4). By 1965, 10 new asbestos projects were believed 

to have been completed in Szechuan Province, after which 

asbestos production increased fairly rapidly (Wang, 1967, 

p. 1115–1116). Production was reported to be 209,000 t in 

1973. More than 12 up-to-date facilities mining and processing asbestos were online in Szechuan Province by 1975. By 

that time, Hopeh (Hebei) Province became the second largest 

producing region in China (Wang, 1978, p. 297–298). Production declined in the mid-1970s and early to mid-1980s. It was 

about 221,000 t in 1990. Production increased to 350,000 t in 

2003 (table 4). Because world markets declined between 1990 

and 2003, the increase in Chinese asbestos production probably was used within the country. Market data in China are not 

routinely published, but in 1985, it was reported that as­bestoscement products accounted for 51 percent of the asbestos 

usage in China (Chin, 1988, p. 216). Asbestos-cement markets 

still dominated in 1996, followed by friction products, rubber, 

textiles, and insulation products (Lu, 1998).

China consumed most of its production internally and 

cannot be considered a world supplier of asbestos. Exports 

were mostly to Southeast Asian markets. In 1964, exports 

were only a few thousand tons, with most exported to Japan 

and Poland (Wang, 1967, p. 1116). Asbestos exports were 

reported to be only 1,394 t in 1974; all went to Japan. Exports 

were 10,430 t in 1979 (Chin, 1983, p. 233). Exports in 1980 

(7,397 t) were shipped mainly to Hong Kong, Indonesia, and 

Thailand (Chin, 1983, p. 233). Despite increased production, 

exports fell to 553 t in 1986. Hong Kong, Singapore, and 

Thailand were the major destinations in 1986 (Chin and Wu, 

1990, p. 240). Exports were reported as 9,392 t in 1996, with 

Vietnam being the leading importer of Chinese asbestos (7,763 

10 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
t) (Lu, 1998). In 2003, exports were only 3,470 t (table A19), 

and North Korea and Thailand were the leading destinations 

(UN Statistics Division, 2005).

Imports generally were not reported or import data 

were not available over much of the history of the asbestos 

industry in China. Imports were reported to be 179 t in 1973 

and 839 t in 1985 (Wang, 1978, p. 291; Chin, 1988, p. 207). 

By the 1990s, imports had increased, rising from 1,083 t in 

1990 (table A10) to 77,959 t in 1996 (table A12). Of significance was the increased importation of long-fiber asbestos. 

The major source for imported asbestos in 1996 was Russia 

(77,091 t) (Lu, 1998, p. 19). China imported 145,000 t in 2003 

(table A19), and 119,000 t (82 percent) were supplied by Russia (UN Statistics Division, 2005).

Kazakhstan and Russia

Asbestos has been produced in Kazakhstan since the 

1960s and in Russia since the late 1800s. These countries are 

discussed together in this Circular because production data 

were generally available only for the Soviet Union prior to its 

dissolution in 1991.

Sinclair (1959, p. 3) reported that deposits in the Ural 

Mountains were first opened around 1720 and that systematic 

mining of chrysotile on a commercial scale began in the early 

1800s (Becker & Haag, 1928, p. 27; Howling, 1937, p. 62). 

Production in Russia was initially concentrated in Bajenova 

in the Ural district, which provided about 85 percent of the 

supply by the 1920s (Bowles and Stoddard, 1931; RuKeyser, 1933a). Production, however, essentially stopped with 

federalization of the mines in 1918, World War I, the Russian 

revolution, and establishment of the Soviet State following the 

war (Bowles and Stoddard, 1930; Howling, 1937, p. 62).

Completion of a rail line that connected to the TransSiberian Railway in 1927 greatly improved access to the Uralasbest chrysotile deposit and made possible intensive development of the mines (RuKeyser, 1933b). By 1927, Russia 

provided 11 to 15 percent of the world’s supply of asbestos. A 

new line replaced this rail line in 1931. The new line improved 

efficiency because it conformed to the standard Russian gauge, 

eliminating the need to transfer equipment and product at the 

railhead (RuKeyser, 1933b).

In the 1930s, Russia began to develop a large asbestos products industry, making Russia both a major asbestos 

producer and a major consumer, and thereby reducing its 

dependence on foreign markets (Bowles and Stoddard, 1933). 

Bowles (1934, p. 18) noted that exports declined from 51 

percent in 1922–1923 to 21 percent in 1934, reflecting the 

rapidly expanding domestic manufacturing industry. Around 

1937, a 5-year plan (one of many) was developed that would 

increase capacity to 220,000 t/yr (Bowles and Barsigian, 

1943). Production increased gradually through 1982, except 

perhaps for World War II, for which data were not available. 

Contributing to the increase of production in the Soviet Union 

was the development of the Tuva asbestos complex in the Tuva 

Autonomous Republic of Russia in 1964 and the Dzhetygara 

chrysotile deposit in Kustanay Oblast in Kazakhstan in 1965 

(Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1990, p. 57).

By 1975, Kazakhstan and Russia, combined, had surpassed Canada as the world’s leading producer of asbestos (table 4). Production in the Ural Mountains of Russia 

accounted for about 73 percent of asbestos production, followed by Kazakhstan with 24 percent and the Tuva Republic 

with 3 percent (Sutulov, 1973, p. 176).

The Kiyembay asbestos combine in the Orenburg Oblast 

of Russia began operating in 1979 and reached full operating capacity in 1985 (Strishkov, 1981b, p. 997; Industrial 

Minerals, 1985). In 1979, the Uralasbest combine accounted 

for more than 62 percent of Soviet production; the combines 

in Kazakhstan, Orenburg, and Tuva accounted for 26, 10.5, 

and 1.2 percent of Soviet production, respectively (Strishkov, 

1981b, p. 996). Uralasbest, however, continued to provide all 

of the asbestos exported in 1980 (Clifton, 1982, p. 110).

The combined production of Kazakhstan and Russia continued to increase until 1982, when it peaked at about 2.7 Mt 

(table 4). By then, the health issue had begun to affect some 

of the export markets. A more serious issue for producers in 

Kazakhstan and Russia was the breakup of the Soviet Union 

in 1991. Combined production for Kazakhstan and Russia 

declined from 2 Mt in 1991 to 744,000 t in 1996 (table 4). 

Many industries, not just the asbestos industry, were affected 

by financial difficulties immediately after the breakup. Markets, however, recovered for the asbestos producers, and the 

combined production in Kazakhstan and Russia rebounded to 

1.230 Mt in 2003, accounting for 55 percent of world asbestos 

production. Between 1992 and 2003, Kazakhstan accounted 

for 21 percent of production in the former Soviet Union 

(USBM, 1933–1996; USGS, 1997–2005).

In the early 1960s, more than 80 percent of asbestos 

consumed in the Soviet Union was used in roof tiles, wall 

panels, pipes, molded articles, and other building materials. 

Lower grades were used in manufacturing heat insulations 

and heat-resistant plastics. Treated mill wastes were used to 

make reinforced asphalt and roofing paper, filler in portland 

cement for concrete pipe, plaster, and protective coatings for 

metallic structures. Untreated asbestos mill wastes were used 

as railroad ballast and cold asphalt (Tverskoi, 1968). By about 

1967, major markets were roof tiles, wall panels, pipes, heat 

insulations, asphalt, roofing paper, asbestos-cement products, 

and plasters (Tverskoi, 1968). Asbestos-cement products were 

the dominant market in some recent years.

The former Soviet Union eventually became a major 

participant in the world asbestos economy because its production in Kazakhstan and Russia exceeded its domestic 

needs. In its early history, a significant percentage of production was exported. However, Bowles and Stoddard (1933, p. 

751–752) observed that the asbestos-manufacturing industry 

in the Soviet Union was expanding rapidly in the 1930s and 

consuming a larger share of domestic production. By 1961, 

exports from the Soviet Union were 176,800 t (Sokoloff, 1964, 

p. 760). The bulk of the exports went to Eastern and Western 

Europe and Japan (8,800 t); the importing European counWorld Supply, Demand, and Trade 11
tries, listed in order of decreasing tonnage, were as follows: 

West Germany (27,500 t), France (25,500 t), East Germany 

(14,000 t), Czechoslovakia (12,700 t), Bulgaria (12,000 t), 

Poland (11,300 t), and Hungary (10,100 t) (Sokoloff, 1964, p. 

760). Exports expanded rapidly after that, reaching 385,000 

t in 1970 (Strishkov, 1973, p. 832). In 1968, Tverskoi (1968) 

reported that the Soviet Union exported asbestos fiber to more 

than 30 countries. By 1970, export destinations, listed in order 

of decreasing tonnage, were as follows: France (53,000 t), 

Japan (43,900 t), West Germany (43,100 t), Poland (31,500 

t), Bulgaria (21,200 t), Czechoslovakia (21,100 t), Yugoslavia 

(20,600 t), and Romania (16,300 t) (Strishkov, 1973, p. 832). 

Exports increased to 613,000 t in 1975 (Strishkov, 1980, p. 

1085).

There was a major unexplained decline in exports in 

1976, when exports were only 389,000 t compared to 613,000 

t in 1975 (Strishkov, 1981a, p. 982). Exports recovered by 

1980, when they were reported to be 600,000 t (table A8). In 

the early 1980s, countries having centrally planned economies 

accounted for about 50 percent of exports from Kazakhstan 

and Russia (Roskill Information Services Ltd., 1983, p. 64). 

Declining asbestos consumption worldwide and possibly 

internal issues resulted in export declines to 310,000 t in 1985 

(table A9) and to 248,000 t in 1990 (table A10). By 2000, 

export markets had improved, and exports from Kazakhstan 

and Russia were 495,000 t (tables A10–A16).

In 2003, exports from Kazakhstan were estimated to be 

184,000 t (table A19). Major markets, in decreasing order 

by tonnage, were Ukraine, Uzbekistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, 

and China (UN Statistics Division, 2005); these countries 

accounted for 90 percent of exports from Kazakhstan. Exports 

from Russia in 2003 were 450,000 t (table A19). Major export 

destinations, in decreasing order by tonnage, were China, 

Ukraine, India, Iran, Vietnam, and Thailand; these countries 

accounted for 84 percent of Russian exports (UN Statistics 

Division, 2005).

Other Producing Countries

While the above-mentioned countries produced the bulk 

of the asbestos, many other countries produced small amounts 

of asbestos that filled essential markets. For example, Finland 

was the world’s primary source for anthophyllite asbestos 

from about 1919 to 1975. Production in Finland was relatively 

low over time, exceeding 10,000 t/yr for only a few years in 

the late 1960s (USBM, 1933–1996). After that, production 

declined and finally stopped in 1975.

Crocidolite was produced in Australia and Bolivia. Australia began producing asbestos around 1916 (table 4). Production increased slowly to 16,700 t in 1962. It declined rapidly 

to 666 t in 1967 after Australian Blue Asbestos Pty. closed its 

Wittenoom mine in 1966 (Morrell, 1969, p. 99). Production 

increased in the early 1970s to meet world demand, peaking at 

92,400 t in 1980. No production, however, was reported after 

1983 (table 4). Bolivia produced only 1 t of crocidolite in 1968 

(Clifton, 1972, p. 201).

India was a source for anthophyllite and tremolite 

asbestos, as well as chrysotile. Production began around 1917 

and eventually reached 44,100 t in 1993 (USGS, 1901–1926; 

USBM, 1927–1933, 1933–1996). Production was estimated to 

be about 19,000 t in 2003 (table A19).

Japan and the Republic of Korea also were important 

sources of mainly chrysotile for Far Eastern asbestos markets 

during various periods of the 20th century. Production in Japan 

began by 1920, peaked at 27,000 t in 1967, and finally ceased 

in 2000 (USGS, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; USBM, 1927–1933, 

1933–1996). Production in the Republic of Korea began in 

the early 1930s. Its production peaked at 15,900 t in 1982. 

Production was last reported in 1992.

A host of other countries also provided even smaller 

amounts (less than 5,000 t each) of asbestos for domestic or 

export markets.

World Consumption

Introduction

The following section includes a description of asbestos 

consumption in the United States and the following groups: 

other countries in Central and North America, Europe, Asia 

and the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Oceania. 

For consistency, data used in this section were extracted from 

publications of the British Geological Survey and its predecessors and the United Nations Statistics Division (2005) trade 

data. Production data used in the above section on “World 

Supply, Demand, and Trade” were from U.S. Bureau of 

Mines and U.S. Geological Survey “Mineral Resources of the 

United States” and “Minerals Yearbook” (USGS, 1901–1926, 

1997–2005; USBM, 1927–1933, 1933–1996). See the section 

“Data Sources” for further explanation.

World consumption patterns for asbestos have evolved 

over time. Changes have occurred because of technological 

progress (industrialization and the development of an asbestosmanufacturing industry), availability of asbestos either domestically or through imports, political changes (civil unrest, 

independence movements, or sanctions), regulatory bans on 

its use, world conflicts, liability issues, and, foremost in recent 

years, health issues. By tracking apparent consumption, one 

can obtain a general idea of the changes that have occurred in 

the worldwide use of asbestos over time.

Apparent consumption for this Circular is defined as 

production plus imports minus exports; where possible, the 

values were adjusted to account for changes in government and 

industry stocks. Bowles (1955, p. 59, 1959, p. 32) noted that it 

is much more difficult to determine apparent consumption than 

production. What applied in the 1950s is still true today. Manufacturing from consumer stocks, sales from producer stocks, 

and a lack of data on amounts of consumer and producer stocks 

12 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
that have been held over from year to year complicate the 

estimation of apparent consumption, as do the limitations of the 

data as discussed in the “Data Sources” section.

Overcapacity, particularly after the asbestos health issue 

was raised, resulted in a significant share of production going 

into stocks for some countries in some years. This accumulation of stocks had a relatively minor effect on apparent consumption calculations for nonproducing countries. It did have 

an effect on apparent consumption calculations for Canada, 

South Africa, and Zimbabwe, which were leading producers 

with relatively small asbestos-product-manufacturing industries. Although calculated apparent consumption for these 

countries may have been large some years, actual consumption 

was much less because of indeterminate amounts of asbestos 

production being placed in stocks. These changes in stocks, 

as well as incomplete trade reporting, resulted in significant 

incongruities in asbestos production, trade balance, and apparent consumption calculations between 1998 and 2000, as was 

noted in USGS Open-File Report 03–083 (Virta, 2003b). More 

recently available data used for the calculation of apparent 

consumption for 1998 through 2003 appear to have resolved 

this imbalance issue, as world production and world consumption estimates are similar. Still, the following discussion 

should be viewed as an approximate measure of apparent 

consumption and should be utilized to determine trends in 

the apparent consumption of asbestos rather than its absolute 

consumption. A detailed breakout of calculated apparent 

consumption by country is given in the appendix for specific 

times: for 1920–1970, at 10-year intervals (tables A1–A6); 

for 1970–1995 at 5-year intervals (tables A6–A11); and for 

1996–2003, at 1-year intervals (tables A12–A19).

United States

Although the modern asbestos industry first began in 

Asia and Europe, it was the United States that fully embraced 

its potential, becoming the largest consuming country in the 

world for much of the 20th century (figs. 1 and 2). The United 

States offered the greatest opportunities for the relatively 

new asbestos industry. The country’s population centers 

were expanding rapidly with the surge in immigration in 

the early 1900s; capital was available for investment in the 

asbestos industry; there were large demands for construction 

of housing, public buildings, and roads; and Canada could 

provide a ready supply of asbestos. To meet these demands, 

the construction industry not only expanded but also evolved 

through technological developments, creating an opportunity 

for the asbestos industry to establish itself. Thus, the use of 

asbestos exploded in the United States unlike anywhere else in 

the world. The United States became a world leader in usage 

within a couple of decades of having begun its asbestos industry and held that position through the 1960s.

From 1920 through the 1960s, the United States 

accounted for 30 to 83 percent of world apparent consumption for the 10-year intervals examined. In the late 1960s, the 

United States was replaced by the Soviet Union as the leading 

consuming country (fig. 2). The next nearest competitor was 

Japan, which had attained a consumption of 319,000 t in 

1970 (table A6). A detailed discussion of U.S. consumption 

of asbestos is presented above in the section “World Supply, 

Demand, and Trade.”

Other Countries in Central and North America

Other countries in Central and North America consumed 

relatively small amounts of asbestos. These included Canada, 

Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. 

Most of these countries were small consumers, using only a 

few thousand tons annually.

Canada was primarily an exporter but its calculated 

apparent consumption was 106,000 t of asbestos in 1980 (table 

A8). Canada probably had an oversupply as world markets 

began to decline. A large part of the 106,000 t probably went 

into stocks rather than Canadian commerce. Consumption of 

around 45,000 t annually probably would have been the norm 

from 1940 to 1970 and much less after the 1980s.

Consumption in Mexico gradually built up to 79,000 t 

in 1980 from an annual consumption of only 390 t in 1930 

(tables A2 and A8). After 1980, consumption declined, eventually reaching 20,000 t in 2003 (table A19).

In 2003, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, 

Guatemala, and Panama were other Central and North American countries consuming asbestos. Only Cuba and El Salvador increased their consumption of asbestos between the late 

1990s and 2003.

Europe

After the United States, Europe was the next region 

to develop an asbestos-manufacturing industry. The United 

Kingdom, receiving its asbestos from other parts of its world 

empire, was the major European consumer during the early 

part of the 20th century (fig. 2, table A1). Many other European countries soon followed the United Kingdom. By 1930, 

Belgium and Luxembourg, Germany, and the United Kingdom 

were major suppliers of asbestos products throughout Asia 

and Europe. The former Soviet Union was the next largest 

producer and consumer of asbestos with its need to supply 

itself and other countries having centrally planned economies. 

Apparent consumption in the Soviet Union exceeded that of 

the United Kingdom by 1950 and that of the United States by 

1970 because of large construction demands.

There were 17 European countries consuming a total of 

40,900 t of asbestos in 1920 (table A1). By 1930, estimated 

consumption had increased to 127,500 t (table A2). Belgium 

and Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Italy, 

the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom experienced the 

largest growth in consumption between 1940 and 1950 (tables 

A3 and A4). Between 1950 and 1960, the asbestos industry 

World Consumption 13
in Europe experienced its greatest expansion up to this time, 

increasing to 1.17 Mt (table A5) from 507,000 t in 1950. During the decade of the 1950s, consumption in Austria, Belgium 

and Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Italy, the 

Netherlands, Poland, the Soviet Union, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Yugoslavia 

increased considerably. The largest gains were in the Soviet 

Union (317,000 t), the United Kingdom (55,400 t), and West 

Germany (52,400 t). Much of the growth in consumption in 

the late 1940s and a large portion of the 1950s can be attributed to the massive reconstruction efforts in Europe following 

World War II. Estimated consumption in Europe increased to 

1.8 Mt in 1970 and 2.8 Mt in 1980 (tables A6 and A8). The 

largest growth was in the Soviet Union, increasing by slightly 

more than 1 Mt between 1960 and 1980.

The asbestos health issue, which affected U.S. markets by 

the mid-1970s, also began to affect asbestos in Europe. After 

1980, demand in all large consuming European countries, 

except the Soviet Union, began to decline (figs. 1 and 2). This 

pattern continued through 1990, with only the Soviet Union 

maintaining its consumption levels. In 1990, consumption in 

Europe was 2.58 Mt (table A10).

Between 1990 and the end of 2003, the European asbestos 

manufacturing industry experienced many changes. During that 

time, the Soviet Union was restructured, and many European 

countries banned the use of asbestos; in 2005, the EU voted to 

ban the use of asbestos except for a few exemptions. From a 

tonnage standpoint, the restructuring of the Soviet Union had the 

biggest effect. By 1995, estimated consumption in Europe had 

declined to 927,000 t, and by 1998, to 682,000 t (tables A11 and 

A14). However, consumption increased after that to 704,000 t in 

2000 and 857,000 t in 2003 (tables A16 and A19). Kazakhstan 

and Ukraine accounted for much of the increase. The leading 

consumers of asbestos in Europe and the former Soviet Union in 

2003 were Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan (fig. 3, table A19).

Asia and the Middle East

Asia and the Middle East were combined in this Circular 

for statistical purposes. The lack of asbestos production and 

limited number of countries using asbestos in the Middle East 

did not warrant separate treatment.

Growth in the Asian and the Middle Eastern asbestosmanufacturing markets lagged behind growth of those markets 

in Europe and the United States. This difference can be partially attributed to less initial industrial development in most 

Asian and Middle Eastern countries in the early 20th century; 

cultural differences guiding infrastructure and technological 

development; government policies regarding industrial development; and fiscal constraints affecting the startup of new 

industries or importation of new products.

Very little asbestos was used in Asia and the Middle 

East in 1920, only 6,810 t by two consuming nations (table 

A1). It wasn’t until the 1950s that a serious manufacturing 

industry developed (figs. 1 and 2). Estimated consumption 

in 1960 was 222,000 t in 16 countries, a dramatic increase 

from only 25,400 t in 1950 (tables A4 and A5). China and 

Japan accounted for the bulk of this increase in consumption. 

Asbestos consumption in Asia and the Middle East increased 

to 669,000 t in 1970 (table A6) from 222,000 t in 1960. 

Again, China and Japan accounted for the largest increases in 

consumption. Smaller increases occurred in India, Iran, the 

Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey. Japan 

was the most consistent leading user of asbestos in this region 

from 1920 to 1970 (fig. 2). Estimated consumption in Asia 

and the Middle East increased to 1.07 Mt in 1980 (table A8). 

By this time, more countries in the region were manufacturing 

asbestos products, and considerable gains were made in China, 

India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, 

Saudi Arabia (a one-time occurrence), Taiwan, Thailand, and 

Turkey.

The early 1980s brought about a shift in manufacturing 

in Asia and the Middle East. Estimated consumption declined 

in China, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan but 

increased in India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Thailand (tables A8 and A9). There was an increase in consumption through 1995 to 1.26 Mt from 976,000 t in 1990 (tables 

A10 and A11). China accounted for the bulk of the increase 

and was followed by, in decreasing order by tonnage, Thailand, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Malaysia (fig. 3).

In 2003, China accounted for 46 percent of the apparent 

asbestos consumption in Asia and the Middle East, mainly to 

satisfy its own domestic needs. India was the next leading consumer with 18 percent of the market, followed by Thailand (12 

percent) and Iran (7 percent). Indonesia, Japan, the Republic 

of Korea, and Vietnam were smaller but still significant users 

of asbestos (table A19). Sixteen other countries in Asia and 

the Middle East still maintained a small presence in the asbestos-manufacturing sector.

Africa

Consumption in Africa was rather low throughout most 

of the 20th century, peaking in the 1990s. Slow population 

growth, limitations on land amenable for development, slow 

dissemination of technological developments, government 

policies toward development, and fiscal constraints influenced 

the development of the asbestos industry in Africa. Even the 

asbestos-producing African nations, despite having manufacturing facilities, exported the bulk of their fiber production to 

foreign manufacturing markets.

Only a few African countries used asbestos in the 1920s. 

Estimated consumption was about 2,200 t in 1920 (table 

A1). Egypt, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, and probably South 

Africa, had small manufacturing industries. This situation did 

not change significantly until the 1950s. In 1950, consumption 

had risen to about 9,600 t, excluding South Africa and Zimbabwe, which apparently exported a large amount of asbestos 

from stocks and had a net negative apparent consumption 

14  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
(table A4). Algeria, Congo (Kinshasa), Egypt, Morocco, and 

Swaziland were the largest consumers.

Estimated consumption in Africa increased to 90,300 t in 

1970 from 28,600 t (excluding South Africa’s negative calculated apparent consumption) in 1960 (tables A5 and A6). The 

largest increases in consumption in 1970 were for two countries that had no reported consumption in 1960: Nigeria, where 

consumption increased to 34,400 t, and Zambia, where consumption increased to 15,600 t. Nigerian and Zambian imports 

varied considerably over time, suggesting that asbestos was 

stockpiled during one year and used over several years.

After the 1970s, consumption in most countries in Africa 

began to decline. The notable exception was Algeria, whose 

consumption was erratic but still was 21,300 t in 1980, 17,400 

t in 1990, 7,610 t in 2000, and 10,756 t in 2003 (tables A8, 

A10, A16, and A19). In 2003, several other African countries 

had small manufacturing industries (table A19).

Consumption in South Africa and Zimbabwe is largely 

ignored in the above discussion on Africa. Stockpiling of 

asbestos during times of overcapacity resulted in excessively 

high values for calculated apparent consumption for South 

Africa in 1985 (table A9) and Zimbabwe in 2000 to 2002 

(tables A16, A17, and A18). Conversely, large shipments from 

stocks during periods of high demand resulted in excessively 

large negative values for calculated apparent consumption 

in South Africa in 1960, 1980, and 1998 (tables A5, A8, and 

A14). Including these values would have resulted in incorrect 

interpretations of consumption for all of Africa during those 

years.

South America

The asbestos industry in South America did not begin to 

have significance in the world markets until the 1960s. Before 

that time, there was little asbestos production or consumption (fig. 1). What little production there was existed to fill 

niche markets rather than to meet growing world demands. 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela were 

the major South American consumers of asbestos during the 

early part of the 20th century. In 1960, consumption in South 

America was about 38,100 t (table A5). Brazil had just begun 

production to supply its own markets, but South America was 

dependent on imports for about 65 percent of its fiber consumption.

By 1970, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia had the most 

active of the asbestos-manufacturing industries in South 

America. Even at that, consumption was estimated to be only 

99,200 t (table A6).

By the mid-1970s, though, Brazilian production had 

expanded to meet the country’s demands, and Brazil soon 

became the dominant South American producer and consumer 

of asbestos (table A7). In 1980, Brazil accounted for about 73 

percent of the continent’s asbestos usage of 267,000 t (table 

A8). Brazil was followed by Colombia with 27,100 t, Argentina with 21,400 t, and Venezuela with 9,100 t. Ecuador, Peru, 

and Uruguay used lesser amounts.

With the onset of the asbestos health issue, consumption in most South American countries declined. Even that of 

Brazil declined to 78,400 t in 2003 from 173,000 t in 2000, 

although its exports of asbestos increased from 63,100 t in 

2000 to 144,300 t in 2003 (tables A16 and A19).

Oceania

Oceania includes Australia and New Zealand and other 

nations in the region. Australia and New Zealand produced 

and consumed asbestos in the early part of the 20th century. 

Consumption rose gradually through the mid-1970s (fig. 1) 

and peaked at 85,700 t in 1975 (table A7). Australia accounted 

for 73,200 t of this total. With the asbestos health issue of 

the 1970s, production and consumption declined rapidly. By 

1990, New Zealand had stopped using asbestos, and in 2003, 

Australia’s estimated consumption was 19 t (tables A10 and 

A19).

General Trends

In general, economic, political, and social agendas, different philosophies on how to meet those agendas, and different 

asbestos resources available guided the development of the 

asbestos-manufacturing industry in any given country in terms 

of the size of its industry and the types of products manufactured. If countries required an asbestos industry to meet their 

expansion needs, then the industry developed. The growth was 

logical in that demand for asbestos products, most notably 

asbestos-cement products, was greatest in countries undergoing extensive infrastructure development.

Few historical data on asbestos markets are available. 

Even in the United States, an annual survey of consumption 

was not developed until 1972, although data were projected 

back in time to estimate values for 1965–1971 (table 3; 

Clifton, 1976). From the qualitative descriptions by Bowles 

(1937, p. 82–87) of the asbestos-manufacturing industries in 

major producing countries, one can infer that asbestos-cement 

corrugated and flat sheet, pipe, and roofing tile were the major 

markets for asbestos around 1930. The low cost of asbestoscement products, their durability and effectiveness, and the 

relatively unsophisticated technology required to produce 

asbestos-cement products were major factors leading to the 

widespread use of asbestos cement, particularly for developing countries with limited mineral and monetary resources. In 

regions where there were alternative construction materials, 

the demand for asbestos-cement products was proportionally 

smaller, and a much wider variety of other asbestos products 

were developed.

In 1980, asbestos-cement products accounted for approximately 66 percent of the world consumption of asbestos 

according to estimates by Roskill Information Services Ltd. 

(1983, p. 86). The United States and Western European counWorld Consumption 15
tries were less dependent on asbestos-cement products than 

other regions. In the United States, asbestos-cement products 

accounted for 18 percent of apparent consumption of asbestos 

in 1980 (table 3). Estimated asbestos-cement consumption as 

a percentage of total asbestos consumption in 1980 follows 

for each region: Africa, 80 percent; Asia, 77 percent; Eastern 

Europe, 76 percent; South America, 76 percent; Oceania, 

60 percent; North America, including the United States, 45 

percent; and Western Europe, 43 percent (Roskill Information 

Services Ltd., 1983, p. 85–86).

With the decline in the use of asbestos in the 1980s and 

1990s, markets shifted even more to favor asbestos-cement 

products. In 2003, asbestos-cement products were thought to 

account for more than 85 percent of the world’s consumption 

of asbestos (Moore, 2004, p. 59; Virta, 2005b, p. 16).

Discussion

Asbestos has had a long and, until the 1960s, illustrious 

role in modern society. Over the course of its history, asbestos 

has been used in thousands of products for a vast number of 

applications. These applications ranged from roofing shingles 

to water-supply lines to fire blankets to plastics fillers to 

medical packings (Rosato, 1959). It was used commonly by 

industry and the general public. A glance at almost any home 

repair book written before about 1955 will show that the home 

handyman used asbestos as just another tool (Cobb, 1948, p. 

129–130). That it was so widely accepted is a tribute not only 

to its versatility, but also to a lack of knowledge about the risks 

posed by exposure to high levels of airborne asbestos dust.

The British first raised health concerns in the early part of 

the 20th century, but it was not until the late 1950s and early 

1960s that a correlation between excess exposure to asbestos 

fibers and respiratory cancer diseases was established (Selikoff 

and Lee, 1978, p. 22–23, 31–32; Gross and Braun, 1984, p. 

20–21; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1992, 

p. 33–34). Thus, the asbestos health issue did not arise until 

asbestos had been used by society for a long period of time. 

Asbestos is not alone in this respect. The discovery of adverse 

health effects after a material has been used for decades or 

even centuries is not unusual. A few examples are arsenic, 

beryllium, lead, mercury, uranium, and some fertilizers and 

insecticides. Extended use before the recognition of adverse 

health risks was a natural result of the long latency period (10 

to 40 years) for the development of asbestos-related cancers 

(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2001, 

2005).

With these concerns over the health risk, many ask why 

and how the asbestos industry developed in the first place and 

why it continues to operate. One has to consider the knowledge of health risks throughout history and the state of technological development. As mentioned above, the connection 

between excessive exposure and lung cancer was not firmly 

established until the late 1950s and early 1960s; the industry 

was more than 100 years old before the lung cancer and mesothelioma issues were fully recognized and addressed. Further 

complicating the matter were disagreements among health 

researchers over the health risks posed by excessive exposure 

to asbestos. Some researchers have suggested that chrysotile 

is not as carcinogenic as amphibole asbestos varieties (Ross, 

1984, p. 51; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2001; Hoskins, 2001).

There is evidence of non-occupational risks associated 

with exposure to amphibole asbestos. Health researchers 

reported the occurrence of asbestos disease in the general public in Libby, Montana, where vermiculite contaminated with 

amphibole asbestos was mined, and near some exfoliation 

plants that processed the vermiculite ore (Peipins and others, 

2003; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 

2005).

Natural occurrences of asbestos have become an issue in 

California. In the past 5 to 10 years, development has moved 

into areas of serpentinite outcrops. These outcrops contain 

veins of chrysotile and some tremolite asbestos. New residents 

are now concerned about the risk to themselves and their 

children. This concern has resulted in a massive effort to map 

potential asbestos-bearing rock outcrops in California and 

elsewhere and to analyze the health risk that exposure to the 

chrysotile may pose (Churchill and Hill, 2000; California Air 

Resources Board, 2004; Van Gosen, 2005).

From a technological standpoint, asbestos was and still is 

the best choice for some applications; it is the only choice for 

a few products. Had the asbestos industry not been developed 

in the late 1800s, solutions to problems that were readily 

solved by using asbestos would have been more complex. The 

reason is that many substitute materials or substitute products 

on the market today were not available or were not practical to use until late in the 20th century; some substitutes are 

discussed below:

Wollastonite. Although wollastonite is now a substitute 

for asbestos in some applications, it was not even considered as a substitute for asbestos until the 1960s, and 

supplies were not available until large-scale wollastonite 

mining began in the 1950s.

Cast-iron and plastic. Cast-iron water-supply pipe was 

not the best choice for use in alkaline soils, as in the 

southwestern United States, because it corroded and 

failed. Asbestos-cement pipe was the solution to that 

problem. Plastic pipe, another possible solution to the 

alkaline soil problem, was not developed until the later 

part of the 20th century.

Wood. In the 1800s, wooden structures were still commonplace, and a fire could be devastating for a city. 

Hence, a demand for asbestos textiles and asbestos board 

developed.

Aramid fiber. One substitute for asbestos in textiles, the 

fire-resistant aramid fiber, was not commercialized until 

the 1970s.

•

•

•

•

16  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
The historical lack of substitutes and the technological 

benefits of asbestos were just a few of the reasons why the 

industry was established and thrived. Although a health risk 

was posed by excessive exposure to airborne asbestos, the use 

of asbestos solved many health and safety problems (reducing fire risks and improving component performance), energy 

conservation problems (in thermal insulations), and construction problems (as a building material that helped to further the 

development of society). Its use continues today in many parts 

of the world because of a need for inexpensive and durable 

(primarily asbestos-cement) products that require simple technology to make and do not require large capital investments.

Despite its continued use, the overall worldwide trend 

in asbestos consumption is downward because of the health 

issue. The largest declines have been in the United States, 

Western Europe, Oceania, and a few of the Asian countries, 

where there have been concerted efforts to ban the use of 

asbestos and where asbestos substitutes have become widely 

available and affordable. Declines have occurred in several 

other countries and regions because of situations including 

political unrest or economic instability.

For those countries that continue to use asbestos in large 

tonnages, other factors, such as internal needs for inexpensive 

construction materials, national economics, or government 

policy toward the use of asbestos, have overridden the asbestos health issue. The bulk of the consumption in 2003 was 

in Brazil, several former Soviet-bloc countries (Kazakhstan, 

Russia, and Ukraine), China, India, Iran, and Thailand (fig. 3, 

table A19). Consumption increased in most of these countries 

between 2000 and 2003. Except for Thailand, a major exporter 

of manufactured asbestos products, the increase probably 

resulted primarily from growing national demand for inexpensive construction materials.

In summary, world consumption declined during the 23 

years between 1980 and 2003 (fig. 1). Those countries and 

regions experiencing the largest declines or gains in consumption over time are evident in figures 1–3 and the appendix. 

Where low-level asbestos-manufacturing industries remain, 

they appear mainly to be remnants of a past industrial capacity. In a few countries with small manufacturing industries, 

though, consumption has increased, possibly owing to the loss 

of foreign sources for some asbestos products. The industries 

in these countries are not likely to expand much beyond their 

current capacity because of the negative atmosphere regarding 

the use of asbestos worldwide and the greater availability of 

asbestos substitutes (many of whose potential long-term health 

risks, ironically, are unknown) and alternative materials.

Conclusions

Asbestos, despite being a carcinogen, was widely used by 

society. Without asbestos, the development of many products 

would have been delayed and, ironically, without many of the 

asbestos-containing products, health and safety could have 

been jeopardized. That asbestos is more versatile than many 

of its contemporary competitors cannot be denied. Following 

World War II, there was a large effort to synthesize asbestos 

and to develop asbestos substitutes because of strategic goals, 

not because of health concerns. Neither the synthesis nor the 

substitutes were immediately successful. An additional 20 

years elapsed before substitutes made inroads into the asbestos 

market. It has taken a plethora of materials to substitute for 

asbestos in manufacturing.

The adverse publicity about asbestos and lawsuits have 

taken their toll on asbestos markets, despite much stricter 

asbestos regulation. Worldwide consumption declined from an 

estimated 4.73 Mt in 1980 to about 2.11 Mt in 2003 (tables A8 

and A19). Public pressure and liability issues have forced most 

companies to stop manufacturing asbestos-containing products 

and have forced many companies into bankruptcy. Consumption has fallen off dramatically in most countries. The leading 

consumers of asbestos in 2003 were Brazil, China, India, Iran, 

Kazakhstan, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine; each consumed 

more than 75,000 t. These eight countries accounted for more 

than 82 percent of the world’s apparent consumption in 2003 

(table A19). Sizable consumption increases occurred in Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Ukraine 

between 2000 and 2003 (tables A16 and A19).

Acknowledgments

I thank Mike Potter and Thomas Dolley, U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) mineral commodity specialists, who reviewed 

this Circular. I thank Linder Roberts of the USGS for compiling the data from the British Geological Survey world mineral 

production reports that were used in the apparent consumption 

estimates from 1920 to 1997. I offer my gratitude to the following four people for helpful reviews of the USGS Open-File 

Report 03–083, which was expanded and updated to become 

this Circular: Mike Potter, USGS mineral commodity specialist; 

Greg Meeker, USGS geologist; Louis Perron, former asbestos 

specialist with Natural Resources Canada; and Bob Pigg, president of the Asbestos Information Association/North America.

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Sondermayer, R.V., 1987, The mineral industry of Italy: U.S. 

Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1985, v. III, p. 473–490. 

(Also available online at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/

pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

South African Mining Journal, 1949, Mining in N. Transvaal: 

South African Mining Journal, v. 60, no. 2956 (October 8, 

1949), p. 153.

Stover Publishing Co., 1953, The asbestos fact book (3d ed.): 

Willow Grove, Pa., Stover Publishing Co., 19 p.

Strishkov, V.V., 1973, The mineral industry of the U.S.S.R.: U.S. 

Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1971, v. III, p. 821–871. 

(Also available online at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/

pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

Strishkov, V.V., 1980, The mineral industry of the U.S.S.R.: 

U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1976, v. III, 

p. 1065–1134. (Also available online at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

Strishkov, V.V., 1981a, The mineral industry of the U.S.S.R: 

U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1977, v. III, 

p. 959–1026. (Also available online at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

Strishkov, V.V., 1981b, The mineral industry of the U.S.S.R: 

U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1978–1979, v. III, 

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http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

Summers, A.L., [1919], Asbestos and the asbestos industry—

The world’s most wonderful mineral and other fireproof 

materials: New York, Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., 107 p.

Sutulov, Alexander, 1973, Mineral resources and the economy 

of the USSR: New York, Engineering and Mining Journal, 

192 p.

Tverskoi, Igor, 1968, Asbestos in the U.S.S.R.: Mining in 

Canada, v. 41, no. 6 (June 1968), p. 31–32.

References Cited 21
United Nations Statistics Division, 2005, United Nations 

commodity trade statistics database (UN Comtrade): United 

Nations Statistics Division Web site at http://unstats.un.org/

unsd/comtrade/. (Accessed June 8, 2005.)

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, Asbestos: U.S. Bureau of 

Mines Mineral Resources of the United States 1924–1931, 

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National 

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U.S. Geological Survey, 1901–1926, Asbestos: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Resources of the United States 1900–

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U.S. Geological Survey, 1997–2005, Asbestos: U.S. Geological 

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1975), p. B12, B13, B26.

Virta, R.L., 1987, Asbestos: U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals 

Yearbook 1985, v. I, p. 143–149. (Also available online at 

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Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 

p. 429–434.

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only online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2005/1255/kk.

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U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1965, v. IV, 

p. 1107–1120. (Also available online at 

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Wang, K.P., 1978, The mineral industry of the People’s 

Republic of China: U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1975, v. III, p. 285–304. (Also available online at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

Wang, K.P., 1981, The mineral industry of China: U.S. Bureau 

of Mines Minerals Yearbook 1978–79, v. III, p. 233–269. 

(Also available online at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/

pubs/usbmmyb.html.)

22 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Figures 1–3 and tables 1–4

[The appendix follows table 4]
Figure 1. Bar graph of calculated apparent consumption of asbestos by region, 1920–2003. Data from tables A1–A19.

ASBESTOS CONSUMPTION, IN MILLIONS OF METRIC TONS

1920 1930 1950 1970 1980 1990 1996 1998 2000 2002 1940

YEAR

1960 1975 1985 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

5.04.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50.0

REGION

AfricaAsia and the Middle EastCentral and North AmericaEuropeOceaniaSouth America

24  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Figure 2. Line graph of calculated apparent consumption of asbestos by major asbestos-consuming countries, 1920–1990. Data from tables A1–A10.

ASBESTOS CONSUMPTION, IN THOUSANDS OF METRIC TONS

1920 1930

YEAR

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1975 1985 1990

2,5002,0001,5001,000

500

0

China

West Germany

Japan

Italy

United Kingdom

Soviet Union

United States

Figures 1–3 and Tables 1–4  25
Figure 3. Line graph of calculated apparent consumption of asbestos by major asbestos-consuming countries, 1995–2003. Data from tables A11–A19. The vertical scale differs 

from that in figure 2 because asbestos consumption generally decreased after 1990.

ASBESTOS CONSUMPTION, IN THOUSANDS OF METRIC TONS

1995 1996

YEAR

1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2001 2003

700600500400300200100

0

Brazil

China

India

Iran

Kazakhstan

Russia

Thailand

Ukraine

26  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table 1. Early developments of the asbestos industry.

[Information from Stover Publishing Co., 1953, p. 4–6; Selikoff and Lee, 1978, p. 17–18]

1857–1880........................................ First packings and flat seals using asbestos.

1866.................................................. First bonded and molded asbestos product for heat insulation.

1866–1876........................................ Start of systematic asbestos textile processing in Italy.

1868–1869........................................ First U.S. use of asbestos in roofing felt and cement.

1878.................................................. Asbestos paper first made in the United States.

1882.................................................. Concept of asbestos-containing magnesia insulation developed.

1890.................................................. Asbestos textile processing began in Canada.

1893.................................................. First spinning of crocidolite in Republic of South Africa.

1896.................................................. First asbestos-containing woven brake bands made in England.

1899.................................................. Wet machine process of making asbestos cement developed.

1900.................................................. Method for manufacturing asbestos-cement panels developed.

1904.................................................. Flat asbestos-cement board manufactured in the United States.

1906.................................................. Asbestos first used as brake lining.

1918.................................................. Asbestos-containing molded clutch facing developed.

1929.................................................. Asbestos-cement pipe industry began in the United States.

1931.................................................. Technique for spraying asbestos developed in England.

1940s................................................ Asbestos-cement pipe introduced into England.

1944.................................................. Spraying asbestos on deckheads and bulkheads began in British naval ships.

Figures 1–3 and Tables 1–4  27
Table 2. Salient U.S. statistics for asbestos, 1900 through 2003.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid revealing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Domestic sales 

or use1

Total asbestos 

imports

Imports from 

Canada

Imports from 

South Africa

Crocidolite 

imports

Amosite 

imports

Asbestos 

exports

Apparent

consumption2

1900........ 956 e19,500 NA NA NA NA NA e20,400

1901........ 678 e33,500 NA NA NA NA NA e34,200

1902........ 912 e41,100 NA NA NA NA NA e42,000

1903........ 805 e31,500 NA NA NA NA NA e32,400

1904........ 1,343 e36,500 NA NA NA NA NA e37,900

1905........ 2,820 e51,000 NA NA NA NA NA e53,800

1906........ 1,538 e54,000 NA NA NA NA NA e55,900

1907........ 592 e55,000 NA NA NA NA NA e55,600

1908........ 849 e46,200 NA NA NA NA NA e47,100

1909........ 2,799 e44,400 NA NA NA NA NA e47,200

1910........ 3,350 48,270 48,079 NA NA NA NA 46,400

1911........ 6,898 58,038 57,861 NA NA NA NA 58,700

1912........ 3,994 64,900 64,797 NA NA NA NA 68,900

1913........ 905 88,100 87,953 NA NA NA NA 89,100

1914........ 1,026 65,200 65,119 NA NA NA NA 66,300

1915........ 1,424 84,900 84,881 NA NA NA NA 86,500

1916........ 1,217 105,000 104,306 102 NA NA NA 107,000

1917........ 1,385 122,000 119,318 1,624 NA NA NA 123,000

1918........ 825 125,000 122,300 759 NA NA NA 125,000

1919........ 955 123,000 121,256 816 NA NA NA 123,000

1920........ 1,356 152,000 147,615 2,025 NA NA NA 153,000

1921........ 754 65,700 64,784 457 NA NA NA 66,000

1922........ 61 136,000 133,897 373 NA NA NA 135,000

1923........ 206 193,000 188,929 254 NA NA NA 192,000

1924........ 272 166,000 163,340 943 NA NA NA 165,000

1925........ 1,141 209,000 204,968 382 NA NA NA 209,000

1926........ 1,232 234,000 229,054 2,182 NA NA NA 234,000

1927........ 2,704 203,000 195,753 3,156 NA NA NA 205,000

1928........ 2,031 209,000 200,796 2,920 NA NA NA 210,000

1929........ 2,862 238,000 228,672 3,338 NA NA NA 240,000

1930........ 3,848 189,000 181,499 1,730 NA NA NA 192,000

1931........ 2,928 123,705 118,031 747 NA NA 1,555 125,000

1932........ 3,229 87,774 85,883 192 NA NA 1,549 89,500

1933........ 4,305 108,447 102,435 211 NA NA 1,250 112,000

1934........ 4,615 109,165 102,566 540 NA NA 1,514 112,000

1935........ 8,092 151,124 139,921 857 NA NA 771 158,000

1936........ 10,037 220,992 205,095 1,887 NA NA 3,397 228,000

1937........ 10,958 278,677 250,392 3,854 NA NA 2,725 287,000

1938........ 9,471 162,831 150,657 3,336 NA NA 2,522 170,000

1939........ 14,024 220,048 203,064 5,769 NA NA 2,243 232,000

28  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table 2. Salient U.S. statistics for asbestos, 1900 through 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid revealing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Domestic sales 

or use1

Total asbestos 

imports

Imports from 

Canada

Imports from 

South Africa

Crocidolite 

imports

Amosite 

imports

Asbestos 

exports

Apparent

consumption2

1940........ 18,198 223,724 204,893 7,940 NA NA 4,059 238,000

1941........ 22,127 380,289 353,250 19,456 NA NA 4,396 398,000

1942........ 14,044 380,330 350,737 18,396 NA NA 702 394,000

1943........ 5,456 399,393 349,861 21,781 NA NA 333 405,000

1944........ 6,048 347,497 320,461 17,414 NA NA 431 353,000

1945........ 11,091 339,609 322,775 12,017 NA NA 7,756 343,000

1946........ 12,769 413,371 401,042 5,737 NA NA 9,989 416,000

1947........ 21,804 539,630 507,370 18,175 NA NA 2,431 559,000

1948........ 33,649 587,748 546,322 17,109 NA NA 8,371 613,000

1949........ 39,360 462,090 427,088 20,611 NA NA 18,185 483,000

1950........ 38,496 639,981 615,703 13,523 NA NA 18,951 660,000

1951........ 46,852 691,160 659,315 21,394 NA NA 14,992 723,000

1952........ 48,865 643,602 606,817 24,405 NA NA 9,729 683,000

1953........ 49,402 627,995 591,591 23,977 NA NA 2,791 675,000

1954........ 43,201 615,425 580,855 24,857 NA NA 1,718 657,000

1955........ 40,431 671,701 634,202 26,036 NA NA 2,528 709,000

1956........ 37,478 625,877 574,925 28,982 16,641 10,372 2,676 660,000

1957........ 39,601 619,364 568,034 32,152 16,166 12,879 2,624 656,000

1958........ 39,897 584,528 531,088 36,652 17,862 15,417 2,745 622,000

1959........ 41,240 646,866 593,776 35,124 16,335 15,072 4,047 684,000

1960........ 41,026 607,357 559,553 37,008 13,516 17,764 5,012 643,000

1961........ 47,912 559,742 517,144 32,123 14,062 13,588 3,446 604,000

1962........ 48,253 613,215 565,912 31,445 8,701 18,347 3,575 659,000

1963........ 60,234 605,873 561,314 33,524 9,903 19,907 9,112 657,000

1964........ 91,709 670,738 605,068 45,841 22,551 21,711 24,627 738,000

1965........ 107,297 652,774 596,973 37,134 19,201 15,460 39,123 721,000

1966........ 114,240 659,033 593,398 56,763 24,489 21,713 42,634 731,000

1967........ 111,755 585,236 546,110 27,773 13,532 11,392 43,289 654,000

1968........ 109,488 669,421 625,398 34,915 12,669 18,567 37,409 741,000

1969........ 114,247 630,093 594,598 26,934 9,578 13,261 32,816 712,000

1970........ 113,683 589,128 556,386 24,247 8,923 12,937 42,261 665,000

1971........ 118,734 618,126 588,439 22,690 6,308 13,227 48,696 699,000

1972........ 119,443 667,249 647,635 14,864 4,875 6,464 53,183 734,000

1973........ 136,111 718,920 693,674 22,738 11,387 7,114 60,275 803,000

1974........ 98,966 695,053 670,511 21,468 10,253 7,274 55,994 768,000

1975........ 89,498 488,521 456,809 16,308 10,496 3,533 33,061 552,000

1976........ 104,873 596,737 560,237 18,229 9,232 1,428 42,564 659,000

1977........ 92,256 550,693 516,085 20,397 10,921 529 34,896 610,000

1978........ 93,097 570,020 543,233 24,908 16,865 1,170 41,783 619,000

1979........ 93,354 513,084 495,914 16,328 13,827 461 43,291 564,000

Figures 1–3 and Tables 1–4  29
Table 2. Salient U.S. statistics for asbestos, 1900 through 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid revealing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Domestic sales 

or use1

Total asbestos 

imports

Imports from 

Canada

Imports from 

South Africa

Crocidolite 

imports

Amosite 

imports

Asbestos 

exports

Apparent

consumption2

1980........ 80,079 327,296 315,540 10,261 7,597 364 48,671 356,000

1981........ 75,618 337,618 318,367 17,112 7,376 680 64,419 349,000

1982........ 63,515 241,737 229,079 11,390 7,904 389 58,771 247,000

1983........ 69,906 196,387 184,303 11,754 6,177 609 54,634 217,000

1984........ 57,422 209,963 195,651 13,912 5,656 715 39,919 226,000

1985........ 57,457 142,431 131,119 10,985 4,794 121 45,656 162,000

1986........ 51,437 108,352 103,517 4,455 1,988 — 47,281 120,000

1987........ 50,600 93,763 90,224 3,246 1,113 — 60,084 84,000

1988........ 18,233 85,326 79,690 4,288 1,252 — 31,544 71,000

1989........ 17,427 55,306 53,572 1,040 593 — 27,004 55,000

1990........ W 41,348 40,380 835 835 — 27,965 41,000

1991........ 20,061 34,765 34,480 209 282 — 25,636 35,000

1992........ 15,573 31,602 30,870 104 472 — 24,860 33,000

1993........ 13,704 30,840 30,709 — 18 — 27,643 32,000

1994........ 10,100 25,800 25,700 — — — 17,500 27,000

1995........ 9,000 21,900 21,800 — 192 — 14,600 22,000

1996........ 9,550 21,600 21,400 15 3197 — 15,400 21,700

1997........ 6,890 20,900 20,700 14 3238 — 20,300 21,000

1998........ 5,760 15,800 15,700 10 3228 — 18,100 15,800

1999........ 7,190 15,800 14,300 293 3— — 21,700 15,800

2000........ 5,260 14,600 14,500 53 367 — 18,800 14,600

2001........ 5,260 13,100 12,700 183 3— — 21,700 13,100

2002........ 2,720 6,850 6,630 176 3— — 6,550 6,850

2003........ — 4,650 4,510 55 3— — 2,820 4,650

Total ... 3,288,343 29,556,948 27,405,418 1,120,340 364,350 282,465 1,577,164 31,505,850

1

Domestic sales or use is equivalent to U.S. production.

2

Apparent consumption for this Circular is defined as production plus imports minus exports; in this table, most apparent consumption values for 1910–2002 

are from Buckingham and Virta (2006), who included changes to government and industry stocks when available. Apparent consumption is also called 

“demand” in the text. After 1988, apparent consumption was assumed to be approximately equal to total asbestos imports.

3

Number reported by the U.S. International Trade Commission (2006). Crocidolite imports for 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000 are estimated to have been 

less than 5 t. Most of the asbestos imports reported as crocidolite after 1995 are believed to have been chrysotile on the basis of their sources and customs values.

30 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table 3. U.S. end uses for asbestos, 1965 through 2003.

[Data in thousands of metric tons. Terms used: eestimated; —, zero. All data for 1965–1971 are estimated, as indicated by the letter following the year (1965e). 

Data from U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1933–1996; May, 1965; May and Lewis, 1970; Clifton, 1976, 1980b, p. 63, 1985; U.S. Geological Survey, 1997–2005]

Year

Asbestos

cement

Coatings 

and compoundsFlooring Friction 

products

Insulation Packing and 

gaskets

Paper Plastics Roofing Textiles Other1 Unknown2 Total3,4

Pipe Sheet Electrical Thermal

1965e....... 137 50 (

5

) 181 64 22 (

6

) 22 15 (

5

) 72 15 144 — 721

1966e....... 139 51 (5) 183 65 22 (

6

) 22 14 (

5

) 73 15 147 — 730

1967e....... 122 46 (

5

) 162 59 20 (

6

) 20 13 (

5

) 64 13 132 — 650

1968e....... 141 52 (

5

) 185 67 23 (

6

) 23 15 (

5

) 74 15 148 — 741

1969e....... 135 50 (

5

) 178 64 22 (

6

) 22 14 (

5

) 72 14 140 — 711

1970e....... 126 46 (5) 167 60 20 (

6

) 20 14 (

5

) 66 14 133 — 666

1971e....... 131 48 (5) 173 62 21 (

6

) 21 14 (

5

) 69 13 137 — 689

1972........ 140 52 (

5

) 183 66 22 (

6

) 22 15 (

5

) 73 14 147 — 733

1973........ 151 58 (

5

) 198 72 23 (

6

) 24 16 (

5

) 79 16 158 — 795

1974........ 202 86 (

5

) 139 73 13 (

6

) 26 57 (

5

) 69 18 85 — 768

1975........ 139 40 (

5

) 123 60 6 (

6

) 15 60 (

5

) 42 5 62 — 552

1976........ 127 21 (

5

) 104 58 8 (

6

) 18 28 (

5

) 231 6 59 — 659

1977........ 145 39 32 140 83 3 15 25 22 7 58 9 30 — 609

1978........ 106 25 33 138 53 15 4 25 7 7 64 9 133 — 619

1979........ 96 22 30 125 48 14 3 23 6 7 58 8 121 — 561

1980........ 42 23 11 70 52 6 3 12 1 2 24 2 111 — 359

1981........ 42 20 13 67 51 6 1 19 2 1 16 2 109 — 349

1982........ 38 11 25 49 53 — 1 14 2 — 7 1 46 — 247

1983........ 26 10 23 45 48 — 1 12 2 1 6 1 42 — 217

1984........ 37 12 22 46 48 (

7

) 2 13 2 1 7 2 33 — 226

1985........ 28 7 23 7 34 (

7

) (

7

) 6 17 (

7

) 26 1 5 7 162

1986........ 20 5 17 5 26 (

7

) (

7

) 5 13 (

7

) 20 (

7

) 4 4 120

1987........ 11 4 3 — 21 (

7

) — 10 5 1 23 1 2 4 84

1988........ 12 4 4 (

7

) 15 (

7

) (

7

) 10 1 (

7

) 20 (

7

) (

7

) 5 71

1989........ 8 3 4 — 12 — — 4 1 1 18 (7) 1 4 55

1990........ 5 2 2 — 9 — — 3 (7) (

7

) 13 — 1 7 41

1991........ 4 2 1 — 10 — — 3 (

7

) (

7

) 15 — 1 1 35

1992........ 2 (

7

) 1 — 10 — — 3 (7) (

7

) 16 — 1 (

7

) 33

1993........ 1 — 1 — 10 — — 3 (7) (

7

) 16 — 1 (

7

) 32

1994........ — — (

7

) — 9 — — 3 (

7

) (

7

) 13 — 1 (

7

) 27

1995........ — — (

7

) — 7 — — 3 (7) (

7

) 11 — 1 (

7

) 22

1996........ — — (

7

) — 7 — — 3 (7) (

7

) 11 — 1 (

7

) 22

1997........ — — (

7

) — 6 — — 4 (

7

) (

7

) 10 — 1 (

7

) 21

1998........ — — (

7

) — 3 — — 2 1 (

7

) 9 — 1 — 16

1999........ — — (

7

) — 2 — — 3 — (

7

) 10 — 1 — 16

2000........ — — (

7

) — 2 — (

7

) 3 — (

7

) 9 — 1 — 15

2001........ — — (

7

) — 1 — — 2 — (

7

) 9 — 1 — 13

2002........ — — 1 — (

7

) — (

7

) 1 — — 3 — (

7

) — 7

2003........ — — 1 — — — — — — — 3 — (

7

) — 5

Total3 .. 2,311 788 247 2,669 1,391 265 30 467 354 28 1,481 192 2,141 32 12,396 1

“Other” includes known end uses not falling into specified end-use categories.

2

“Unknown” means undetermined end uses.

3

Entries in column or row may not add to the total shown because of independent rounding and because data are rounded to no more than three significant digits.

4

The total U.S. end uses in this table 3 are not exactly equivalent to the U.S. apparent consumption totals in table 2 because table 2 includes changes in 

government and industry stocks where available and because table 3 excludes amounts smaller than 500 t.

5

The end use was included with “Other” for this year.

6

“Thermal insulation” was included with “Electrical insulation” for this year.

7

No value is shown for this end use because the amount was less than 500 t.

Figures 1–3 and Tables 1–4  31
Table 4. World production of all types of asbestos, 1900 through 2003.

[Data in metric tons. Production data include all types of asbestos. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Australia Brazil Canada China Greece Italy Kazakhstan and Russia South Africa Swaziland United States Zimbabwe Other World production1

1900........

—

— 26,436 NA

— NA NA 158

— 956 NA 3,937 31,487

1901........

—

— 36,484 NA

— NA NA 90

— 678 NA 4,517 41,769

1902........

—

— 36,665 NA

— NA NA 41

— 912 NA 4,506 42,124

1903........

—

— 37,809 NA

— NA 5,248 277

— 805 NA 16 44,155

1904........

—

— 43,967 NA

— NA 7,479 373

— 1,343 NA 186 53,348

1905........

—

— 61,927 NA

— NA 7,244 455

— 2,820 NA 22 72,468

1906........

—

— 74,557 NA

— NA 7,997 474

— 1,538 NA 1,223 85,789

1907........

—

— 82,033 NA

— NA 8,837 548

— 592 NA 1,683 93,693

1908........

—

— 82,348 NA

— NA 10,827 1,149

— 849 NA 1,647 96,820

1909........

—

— 79,197 NA

— NA 13,294 1,519

— 2,799 NA 405 97,214

1910........

—

— 92,728 NA

— NA 11,070 1,346

— 3,350 NA 611 109,105

1911........

—

— 115,588 NA

— 167 15,487 1,149

— 6,898 NA 1,191 140,479

1912........

—

— 119,077 NA

— 169 16,455 2,115

— 3,994 NA 6,574 148,383

1913........

—

— 124,239 NA

— 175 17,494 873

— 905 263 93 144,042

1914........

—

— 87,580 NA

— 171 15,691 1,079

— 1,026 442 11 106,000

1915........

—

— 100,826 NA

— 163 9,779 1,940

— 1,424 1,823 1,045 117,000

1916........ 37

— 121,053 NA

— 82 8,192 4,224

— 1,217 5,586 4,875 145,229

1917........ 280

— 122,925 378

— 85

— 5,643

— 1,385 8,675 1,909 141,000

1918........ 2,900

— 128,331 243

— 60 NA 3,333

— 825 7,778 530 144,000

1919........ 106

— 124,070 69

— 98 NA 3,567

— 955 8,889 2,647 140,295

1920........ 839

— 162,038 5 — 165 1,478 6,452

— 1,356 17,076 4,430 193,000

1921........ 1,201

— 61,083 169

— 420 2,604 4,647

— 754 17,716 2,506 91,100

1922........ 754

— 109,128 197

— 540 3,215 3,982

— 61 12,926 5,951 136,000

1923........ 331

— 164,014 128

— 1,538 4,780 7,614

— 206 18,474 4,246 201,000

1924........ 79

— 150,768 127

— 2,160 8,456 6,569

— 272 23,715 5,933 198,000

1925........ 51

— 248,136 213

— 2,105 12,330 9,224

— 1,141 31,161 7,690 312,000

1926........ 112

— 253,469 NA

— 2,900 18,334 12,789

— 1,232 30,249 10,027 329,000

1927........ 11

— 249,273 241

— 3,840 21,156 20,106

— 2,704 30,097 14,583 342,000

1928........ 12

— 247,690 NA NA 4,950 26,492 21,821

— 2,031 36,251 14,765 354,000

1929........ 260

— 277,647 277 NA 2,847 29,520 29,971

— 2,862 38,677 17,913 399,714

1930........ 144

— 219,641 315 2 851 54,083 17,491

— 3,848 34,260 7,572 338,063

1931........ 130

— 149,047 264 10 632 64,674 14,221

— 2,928 21,810 5,849 259,435

1932........ 132 112 111,562 250 9 1,284 59,800 10,950 5 3,229 14,303 3,895 205,3991933........ 283 99 143,667 239 14 3,267 71,700 14,412 NA 4,305 27,381 8,991 274,0751934........ 157 NA 141,502 290 30 2,252 92,200 15,960 NA 4,615 29,224 13,140 299,2131935........ 179 NA 190,931 70 2 4,320 95,500 20,600 NA 8,092 38,644 13,871 372,030

32 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table 4. World production of all types of asbestos, 1900 through 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Production data include all types of asbestos. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Australia Brazil Canada China Greece Italy Kazakhstan and Russia South Africa Swaziland United States Zimbabwe Other World production1

1936........ 243 NA 273,322 69 1 6,113 125,117 22,894 NA 10,037 51,116 18,291 506,9601937........ 168 NA 371,967 NA 2 6,393 125,000 25,975 NA 10,958 51,722 20,925 612,9421938........ 176 120 262,894 700 85 6,860 86,000 21,025 NA 9,471 53,352 14,839 455,3461939........ 325 45 330,642 18,015 2 6,765 e95,000 20,003 7,233 14,024 52,900 18,388 563,0171940........ 498 500 313,504 20,015 NA 8,271 e102,000 24,850 18,873 18,198 50,809 17,098 573,7281941........ 256 13 433,492 20,515 NA 10,766 e95,000 25,655 19,166 22,127 40,037 9,786 676,5571942........ 334 NA 398,669 20,615 NA 11,695 e95,000 31,351 23,219 14,044 50,623 11,298 656,5141943........ 699 NA 423,831 20,000 NA 8,459 e100,000 32,347 17,179 5,456 52,749 72,979 733,0001944........ 3,022 NA 380,349 NA NA 7,238 e110,000 31,372 29,628 6,048 52,882 91,461 712,0001945........ 4,071 2,723 423,559 NA NA 5,222 e120,000 25,597 21,243 11,091 51,068 87,426 752,0001946........ 629 1,214 506,371 NA 4 8,814 e140,000 25,597 29,155 12,769 50,686 114,761 890,0001947........ 1,399 2,631 600,391 NA 40 10,719 e160,000 27,344 25,360 21,804 49,073 161,239 1,060,0001948........ 1,348 1,499 650,239 NA 9 13,044 e180,000 41,490 29,421 33,649 62,502 191,799 1,205,0001949........ 1,671 1,415 521,543 NA 9 15,877 191,000 64,335 30,814 39,360 72,246 36,730 975,0001950........ 1,811 844 794,100 NA 30 21,433 217,725 79,301 29,635 38,496 64,888 44,478 1,292,7401951........ 2,865 1,321 882,871 NA 34 22,612 217,725 97,403 31,719 46,852 70,456 50,426 1,424,2821952........ 4,546 1,305 843,083 NA 24 23,938 217,725 121,417 31,542 48,865 76,961 45,805 1,415,2101953........ 5,567 1,231 826,651 NA 1 20,397 272,156 86,017 27,309 49,402 79,597 51,418 1,419,7461954........ 4,789 2,555 838,345 13,608 2 23,784 340,195 99,020 27,344 43,201 72,542 49,616 1,515,0001955........ 5,437 2,834 965,066 20,865 3 32,101 408,234 108,421 29,586 40,431 95,491 60,543 1,769,0121956........ 8,808 3,392 920,112 10,886 5 35,785 453,593 123,849 27,102 37,478 107,932 76,358 1,805,3001957........ 13,308 2,408 948,994 29,937 8 36,615 453,593 142,858 27,875 39,601 119,863 71,887 1,886,9471958........ 14,125 3,462 839,447 58,967 — 38,555 498,952 159,342 22,916 39,897 115,319 73,284 1,864,2671959........ 16,216 3,357 952,934 81,647 — 47,662 544,311 165,475 22,504 41,240 108,591 66,304 2,050,2401960........ 14,164 3,538 1,014,647 81,647 — 54,914 598,743 159,540 29,054 41,026 121,529 94,731 2,213,5331961........ 15,192 3,084 1,064,759 90,719 — 56,975 798,324 176,687 27,934 47,912 146,613 84,707 2,512,9051962........ 16,707 4,445 1,102,969 90,719 — 55,211 644,102 200,762 29,783 48,253 128,999 86,628 2,408,5781963........ 12,133 1,306 1,157,143 99,790 67 57,167 684,925 186,648 30,255 60,234 129,053 86,727 2,505,4491964........ 12,288 1,297 1,288,069 117,934 63 68,556 734,821 195,582 36,162 91,709 139,210 82,042 2,767,7331965........ 10,493 1,092 1,259,366 127,006 — 71,928 745,000 218,407 37,089 107,297 159,802 76,604 2,814,0851966........ 12,217 1,651 1,350,850 136,078 — 82,325 755,000 250,925 32,788 114,240 160,003 75,194 2,971,2711967........ 666 2,256 1,317,328 149,686 — 101,062 769,000 243,563 36,427 111,755 97,302 81,201 2,909,5801968........ 812 4,360 1,369,578 154,222 — 103,437 816,467 236,350 38,960 109,488 86,184 88,550 3,007,5961969........ 838 12,701 1,430,520 158,758 — 112,526 961,617 258,174 39,079 114,247 79,832 97,619 3,265,073

Figures 1–3 and Tables 1–4  33
Table 4. World production of all types of asbestos, 1900 through 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Production data include all types of asbestos. Terms used: eestimated; NA, not available; W, withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; —, zero. Data from U.S. Geological Survey, 1901–1926, 1997–2005; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1927–1933, 1933–1996]

Year Australia Brazil Canada China Greece Italy Kazakhstan and Russia South Africa Swaziland United States Zimbabwe Other World production1

1970........ 739 16,329 1,507,420 172,365

— 118,536 1,065,943 287,416 33,057 113,683 79,832 99,219 3,493,800

1971........ 756 19,958 1,482,867 158,758

— 119,568 1,152,126 319,296 35,484 118,734 79,834 98,074 3,584,698

1972........ 16,838 32,883 1,530,469 199,581

— 131,272 1,220,165 320,628 33,400 119,443 79,834 92,715 3,777,227

1973........ 43,529 44,868 1,690,065 208,653

— 150,256 1,279,132 332,650 36,900 136,111 163,293 100,043 4,185,499

1974........ 30,863 61,871 1,643,790 149,686

— 148,099 1,360,779 333,272 37,917 98,966 163,293 128,481 4,157,016

1975........ 47,922 73,978 1,055,668 149,686

— 146,995 1,896,018 354,710 41,219 89,498 163,293 119,770 4,138,756

1976........ 60,642 92,703 1,536,091 150,000 NA 164,788 1,850,000 369,840 41,847 104,873 281,000 115,287 4,767,0711977........ 50,601 92,773 1,517,360 200,000 NA 149,327 1,900,000 380,164 38,046 92,256 273,194 99,730 4,793,4511978........ 62,744 122,815 1,421,808 250,000 NA 135,402 1,945,000 257,325 36,957 93,097 248,861 119,208 4,693,2171979........ 79,721 138,457 1,492,719 140,000 NA 143,931 2,020,000 249,187 34,294 93,354 259,891 106,468 4,758,0221980........ 92,418 169,173 1,323,000 131,700 NA 157,794 2,070,000 277,734 32,833 80,079 250,949 113,620 4,699,3001981........ 45,494 138,417 1,121,845 106,000 457 137,086 2,105,000 235,943 35,264 75,618 247,600 100,742 4,349,4661982........ 18,587 145,998 834,249 110,000 17,016 116,410 2,700,000 211,860 30,145 63,515 197,682 114,033 4,559,4951983........ 3,909 158,885 857,504 160,000 31,811 139,054 2,500,000 221,111 26,287 69,906 153,221 107,179 4,428,8671984........

— 134,788 836,654 135,000 45,376 147,272 2,500,000 167,389 25,832 57,422 165,385 96,724 4,311,842

1985........

— 165,446 750,190 150,000 46,811 136,006 2,500,000 164,247 25,130 57,457 173,580 80,121 4,248,988

1986........

— 204,460 662,381 150,712 51,355 115,208 2,400,000 138,862 24,475 51,437 163,984 66,490 4,029,364

1987........

— 212,807 664,546 144,673 60,134 118,352 2,554,600 135,074 25,925 50,600 193,295 77,116 4,237,122

1988........

— 227,653 710,357 150,000 71,114 94,549 2,600,000 145,678 22,804 18,233 186,581 84,020 4,310,989

1989........

— 206,195 732,192 181,000 73,300 44,348 2,600,000 156,594 27,291 17,427 187,006 65,011 4,290,364

1990........

— 205,000 725,000 221,000 66,000 3,860 2,400,000 146,000 35,900

W 161,000 50,495 4,014,255

1991........

— 237,000 639,000 200,000 4,730 15,000 2,000,000 148,525 13,900 20,061 142,000 67,735 3,487,951

1992........

— 170,000 590,641 240,000 30,000

— 1,900,000 133,268 32,301 15,573 150,158 9,549 3,271,490

1993........

— 185,000 522,967 240,000 56,945

— 1,130,000 103,994 33,860 13,704 156,881 331,844 2,775,195

1994........

— 192,050 531,000 303,000 55,502

— 830,000 92,130 26,720 10,100 151,905 57,593 2,250,000

1995........

— 170,000 515,587 263,000 76,003

— 808,400 88,642 28,570 9,000 169,256 51,542 2,180,000

1996........

— 170,000 506,000 293,000 80,213

— 743,700 57,120 26,014 9,550 165,494 48,909 2,100,000

1997........

— 170,000 455,000 288,000 63,294

— 892,000 49,986 25,888 6,890 144,959 53,983 2,150,000

1998........

— 198,332 309,000 314,000 50,000

— 755,400 27,195 27,693 5,760 123,295 169,325 1,980,000

1999........

— 188,386 337,366 329,000

—

— 814,300 18,836 22,912 7,190 115,000 107,010 1,940,000

2000........

— 209,332 309,719 315,000

—

— 983,200 18,782 12,690 5,260 152,000 104,017 2,110,000

2001........

— 172,695 276,790 310,000

—

— 1,021,300 13,393

— 5,260 136,327 144,235 2,080,000

2002........

— 194,750 240,500 270,000

—

— 1,066,100

—

— 2,720 168,000 107,930 2,050,000

2003........

— 194,350 200,500 350,000

—

— 1,232,500 6,218

—

— 147,000 99,432 2,230,000

Total ... 750,582 5,186,162 61,165,286 8,659,684 880,516 3,861,573 70,373,401 9,939,807 1,797,914 3,288,343 9,152,235 5,866,983 180,922,485 1Some data are rounded to no more than three significant digits and may not add to total shown.

34  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Appendix. World Asbestos Production, Trade, 

and Consumption from 1920 through 2003

The appendix consists of tables A1–A19, which provide estimates of consumption by country 

and region for selected years from 1920 through 2003. For consistency, the export, import, and 

production data for 1920–1997 (tables A1–A13) were taken from the “Statistical Summary 

of the Mineral Industry” and “World Mineral Statistics” and their predecessor reports by the 

British Geological Survey and its forerunners. After 1997, some production and trade data were 

not available in these publications, and so production data were taken from the U.S. Geological 

Survey “Minerals Yearbook 2004” chapter on asbestos (Virta, 2005a), and trade data were taken 

from the United Nations Statistics Division (2005) for tables A14–A19. Headnotes indicate the 

data sources for each table. 

Apparent consumption was estimated as production plus imports minus exports. Changes in 

government and industry stocks were not included in the calculation because they were not 

available for most countries during most of this time period.

Data in the appendix tables are presented for individual countries and regions. To form the 

regions, countries are grouped by continent with a few exceptions. Middle Eastern countries 

are grouped with Asia. Eastern countries of the former Soviet Union, despite being in Asia, are 

included in Europe so as to be grouped with Russia and other western countries of the former 

Soviet Union and to facilitate comparisons of data for the same region at different times.

Many country names changed between 1920 and 2003. With only a few exceptions, the country 

name corresponding to the table year was used. For clarification, name changes for countries 

that appear in the appendix are given in footnotes in the first table after the change took place. 

Country name changes noted in the appendix are also summarized below chronologically:

Netherlands East Indies and Dutch Indies became Indonesia after 1945.

Germany was divided into East and West Germany from 1949 to 1990.

Belgian Congo became Zaire between 1960 and 1998 and the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo [or Congo (Kinshasa)] after 1998.

Bechuanaland became Botswana after 1966.

Dutch Guiana and Netherlands Guiana became Suriname after 1975.

Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe after 1980.

The Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. After 1991, asbestos trade data became available 

for the following countries that formerly were part of the Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, 

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Both Asian and European countries of the 

former Soviet Union are listed in tables A11–A19 under Europe to facilitate comparison of 

regional totals for different time periods. Kazakhstan and Russia accounted for all asbestos production and most of the asbestos trade for the Soviet Union before 1995 (tables 

A1–A10).

Yugoslavia was divided into Bosnia, Croatia, Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia 

in 1991.

Czechoslovakia was divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•
Table A1. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1920.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain Imperial 

Mineral Resources Bureau, 1924]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Egypt............................................ — 297 — 297

Madagascar .................................. 1 — — 1

South Africa ................................. 6,244 — 7,567 -1,323

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 17,075 — 13,845 3,230

 Total ......................................... 23,320 297 21,412 2,205

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 5 — 5 —

India ............................................. 1,847 — — 1,847

Japan ............................................ — 4,965 — 4,965

 Total ......................................... 1,852 4,965 5 6,812

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 153,712 — 173,536 -19,824

United States. ............................... 1,495 150,829 558 151,766

 Total ......................................... 155,206 150,829 174,094 131,942

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 941 — 941

Cyprus.......................................... 925 — 910 15

Czechoslovakia ............................ — 517 1 516

Denmark....................................... — 133 — 133

Finland ......................................... — 24 — 24

France........................................... 445 — — 445

Germany....................................... 28 6,828 209 6,647

Italy .............................................. 166 3,966 294 3,838

Netherlands.................................. — 1,270 111 1,159

Norway......................................... — 381 — 381

Poland .......................................... — 241 — 241

Romania ....................................... — 14 — 14

Soviet Union2 ............................... 1,629 — — 1,629

Spain ............................................ — 1,137 — 1,137

Sweden......................................... — 425 88 336

Switzerland .................................. — 2,265 15 2,249

United Kingdom........................... — 21,291 92 21,199

 Total ......................................... 3,193 39,433 1,721 40,905

Oceania:

Australia....................................... 839 — — 839

New Zealand ................................ 2 — — 2

 Total ......................................... 841 — — 841

South America:

Argentina...................................... — 708 — 708

Brazil............................................ 1 205 1 205

Chile............................................. — 252 2 250

 Total ......................................... 1 1,165 3 1,163

 Grand total ........................... 184,413 196,689 197,235 183,868

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to 

account for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from 

stocks.

2

Combined production of Kazakhstan and Russia.

36  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A2. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1930.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

Great Britain Imperial Institute, 1932]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Mozambique ................................ 16 — — 16

South Africa ................................. 23,452 — 10,928 12,524

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 34,260 — 32,048 2,212

 Total ......................................... 57,728 — 42,976 14,752

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 315 — — 315

India ............................................. 34 — — 34

Iraq ............................................... — 34 — 34

Japan ............................................ 1,016 10,177 NA 11,193

Netherlands East Indies................ — 6 — 6

 Total ......................................... 1,364 10,217 — 11,581

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 255,066 — 213,632 41,433

Mexico ......................................... — 390 — 390

Panama......................................... — 25 — 25

United States. ............................... 3,849 189,304 699 192,454

 Total ......................................... 258,914 189,720 214,331 234,303

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 5,111 116 4,996

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 19,050 241 18,809

Cyprus.......................................... 7,372 4,855 5,485 6,742

Czechoslovakia ............................ — — 268 -268

Denmark....................................... — 1,029 — 1,029

Finland ......................................... 1,078 344 — 1,422

Germany....................................... — 14,107 398 13,709

Italy .............................................. 721 6,576 355 6,942

Latvia ........................................... — 108 — 108

Lithuania ...................................... — 74 — 74

Netherlands.................................. — 252 231 21

Norway......................................... — 1,453 — 1,453

Poland .......................................... — 1,235 — 1,235

Portugal........................................ — 59 — 59

Romania ....................................... — 68 — 68

Soviet Union2 ............................... 54,080 — 15,748 38,332

Spain ............................................ — 6,652 30 6,621

Sweden......................................... — 1,062 1 1,061

Switzerland .................................. — 813 8 805

United Kingdom........................... — 23,938 721 23,217

Yugoslavia.................................... — 1,045 — 1,045

 Total ......................................... 63,251 87,832 23,603 127,481

Oceania: Australia........................... 83 NA — 83

Appendix 37
Table A2. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1930.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

Great Britain Imperial Institute, 1932]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

South America:

Brazil............................................ — 136 — 136

Chile............................................. — 127 — 127

Colombia...................................... — 77 — 77

 Total ......................................... — 340 — 340

 Grand total ........................... 381,341 288,109 280,910 388,541

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to 

account for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from 

stocks.

2

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

38  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A3. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1940.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

Great Britain Imperial Institute, 1948]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 5 — 5

Egypt............................................ — 120 — 120

Morocco ....................................... 203 — — 203

South Africa ................................. 24,851 — 39,448 -14,597

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 50,812 — 52,520 -1,708

Swaziland..................................... 18,874 — 17,782 1,092

 Total ......................................... 94,740 125 109,750 -14,885

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 102 39 — 140

India ............................................. 297 5,257 — 5,554

Japan ............................................ 1,524 25,403 254 26,673

Korea, Republic of....................... 508 5,081 — 5,589

Netherlands East Indies................ — 287 — 287

Turkey .......................................... 88 — — 88

 Total ......................................... 2,519 36,065 254 38,330

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 320,514 — 305,351 15,162

Costa Rica .................................... — 20 — 20

Mexico ......................................... — 947 — 947

United States................................ 17,396 223,735 4,059 237,071

 Total ......................................... 337,909 224,702 309,411 253,201

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 508 5 503

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 254 508 -254

Bulgaria........................................ — 5 — 5

Cyprus.......................................... 7,967 — 8,637 -670

Czechoslovakia ............................ NA 5,081 508 4,572

Denmark....................................... — 512 — 512

Estonia.......................................... — 102 — 102

Finland ......................................... 5,338 51 1,563 3,826

France........................................... 5,081 14,050 — 19,130

Germany....................................... — 11,555 374 11,181

Greece .......................................... 20 71 — 91

Hungary........................................ — 508 NA 508

Iceland.......................................... — 15 — 15

Italy .............................................. 8,269 5,748 546 13,471

Latvia ........................................... — 102 — 102

Lithuania ...................................... — 51 — 51

Netherlands.................................. — 1,040 — 1,040

Norway......................................... — 155 — 155

Poland .......................................... — 1,016 20 996

Portugal........................................ 102 501 20 582

Romania ....................................... — 61 — 61

Soviet Union2 ............................... 101,610 — 30,483 71,127

Spain ............................................ — 1,793 5 1,788

Sweden......................................... — 2,880 2 2,878

Switzerland .................................. — 2,086 9 2,077

Appendix 39
Table A3. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1940.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

Great Britain Imperial Institute, 1948]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

United Kingdom........................... — 95,392 384 95,008

Yugoslavia.................................... — 102 20 81

 Total ......................................... 128,386 143,639 43,085 228,941

Oceania:

Australia....................................... 497 14,324 NA 14,821

New Zealand ................................ 3 795 3 795

 Total ......................................... 500 15,119 3 15,615

South America:

Argentina...................................... 150 — — 150

Bolivia.......................................... 70 70 70 70

Brazil............................................ 508 51 — 559

Colombia...................................... — 79 — 79

Uruguay........................................ — 192 — 192

Venezuela ..................................... 20 28 20 28

 Total ......................................... 749 421 90 1,079

 Grand total ........................... 564,803 420,071 462,593 522,282 1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to 

account for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from 

stocks.

2

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

40 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A4. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1950.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be 

accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain 

Colonial Geological Surveys, 1956]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 1,552 — 1,552

Angola.......................................... — 49 — 49

Belgian Congo ............................. — 1,344 — 1,344

Egypt............................................ 260 868 44 1,084

Kenya ........................................... 229 — NA 229

Madagascar .................................. — — 1 -1

Morocco ....................................... 511 475 156 829

Mozambique ................................ — 276 — 276

South Africa ................................. 79,305 — 92,155 -12,851

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 64,891 — 66,935 -2,043

Swaziland..................................... 29,637 — 25,403 4,234

 Total ......................................... 174,832 4,563 184,693 -5,298

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 102 — — 102

India ............................................. 211 10,957 8 11,160

Indonesia2..................................... — 39 — 39

Iraq ............................................... — 23 — 23

Japan ............................................ 5,665 6,690 110 12,245

Korea, Republic of....................... 610 — — 610

Philippines.................................... — 657 — 657

Taiwan (Formosa) ........................ 218 102 — 320

Turkey .......................................... 245 10 28 227

 Total ........................................ 7,051 18,478 146 25,383

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 794,140 — 752,983 41,157

Mexico ......................................... — 5,429 — 5,429

United States................................ 37,522 639,755 17,148 660,129

 Total ......................................... 831,662 645,184 770,131 706,715

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 3,496 21 3,475

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 21,856 636 21,220

Cyprus.......................................... 14,990 — 15,720 -731

Czechoslovakia ............................ NA 15,242 — 15,242

Denmark....................................... — 9,986 — 9,986

Finland ......................................... 10,949 988 2,300 9,637

France........................................... 7,456 33,560 2,095 38,921

Germany, East3 ............................. — 13,858 15 13,842

Germany, West3 ............................ — 80,000 — 80,000

Greece .......................................... 30 178 — 208

Hungary........................................ — 5,081 — 5,081

Iceland.......................................... — 31 — 31

Italy .............................................. 21,434 6,265 2,886 24,813

Netherlands.................................. — 6,935 8 6,927

Norway......................................... — 2,676 — 2,676

Poland .......................................... — 5,081 — 5,081

Portugal........................................ 257 2,323 169 2,411

Soviet Union4 ............................... 217,746 NA 81,288 136,458

Appendix  41
Table A4. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1950.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be 

accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain 

Colonial Geological Surveys, 1956]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Spain ............................................ 42 4,384 2 4,424

Sweden......................................... — 10,246 244 10,002

Switzerland .................................. — 4,298 92 4,206

United Kingdom........................... — 111,261 3,655 107,606

Yugoslavia.................................... 958 3,956 35 4,879

 Total ......................................... 273,862 341,701 109,167 506,396

Oceania:

Australia....................................... 1,643 16,824 285 18,182

New Zealand ................................ 42 3,846 — 3,888

 Total ......................................... 1,685 20,670 285 22,070

South America:

Argentina...................................... NA — — NA

Bolivia.......................................... 166 — 166 —

Brazil............................................ 844 8,435 — 9,279

Chile............................................. 172 234 — 405

Colombia...................................... — NA — NA

Dutch Guiana ............................... — NA — NA

Ecuador ........................................ — NA — NA

Peru .............................................. — 811 — 811

Venezuela ..................................... 190 999 20 1,169

 Total ......................................... 1,372 10,478 186 11,664

 Grand total ........................... 1,290,463 1,041,073 1,064,608 1,266,929 1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Netherlands East Indies and Dutch Indies became Indonesia after 1945.

3

Germany was divided into East and West Germany from 1949 to 1990.

4

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

42 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A5. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1960.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to 

be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great 

Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, Overseas Division, 1967]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 6,189 — 6,189

Angola.......................................... — 819 — 819

Bechuanaland............................... 1,163 — — 1,163

Egypt............................................ 450 6,583 — 7,033

Kenya ........................................... 106 — 29 76

Morocco ....................................... — 2,676 — 2,676

Mozambique ................................ 20 720 80 660

South Africa ................................. 159,551 NA 193,696 -34,145

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 121,537 — 116,060 5,477

Swaziland..................................... 29,055 — 25,403 3,653

Tunisia.......................................... — 2 — 2

Uganda ......................................... — 830 — 830

    Total ......................................... 311,883 17,820 335,268 -5,565

Asia and the Middle East:

Burma........................................... — 468 — 468

China............................................ 81,288 — — 81,288

Hong Kong................................... — 22 — 22

India ............................................. 1,711 21,967 26 23,652

Indonesia ...................................... — 588 — 588

Iran ............................................... — 1,246 — 1,246

Iraq ............................................... — 450 — 450

Israel............................................. — 6,615 — 6,615

Japan ............................................ 15,461 77,059 37 92,483

Korea, Republic of....................... 631 — — 631

Lebanon........................................ — 2,258 — 2,258

Malaysia....................................... — 2,868 — 2,868

Philippines.................................... 33 1,236 — 1,268

Taiwan.......................................... 440 1,047 — 1,487

Thailand ....................................... — 6,433 — 6,433

Turkey .......................................... 216 470 5 682

    Total ......................................... 99,780 122,728 68 222,440

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 1,014,699 NA 969,372 45,327

El Salvador................................... — 227 — 227

Guatemala .................................... — 226 — 226

Jamaica......................................... — 35 — 35

Mexico ......................................... — 13,421 — 13,421

United States................................ 41,028 607,388 4,955 643,462

    Total ......................................... 1,055,727 621,295 974,326 702,696

Europe:

Austria.......................................... 60 12,767 63 12,764

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 53,990 297 53,694

Bulgaria........................................ 1,118 — — 1,118

Cyprus.......................................... 21,153 — 15,575 5,578

Czechoslovakia ............................ — 27,422 — 27,422

Denmark....................................... — 17,440 26 17,414

Appendix  43
Table A5. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1960.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to 

be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great 

Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, Overseas Division, 1967]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Finland ......................................... 9,556 4,446 5,551 8,452

France........................................... 25,583 68,592 10,790 83,385

Germany, East.............................. — 35,000 — 35,000

Germany, West............................. — 132,634 226 132,408

Greece .......................................... — 48 — 48

Hungary........................................ — 9,804 — 9,804

Iceland.......................................... — 37 — 37

Italy .............................................. 51,123 29,607 7,409 73,322

Netherlands.................................. — 21,725 36 21,690

Norway......................................... — 6,918 — 6,918

Poland .......................................... — 15,245 — 15,245

Portugal........................................ 131 2,346 35 2,443

Soviet Union2 ............................... 599,499 — 146,115 453,384

Spain ............................................ 4 14,453 — 14,457

Sweden......................................... — 17,107 28 17,079

Switzerland .................................. — 8,695 — 8,695

United Kingdom........................... — 170,893 7,874 163,019

Yugoslavia.................................... 5,416 8,727 5,217 8,926

    Total ......................................... 713,644 657,896 199,240 1,172,300

Oceania:

Australia....................................... 14,164 37,198 7,529 43,834

New Zealand ................................ 289 4,585 — 4,873

    Total ......................................... 14,453 41,783 7,529 48,707

South America:

Bolivia.......................................... 170 — 170 —

Brazil............................................ 13,237 13,670 — 26,906

Colombia...................................... — 6,836 — 6,836

Peru .............................................. — 1,813 — 1,813

Venezuela ..................................... 3,932 2,277 3,661 2,548

    Total ......................................... 17,339 24,596 3,831 38,104

      Grand total ........................... 2,212,825 1,486,118 1,520,263 2,178,681

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

44  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A6. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1970.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be 

accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain 

Institute of Geological Sciences, 1973]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 2,285 — 2,285

Angola.......................................... — 1,076 — 1,076

Egypt............................................ 449 6,609 — 7,058

Kenya ........................................... — 206 — 206

Libya ............................................ — 540 — 540

Morocco ....................................... — 3,551 — 3,551

Mozambique ................................ 228 753 316 665

Nigeria.......................................... — 34,443 — 34,443

Senegal......................................... — 799 — 799

South Africa ................................. 287,431 17,191 290,381 14,241

Southern Rhodesia ....................... 81,288 — 76,208 5,080

Swaziland..................................... 33,059 — 32,515 544

Tunisia.......................................... — 1,766 — 1,766

Uganda ......................................... — 2,468 — 2,468

Zambia ......................................... — 15,607 — 15,607

 Total ......................................... 402,455 87,294 399,420 90,329

Asia and the Middle East:

Burma........................................... — 1,465 — 1,465

China............................................ 172,737 — — 172,737

Hong Kong................................... — 90 — 90

India ............................................. 10,056 39,766 30 49,792

Iran ............................................... — 11,197 — 11,197

Iraq ............................................... — 2,000 — 2,000

Israel............................................. — 7,589 — 7,589

Japan ............................................ 21,389 298,253 169 319,473

Korea, Republic of....................... 1,372 35,292 — 36,664

Lebanon........................................ — 6,418 — 6,418

Malaysia....................................... — 14,321 — 14,321

Philippines.................................... 1,213 3,303 — 4,516

Singapore ..................................... — 3,150 — 3,150

Taiwan.......................................... 2,842 6,589 151 9,280

Thailand ....................................... — 21,272 — 21,272

Turkey .......................................... 1,685 7,546 — 9,231

 Total ......................................... 211,294 458,251 350 669,195

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 1,507,497 5,292 1,417,415 95,374

Costa Rica .................................... — 736 — 736

El Salvador................................... — 963 — 963

Guatemala .................................... — 457 — 457

Jamaica......................................... — 1,910 — 1,910

Mexico ......................................... — 40,460 — 40,460

Netherlands Antilles..................... — 335 — 335

Nicaragua ..................................... — 316 — 316

Panama......................................... — 146 — 146

United States. ............................... 113,688 589,127 34,686 668,129

 Total ......................................... 1,621,186 639,742 1,452,101 808,827

Appendix  45
Table A6. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1970.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be 

accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain 

Institute of Geological Sciences, 1973]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 34,155 29 34,126

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 54,839 953 53,886

Bulgaria........................................ 3,046 — — 3,046

Cyprus.......................................... 28,708 — 24,133 4,575

Czechoslovakia ............................ NA 39,017 — 39,017

Denmark....................................... — 28,633 6 28,627

Finland ......................................... 13,626 7,744 9,335 12,035

France........................................... 710 151,848 201 152,357

Germany, East.............................. — 52,015 — 52,015

Germany, West............................. — 175,612 924 174,688

Greece .......................................... — 17,811 NA 17,811

Hungary........................................ — 15,236 — 15,236

Iceland.......................................... — 1,028 — 1,028

Italy .............................................. 118,618 62,402 48,662 132,358

Netherlands.................................. — 20,063 275 19,788

Norway......................................... — 7,982 — 7,982

Poland .......................................... — 64,385 — 64,385

Portugal........................................ 202 6,509 180 6,531

Soviet Union2 ............................... 1,065,889 — 385,300 680,589

Spain ............................................ — 77,677 875 76,802

Sweden......................................... — 18,830 184 18,646

Switzerland .................................. — 17,721 66 17,655

United Kingdom........................... — 154,636 4,741 149,895

Yugoslavia.................................... 12,105 28,552 4,666 35,991

 Total ......................................... 1,242,904 1,036,695 480,530 1,799,069

Oceania:

Australia....................................... 740 68,605 443 68,902

New Zealand ................................ — 8,662 — 8,662

 Total ......................................... 740 77,267 443 77,564

South America:

Argentina...................................... 35 21,106 — 21,141

Bolivia.......................................... — 508 — 508

Brazil............................................ 16,329 23,413 2,032 37,710

Chile............................................. — 8,800 — 8,800

Colombia...................................... — 16,763 — 16,763

Peru .............................................. — 1,828 — 1,828

Uruguay........................................ — 1,996 — 1,996

Venezuela ..................................... — 10,161 — 10,161

 Total ......................................... 16,363 84,575 2,032 98,906

 Grand total ........................... 3,494,941 2,383,824 2,334,876 3,543,889

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks.

2

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

46  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A7. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1975.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, 

1981]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.................................................. — 4,582 — 4,582

Egypt.................................................... 479 5,477 — 5,956

Ghana ................................................... — 13,188 — 13,188

Kenya ................................................... — 743 — 743

Libya .................................................... — 1,335 — 1,335

Morocco ............................................... — 7,160 — 7,160

Mozambique ........................................ — 740 1,148 -408

Nigeria.................................................. — 29,024 — 29,024

Senegal................................................. — 1,132 — 1,132

South Africa ......................................... 354,710 28,560 368,000 15,270

Southern Rhodesia ............................... 261,542 — 260,000 1,542

Swaziland............................................. 37,601 — 41,219 -3,618

Tunisia.................................................. — 1,619 — 1,619

Uganda ................................................. — 28 — 28

Zaire2 .................................................... — 672 — 672

Zambia ................................................. — 2,765 — 2,765

 Total ................................................. 654,332 97,025 670,367 80,990

Asia and the Middle East:

China.................................................... 150,000 — — 150,000

Hong Kong........................................... — 907 705 202

India ..................................................... 20,312 41,514 — 61,826

Indonesia .............................................. — 4,845 — 4,845

Iran ....................................................... — 24,814 — 24,814

Iraq ....................................................... — 1,482 — 1,482

Israel..................................................... — 856 — 856

Japan .................................................... 4,612 253,097 2,158 255,551

Korea, North......................................... — 3,300 — 3,300

Korea, Republic of............................... 4,345 56,960 — 61,305

Kuwait.................................................. — 5,666 — 5,666

Malaysia............................................... — 19,932 — 19,932

Pakistan ................................................ — 7,000 — 7,000

Philippines............................................ — 1,899 — 1,899

Saudi Arabia......................................... — 10,405 — 10,405

Singapore ............................................. — 10,341 1,670 8,671

Sri Lanka.............................................. — 789 — 789

Syria ..................................................... — 3,391 — 3,391

Taiwan.................................................. 1,737 13,363 — 15,100

Thailand ............................................... — 42,521 — 42,521

Turkey .................................................. 15,496 16,357 — 31,853

United Arab Emirates .......................... — 2,000 — 2,000

 Total ................................................. 196,502 521,439 4,533 713,408

Central and North America:

Canada.................................................. 1,055,667 5,166 1,085,610 -24,777

Costa Rica ............................................ — 2,974 — 2,974

El Salvador........................................... — 3,866 — 3,866

Guatemala ............................................ — 1,808 — 1,808

Jamaica................................................. — 1,307 — 1,307

Appendix  47
Table A7. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1975.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, 

1981]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Central and North America (continued):

Mexico ................................................. — 60,395 — 60,395

Nicaragua ............................................. — 1,207 — 1,207

Panama................................................. — 83 — 83

United States........................................ 89,497 488,567 33,064 545,000

 Total ................................................. 1,145,164 565,373 1,118,674 591,863

Europe:

Austria.................................................. — 34,343 183 34,160

Belgium and Luxembourg ................... — 60,549 1,721 58,828

Bulgaria................................................ — 28,812 — 28,812

Canary Islands...................................... — 288 — 288

Cyprus.................................................. 31,602 — 28,378 3,224

Czechoslovakia .................................... — 43,494 — 43,494

Denmark............................................... — 24,388 112 24,276

Finland ................................................. 2,791 10,132 3,512 9,411

France................................................... — 138,637 2,050 136,587

Germany, East...................................... — 65,725 — 65,725

Germany, West..................................... — 386,188 73,770 312,418

Greece .................................................. — 13,306 — 13,306

Hungary................................................ — 32,604 — 32,604

Iceland.................................................. — 7 — 7

Ireland .................................................. — 6,848 — 6,848

Italy ...................................................... 146,984 66,273 81,073 132,184

Netherlands.......................................... — 35,852 189 35,663

Norway................................................. — 5,629 — 5,629

Poland .................................................. — 94,412 — 94,412

Portugal................................................ — 5,778 — 5,778

Romania ............................................... — 41,299 — 41,299

Soviet Union3 ....................................... 1,900,000 — 613,303 1,286,697

Spain .................................................... — 94,114 — 94,114

Sweden................................................. — 15,529 173 15,356

Switzerland .......................................... — 17,262 82 17,180

United Kingdom................................... — 139,185 1,698 137,487

Yugoslavia............................................ 12,336 52,138 3,170 61,304

 Total ................................................. 2,093,713 1,412,792 809,414 2,697,091

Oceania:

Australia............................................... 47,922 49,794 24,524 73,192

New Zealand ........................................ — 12,484 — 12,484

 Total ................................................. 47,922 62,278 24,524 85,676

South America:

Argentina.............................................. 1,130 15,548 — 16,678

Bolivia.................................................. — 750 — 750

Brazil.................................................... 73,978 29,800 — 103,778

Chile..................................................... — 2,000 — 2,000

Colombia.............................................. — 15,000 — 15,000

Ecuador ................................................ — 3,000 — 3,000

Peru ...................................................... — 3,500 — 3,500

48  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A7. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1975.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from Great Britain Institute of Geological Sciences, 

1981]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

South America (continued):

Uruguay................................................ — 1,927 — 1,927

Venezuela ............................................. — 15,548 — 15,548

 Total ................................................. 75,108 87,073 — 162,181

 Grand total ................................... 4,212,741 2,745,980 2,627,512 4,331,209

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Belgian Congo became Zaire between 1960 and 1998 and the Democratic Republic of the Congo [or Congo 

(Kinshasa)] after 1998.

3

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

Appendix  49
Table A8. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1980.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1984]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.................................................. — 21,305 — 21,305

Burundi ................................................ — 125 — 125

Egypt.................................................... 316 4,387 — 4,703

Kenya ................................................... — 1,403 — 1,403

Libya .................................................... — 307 — 307

Morocco ............................................... — 6,770 — 6,770

Mozambique ........................................ 800 1,082 — 1,882

Nigeria.................................................. — 22,000 — 22,000

Senegal................................................. — 1,177 — 1,177

South Africa ......................................... 277,734 19,518 381,000 -83,748

Southern Rhodesia ............................... 250,949 — 274,258 -23,309

Swaziland............................................. 32,833 — 31,435 1,398

Tunisia.................................................. — 5,838 — 5,838

Uganda ................................................. — 132 — 132

Zaire ..................................................... — 118 — 118

 Total ................................................. 562,632 84,162 686,693 -39,899

Asia and the Middle East:

Burma................................................... — 1,825 — 1,825

China.................................................... 250,000 — 9,000 241,000

Hong Kong........................................... — 8,776 8,492 284

India ..................................................... 33,716 63,176 — 96,892

Indonesia .............................................. — 23,047 — 23,047

Iran ....................................................... — 23,392 — 23,392

Israel..................................................... — 3,050 — 3,050

Japan .................................................... 3,897 395,408 428 398,877

Korea, Republic of............................... 9,854 36,787 — 46,641

Kuwait.................................................. — 2,084 — 2,084

Malaysia............................................... — 32,242 — 32,242

Pakistan ................................................ — 10,679 — 10,679

Philippines............................................ — 4,467 — 4,467

Saudi Arabia......................................... — 52,225 — 52,225

Singapore ............................................. — 16,661 10,461 6,200

Sri Lanka.............................................. — 6,188 — 6,188

Syria ..................................................... — 4,076 — 4,076

Taiwan.................................................. 683 31,247 — 31,930

Thailand ............................................... — 58,756 — 58,756

Turkey .................................................. 8,882 16,671 — 25,553

United Arab Emirates .......................... — 4,631 — 4,631

 Total ................................................. 307,032 795,388 28,381 1,074,039

Central and North America:

Canada.................................................. 1,323,053 1,156 1,217,840 106,369

Costa Rica ............................................ — 1,318 — 1,318

El Salvador........................................... — 3,324 — 3,324

Guatemala ............................................ — 1,825 — 1,825

Honduras.............................................. — 2,102 — 2,102

50 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A8. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1980.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1984]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Central and North America (continued):

Jamaica................................................. — 4 — 4

Mexico ................................................. — 79,014 — 79,014

Nicaragua ............................................. — 848 — 848

Panama................................................. — 283 — 283

United States........................................ 80,079 327,295 48,666 358,708

 Total ................................................. 1,403,132 417,169 1,266,506 553,795

Europe:

Albania................................................. — 2,400 — 2,400

Austria.................................................. — 20,241 — 20,241

Belgium and Luxembourg ................... — 47,880 57 47,823

Bulgaria................................................ 650 500 — 1,150

Canary Islands...................................... — 131 — 131

Cyprus.................................................. 35,535 — 30,446 5,089

Czechoslovakia .................................... 617 46,197 — 46,814

Denmark............................................... — 13,713 48 13,665

Finland ................................................. — 5,040 — 5,040

France................................................... — 127,123 1,574 125,549

Germany, East...................................... — 74,400 — 74,400

Germany, West..................................... — 392,978 27,333 365,645

Greece .................................................. — 14,180 — 14,180

Hungary................................................ — 48,402 5,300 43,102

Iceland.................................................. — 5 — 5

Ireland .................................................. — 8,413 — 8,413

Italy ...................................................... 157,794 86,550 63,815 180,529

Netherlands.......................................... — 19,042 36 19,006

Norway................................................. — 103 — 103

Poland .................................................. — 83,272 — 83,272

Portugal................................................ — 19,953 — 19,953

Romania ............................................... — 4,900 — 4,900

Soviet Union2 ....................................... 2,070,000 — 600,000 1,470,000

Spain .................................................... — 66,944 — 66,944

Sweden................................................. — 1,195 14 1,181

Switzerland .......................................... — 21,029 43 20,986

United Kingdom................................... — 94,640 1,114 93,526

Yugoslavia............................................ 10,468 60,023 2,506 67,985

 Total ................................................. 2,275,064 1,259,254 732,286 2,802,032

Oceania:

Australia............................................... 92,418 25,239 51,172 66,485

New Zealand ........................................ — 4,952 — 4,952

 Total ................................................. 92,418 30,191 51,172 71,437

South America:

Argentina.............................................. 1,261 20,149 — 21,410

Brazil.................................................... 170,403 24,799 — 195,202

Colombia.............................................. — 27,057 — 27,057

Ecuador ................................................ — 7,138 — 7,138

Appendix  51
Table A8. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1980.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1984]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

South America (continued):

Peru ...................................................... — 4,870 — 4,870

Uruguay................................................ — 2,427 — 2,427

Venezuela ............................................. — 9,111 — 9,111

 Total ................................................. 171,664 95,551 — 267,215

 Grand total ................................... 4,811,942 2,681,715 2,765,038 4,728,619

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

52 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A9. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1985.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1991]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 31,752 — 31,752

Burundi ........................................ — 422 — 422

Egypt............................................ 229 13,090 — 13,319

Ghana ........................................... — 1,760 — 1,760

Kenya ........................................... — 766 — 766

Morocco ....................................... — 1,110 — 1,110

Mozambique ................................ 55 3 — 58

Nigeria.......................................... — 10,778 — 10,778

Senegal......................................... — 708 — 708

South Africa ................................. 194,905 11,528 175,929 30,504

Swaziland..................................... 25,130 — 24,791 339

Tunisia.......................................... — 5,852 — 5,852

Zaire ............................................. — 200 — 200

Zimbabwe2 ................................... 173,500 — 158,633 14,867

 Total ......................................... 393,819 77,969 359,353 112,435

Asia and the Middle East:

Burma........................................... — 1,348 — 1,348

China............................................ 150,000 1,700 1,700 150,000

India ............................................. 29,450 78,075 — 107,525

Indonesia ...................................... 25,000 8,149 — 33,149

Iran ............................................... — 20,451 — 20,451

Israel............................................. — 3,621 — 3,621

Japan ............................................ 2,971 261,648 292 264,327

Korea, Republic of....................... 4,703 57,143 — 61,846

Malaysia....................................... — 19,064 — 19,064

Pakistan ........................................ — 2,028 — 2,028

Philippines.................................... — 1,190 — 1,190

Saudi Arabia................................. — 4,547 985 3,562

Singapore ..................................... — 6,078 7,117 -1,039

Sri Lanka...................................... — 8,590 — 8,590

Syria ............................................. — 5,928 — 5,928

Taiwan.......................................... 625 24,519 — 25,144

Thailand ....................................... — 71,516 — 71,516

Turkey .......................................... 29,039 25,544 — 54,583

United Arab Emirates .................. — 6,624 — 6,624

 Total ......................................... 241,788 607,763 10,094 839,457

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 750,190 374 721,560 29,004

Cuba ............................................. — 1,658 — 1,658

Dominican Republic .................... — 641 — 641

El Salvador................................... — 1,769 — 1,769

Guatemala .................................... — 1,101 — 1,101

Honduras...................................... — 1,902 — 1,902

Mexico ......................................... — 54,868 — 54,868

Nicaragua ..................................... — 3,676 — 3,676

Panama......................................... — 225 — 225

United States................................ 57,457 142,429 45,656 154,230

 Total ......................................... 807,647 208,643 767,216 249,074

Appendix  53
Table A9. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1985.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1991]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe:

Albania......................................... — 1,500 — 1,500

Austria.......................................... — 21,595 — 21,595

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 25,138 254 24,884

Bulgaria........................................ 400 35,472 — 35,872

Cyprus.......................................... 16,360 462 16,948 -126

Czechoslovakia ............................ — 46,783 — 46,783

Denmark....................................... — 10,362 — 10,362

Finland ......................................... — 2,479 — 2,479

France........................................... — 63,873 979 62,894

Germany, East.............................. — 54,600 — 54,600

Germany, West............................. — 63,172 3,064 60,108

Greece .......................................... 46,811 4,653 29,387 22,077

Hungary........................................ — 33,596 — 33,596

Ireland .......................................... — 5,243 — 5,243

Italy .............................................. 136,006 47,952 66,244 117,714

Netherlands.................................. — 5,625 50 5,575

Poland .......................................... — 81,690 — 81,690

Portugal........................................ — 9,932 — 9,932

Romania ....................................... — 4,700 — 4,700

Soviet Union3 ............................... 2,500,000 — 309,800 2,190,200

Spain ............................................ — 38,022 189 37,833

Sweden......................................... — 1,042 — 1,042

Switzerland .................................. — 5,058 — 5,058

United Kingdom........................... — 37,639 308 37,331

Yugoslavia.................................... 6,918 54,373 2,018 59,273

 Total ......................................... 2,706,495 654,961 429,241 2,932,215

Oceania:

Australia....................................... — 12,194 — 12,194

New Zealand ................................ — 1,304 — 1,304

 Total ......................................... — 13,498 — 13,498

South America:

Argentina...................................... 1,244 5,864 — 7,108

Brazil............................................ 165,446 2,591 23,248 144,789

Chile............................................. — 8,387 — 8,387

Colombia...................................... 12,435 14,185 — 26,620

Ecuador ........................................ — 5,031 — 5,031

Peru .............................................. — 3,242 — 3,242

Uruguay........................................ — 596 — 596

Venezuela ..................................... — 4,669 — 4,669

 Total ......................................... 179,125 44,565 23,248 200,442

 Grand total ........................... 4,328,874 1,607,399 1,589,152 4,347,121

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe after 1980.

3

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

54  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A10. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1990.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1995]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 17,382 — 17,382

Burundi ........................................ — 68 — 68

Egypt............................................ 367 — — 367

Morocco ....................................... — 7,157 — 7,157

Nigeria.......................................... — 10,000 — 10,000

Senegal......................................... — 646 — 646

South Africa ................................. 161,494 12,354 178,750 -4,902

Swaziland..................................... 35,938 — 19,292 16,646

Tunisia.......................................... — 7,179 — 7,179

Zambia ......................................... — 2,472 — 2,472

Zimbabwe .................................... 160,500 — 172,206 -11,706

 Total ......................................... 358,299 57,258 370,248 45,309

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 191,800 1,083 7,135 185,748

India ............................................. 26,053 93,165 254 118,964

Indonesia ...................................... — 28,599 — 28,599

Iran ............................................... 2,800 69,446 — 72,246

Israel............................................. — 2,955 — 2,955

Japan ............................................ 5,184 287,659 142 292,701

Korea, Republic of....................... 1,534 74,549 — 76,083

Kuwait.......................................... — 1,140 — 1,140

Malaysia....................................... — 22,000 — 22,000

Pakistan ........................................ — 4,525 — 4,525

Philippines.................................... — 1,869 — 1,869

Saudi Arabia................................. — 2,005 422 1,583

Singapore ..................................... — 4,741 2,181 2,560

Sri Lanka...................................... — 7,002 — 7,002

Syria ............................................. — 1,548 — 1,548

Taiwan.......................................... — 15,165 — 15,165

Thailand ....................................... — 116,652 — 116,652

Turkey .......................................... — 26,259 — 26,259

 Total ......................................... 227,371 760,362 10,134 977,599

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 724,620 879 649,485 76,014

Cuba ............................................. — 1,500 — 1,500

El Salvador................................... — 904 — 904

Honduras...................................... — 416 — 416

Mexico ......................................... — 39,316 — 39,316

Panama......................................... — 352 — 352

United States................................ 20,000 41,331 28,875 32,456

 Total ......................................... 744,620 84,698 678,360 150,958

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — 6,167 675 5,492

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 26,514 310 26,204

Bulgaria........................................ 500 — — 500

Czechoslovakia ............................ — 32,776 — 32,776

Denmark....................................... — 800 — 800

Appendix  55
Table A10. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1990.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 1995]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

France........................................... — 63,672 101 63,571

Germany2...................................... — 15,692 608 15,084

Greece .......................................... 65,993 2,299 56,963 11,329

Hungary........................................ — 33,375 5,784 27,591

Ireland .......................................... — 5,533 — 5,533

Italy .............................................. 3,862 63,438 4,893 62,407

Netherlands.................................. — 6,252 — 6,252

Poland .......................................... — 65,621 — 65,621

Portugal........................................ — 12,284 — 12,284

Romania ....................................... — 3,000 — 3,000

Soviet Union3 ............................... 2,400,000 — 248,200 2,151,800

Spain ............................................ — 39,609 127 39,482

Sweden......................................... — 595 — 595

Switzerland .................................. — 1,341 — 1,341

United Kingdom........................... — 16,022 291 15,731

Yugoslavia.................................... 6,578 28,323 — 34,901

 Total ......................................... 2,476,933 423,313 317,952 2,582,294

Oceania: Australia........................... — 1,706 — 1,706

South America:

Argentina...................................... 275 6,588 — 6,863

Bolivia.......................................... — 1,297 — 1,297

Brazil............................................ 205,220 11,160 53,142 163,238

Chile............................................. — 7,749 — 7,749

Colombia...................................... 8,000 13,437 — 21,437

Ecuador ........................................ — 1,151 — 1,151

Peru .............................................. — 1,060 — 1,060

Uruguay........................................ — 1,794 — 1,794

Venezuela ..................................... — 1,418 — 1,418

 Total ......................................... 213,495 45,654 53,142 206,007

 Grand total ........................... 4,020,718 1,372,991 1,429,836 3,963,873

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Germany was divided into East and West Germany from 1949 to 1990.

3

Combined production and exports of Kazakhstan and Russia.

56  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A11. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1995.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 10,000 — 10,000

Egypt............................................ 392 7,600 — 7,992

Morocco ....................................... — 5,023 — 5,023

Nigeria.......................................... — 15,000 — 15,000

Senegal......................................... — 300 — 300

South Africa ................................. 88,642 7,891 92,100 4,433

Swaziland..................................... 28,574 — 19,000 9,574

Tunisia.......................................... — 7,297 — 7,297

Zambia ......................................... — 3,000 — 3,000

Zimbabwe .................................... 169,487 1,500 174,558 -3,571

 Total ......................................... 287,095 57,611 285,658 59,048

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 447,000 68,300 3,465 511,835

India ............................................. 23,844 91,909 14 115,739

Indonesia ...................................... — 50,231 — 50,231

Iran ............................................... — 54,933 — 54,933

Israel............................................. — 2,200 — 2,200

Japan ............................................ 2,399 191,475 74 193,800

Korea, Republic of....................... — 88,722 — 88,722

Malaysia....................................... — 28,200 — 28,200

Oman............................................ — 181 — 181

Philippines.................................... — 2,904 — 2,904

Saudi Arabia................................. — 306 8,400 -8,094

Singapore ..................................... — 475 — 475

Sri Lanka...................................... — 35 — 35

Syria ............................................. — 1,222 — 1,222

Taiwan.......................................... — 5,582 — 5,582

Thailand ....................................... — 181,692 — 181,692

Turkey .......................................... — 25,471 — 25,471

United Arab Emirates .................. — 6,000 — 6,000

 Total ......................................... 473,243 799,838 11,953 1,261,128

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 524,392 297 509,575 15,114

Cuba ............................................. — 3,000 — 3,000

El Salvador................................... — 398 — 398

Mexico ......................................... — 19,154 — 19,154

Panama......................................... — 844 — 844

United States................................ 9,290 21,941 16,556 14,675

 Total ......................................... 533,682 45,634 526,131 53,185

Europe:

Albania......................................... — 1,000 — 1,000

Belarus2 ........................................ — 20,000 2,000 18,000

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 10,462 94 10,368

Bulgaria........................................ 100 — — 100

Croatia3......................................... — 3,045 — 3,045

Czech Republic4 ........................... — 4,500 100 4,400

Denmark....................................... — 345 — 345

Appendix  57
Table A11. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1995.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent 

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Estonia2 ........................................ — 7,976 9,037 -1,061

France........................................... — 48,205 224 47,981

Germany....................................... — 98 — 98

Greece .......................................... 75,003 272 67,991 7,284

Hungary........................................ — 3,356 — 3,356

Ireland .......................................... — 6,355 — 6,355

Italy .............................................. — 126 22 104

Kazakhstan2.................................. 160,829 — 115,400 45,429

Kyrgyzstan2 .................................. — 11,445 793 10,652

Latvia2 .......................................... — 2,228 — 2,228

Lithuania2 ..................................... — 5,600 5,173 427

Macedonia3................................... — 2,800 — 2,800

Moldova2 ...................................... — 2,800 — 2,800

Poland .......................................... — 31,315 948 30,367

Portugal........................................ — 9,163 — 9,163

Romania ....................................... — 27,425 — 27,425

Russia2.......................................... 685,000 41,400 76,820 649,580

Serbia3 .......................................... 497 — — 497

Slovakia4....................................... — 2,300 100 2,200

Slovenia3 ...................................... — 4,900 — 4,900

Spain ............................................ — 26,852 142 26,710

Sweden......................................... — 298 — 298

United Kingdom........................... — 10,157 14 10,143

 Total ......................................... 921,429 284,423 278,858 926,994

Oceania: Australia........................... — 1,488 — 1,488

South America:

Argentina...................................... 300 5,788 — 6,088

Bolivia.......................................... — 1,575 — 1,575

Brazil............................................ 210,352 43,524 71,747 182,129

Chile............................................. — 11,666 — 11,666

Colombia...................................... 3,000 19,925 — 22,925

Ecuador ........................................ — 805 — 805

Peru .............................................. — 4,947 — 4,947

Uruguay........................................ — 903 — 903

Venezuela ..................................... — 5,012 — 5,012

 Total ......................................... 213,652 94,145 71,747 236,050

 Grand total ........................... 2,429,101 1,283,139 1,174,347 2,537,893

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Data for Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Russia became 

available after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both Asian and European countries of the 

former Soviet Union are listed under Europe to facilitate comparison of regional totals for different time 

periods. 3

Data for Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia were combined under Yugoslavia before 1991.

4

Data for the Czech Republic and Slovakia were combined under Czechoslovakia before 1993.

58  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A12. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1996.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 7,102 — 7,102

Egypt............................................ 552 29,849 — 30,401

Morocco ....................................... — 5,643 — 5,643

Nigeria.......................................... — 15,841 — 15,841

Senegal......................................... — 300 — 300

South Africa ................................. 61,800 9,133 60,829 10,104

Swaziland..................................... 26,014 — 20,000 6,014

Tunisia.......................................... — 6,081 — 6,081

Zambia ......................................... — 3,000 — 3,000

Zimbabwe .................................... 165,494 1,500 152,091 14,903

 Total ......................................... 253,860 78,449 232,920 99,389

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 440,500 77,959 9,392 509,067

Dubai2........................................... — 6,100 — 6,100

India ............................................. 27,180 84,378 275 111,283

Indonesia ...................................... — 48,331 — 48,331

Iran ............................................... 2,127 — — 2,127

Israel............................................. — 1,500 — 1,500

Japan ............................................ 2,269 177,869 133 180,005

Korea, Republic of....................... — 77,145 — 77,145

Malaysia....................................... — 19,600 — 19,600

Oman............................................ — 2,061 — 2,061

Pakistan ........................................ — 5,500 — 5,500

Philippines.................................... — 1,770 — 1,770

Saudi Arabia................................. — 500 11,530 -11,030

Singapore ..................................... — 429 — 429

Sri Lanka...................................... — 4,818 — 4,818

Syria ............................................. — 2,672 — 2,672

Taiwan.......................................... — 6,164 — 6,164

Thailand ....................................... — 190,205 — 190,205

Turkey .......................................... — 26,863 — 26,863

United Arab Emirates .................. — 6,000 — 6,000

 Total ......................................... 472,076 739,864 21,330 1,190,610

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 475,130 353 504,069 -28,586

Cuba ............................................. — 7,100 — 7,100

El Salvador................................... — 398 — 398

Mexico ......................................... — 29,097 — 29,097

Panama......................................... — 650 — 650

United States................................ 9,550 30,449 24,231 15,768

 Total ......................................... 484,680 68,047 528,300 24,427

Europe:

Albania......................................... — 9 — 9

Belarus ......................................... — 20,000 3,000 17,000

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 5,681 11 5,670

Bulgaria........................................ 400 — — 400

Croatia.......................................... — 2,363 — 2,363

Appendix  59
Table A12. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1996.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Czech Republic ............................ — 1,400 27,100 -25,700

Denmark....................................... — 225 — 225

Estonia.......................................... — 800 300 500

France........................................... — 20,576 14,053 6,523

Germany....................................... — 119 — 119

Greece .......................................... 80,213 252 74,043 6,422

Hungary........................................ — 5,249 — 5,249

Ireland .......................................... — 4,638 — 4,638

Italy .............................................. — 127 51 76

Kazakhstan................................... 134,484 — 139,100 -4,616

Kyrgyzstan ................................... — 12,542 — 12,542

Latvia ........................................... — 1,212 — 1,212

Lithuania ...................................... — 6,343 4,656 1,687

Macedonia.................................... — 2,999 — 2,999

Moldova ....................................... — 1,537 — 1,537

Poland .......................................... — 15,700 200 15,500

Portugal........................................ — 6,442 — 6,442

Romania ....................................... — 39,130 — 39,130

Russia........................................... 629,863 31,366 33,411 627,818

Serbia ........................................... 509 — — 509

Slovakia........................................ 36,000 3,322 201 39,121

Slovenia........................................ — 5,000 — 5,000

Spain ............................................ — 27,030 625 26,405

Sweden......................................... — 158 — 158

United Kingdom........................... — 7,099 967 6,132

 Total ......................................... 881,469 221,319 297,718 805,070

Oceania: Australia........................... — 1,366 — 1,366

South America:

Argentina...................................... 446 5,791 — 6,237

Bolivia.......................................... — 1,567 — 1,567

Brazil............................................ 213,213 31,765 78,294 166,684

Chile............................................. — 9,349 — 9,349

Colombia...................................... 2,000 20,548 — 22,548

Ecuador ........................................ — 1,278 — 1,278

Peru .............................................. — 4,098 — 4,098

Uruguay........................................ — 895 — 895

Venezuela ..................................... — 1,561 — 1,561

 Total ......................................... 215,659 76,852 78,294 214,217

 Grand total ........................... 2,307,744 1,185,897 1,158,562 2,335,079

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Although Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, separate statistical data are available for 

that state.

60 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A13. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1997.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 9,997 — 9,997

Egypt............................................ 776 10,100 — 10,876

Morocco ....................................... — 4,376 — 4,376

Nigeria.......................................... — 7,799 — 7,799

Senegal......................................... — 300 — 300

South Africa ................................. 49,986 9,571 38,209 21,348

Swaziland..................................... 25,888 — 20,000 5,888

Tunisia.......................................... — 3,573 — 3,573

Zambia ......................................... — 3,000 — 3,000

Zimbabwe .................................... 144,959 1,000 143,169 2,790

 Total ......................................... 221,609 49,716 201,378 69,947

Asia and the Middle East:

China............................................ 437,000 103,265 13,553 526,712

Dubai2........................................... — 7,660 — 7,660

India ............................................. 25,537 83,356 282 108,611

Indonesia ...................................... — 41,845 — 41,845

Iran ............................................... 10,373 75,587 — 85,960

Japan ............................................ 2,254 176,021 160 178,115

Korea, Republic of....................... — 44,985 — 44,985

Malaysia....................................... — 21,700 — 21,700

Oman............................................ — 1,331 — 1,331

Pakistan ........................................ — 3,789 — 3,789

Philippines.................................... — 2,206 — 2,206

Saudi Arabia................................. — — 6,440 -6,440

Singapore ..................................... — 243 — 243

Sri Lanka...................................... — 18 — 18

Syria ............................................. — 3,068 — 3,068

Taiwan.......................................... — 5,773 — 5,773

Thailand ....................................... — 177,124 — 177,124

Turkey .......................................... — 33,725 — 33,725

United Arab Emirates .................. — 6,000 — 6,000

 Total ......................................... 475,164 787,696 20,435 1,242,425

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 454,991 128 430,288 24,831

Cuba ............................................. — 6,600 — 6,600

El Salvador................................... — 999 — 999

Mexico ......................................... — 28,886 — 28,886

Panama......................................... — 1,171 — 1,171

United States................................ 6,890 20,922 23,061 4,751

 Total ......................................... 461,881 58,706 453,349 67,238

Europe:

Belarus ......................................... — 20,000 3,000 17,000

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 2,366 263 2,103

Bulgaria........................................ 300 — — 300

Croatia.......................................... — 3,033 — 3,033

Czech Republic ............................ — 1,315 — 1,315

Denmark....................................... — 125 — 125

Estonia.......................................... — 800 4 796

Appendix  61
Table A13. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1997.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from British Geological Survey, 2001]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

France........................................... — 55 164 -109

Germany....................................... — 143 — 143

Greece .......................................... 63,294 239 51,720 11,813

Hungary........................................ — 5,759 — 5,759

Ireland .......................................... — 2,468 — 2,468

Italy .............................................. — — 42 -42

Kazakhstan................................... 181,818 — 60,429 121,389

Kyrgyzstan ................................... — 22,200 — 22,200

Latvia ........................................... — 1,828 — 1,828

Lithuania ...................................... — 10,819 7,113 3,706

Macedonia.................................... — 1,998 — 1,998

Moldova ....................................... — 3,189 — 3,189

Poland .......................................... — 23,000 300 22,700

Portugal........................................ — 7,324 — 7,324

Romania ....................................... — 6,807 — 6,807

Russia........................................... 723,973 17,128 98,832 642,269

Serbia ........................................... 765 1,365 — 2,130

Slovakia........................................ 30,000 1,215 328 30,887

Slovenia........................................ — 1,800 — 1,800

Spain ............................................ — 21,192 19 21,173

United Kingdom........................... — 4,320 16 4,304

 Total ......................................... 1,000,150 160,488 222,230 938,408

Oceania: Australia........................... — 1,556 — 1,556

South America:

Argentina...................................... 301 6,549 — 6,850

Bolivia.......................................... — 1,818 — 1,818

Brazil............................................ 208,447 38,941 63,165 184,223

Chile............................................. — 9,198 — 9,198

Colombia...................................... 3,000 16,650 — 19,650

Ecuador ........................................ — 1,348 — 1,348

Peru .............................................. — 4,078 — 4,078

Uruguay........................................ — 1,511 — 1,511

Venezuela ..................................... — 2,214 — 2,214

 Total ......................................... 211,748 82,307 63,165 230,890

 Grand total ........................... 2,370,552 1,140,469 960,557 2,550,464

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Although Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, separate statistical data are available for that state.

62 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A14. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1998.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 3,993 — 3,993

Angola.......................................... — 751 — 751

Benin............................................ — 119 — 119

Congo (Kinshasa)2 ....................... — 9 — 9

Egypt............................................ 147 4,700 — 4,847

Gabon........................................... — 1 — 1

Ghana ........................................... — 1,030 — 1,030

Kenya ........................................... — 174 (

3

) 174

Morocco ....................................... — 1,372 — 1,372

Nigeria.......................................... — 3,610 — 3,610

Senegal......................................... — 736 419 317

South Africa ................................. 18,836 15,059 52,481 -18,586

Swaziland..................................... 22,912 — 8,000 14,912

Togo ............................................. — 251 — 251

Tunisia.......................................... — 2,301 — 2,301

Zambia ......................................... — 48,204 — 48,204

Zimbabwe .................................... 115,000 — 108,716 6,284

 Total ......................................... 156,895 82,309 169,617 69,588

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh................................... — 1,010 — 1,010

Burma........................................... — 1,175 — 1,175

China............................................ 329,000 71,437 18,591 381,846

Hong Kong................................... — 45 — 45

India ............................................. 20,000 109,036 348 128,688

Indonesia ...................................... — 18,615 38 18,577

Iran ............................................... 2,258 36,693 — 38,951

Israel............................................. — 68 — 68

Japan ............................................ 1,389 123,225 38 124,576

Korea, North................................. — 1,737 — 1,737

Korea, Republic of....................... — 20,465 1 20,464

Lebanon........................................ — 1,118 60 1,058

Malaysia....................................... — 14,154 39 14,116

Maldives....................................... — 1 — 1

Mongolia...................................... — 424 — 424

Oman............................................ — 290 — 290

Pakistan ........................................ — 1,772 — 1,772

Philippines.................................... — 2,236 — 2,236

Saudi Arabia................................. — 144 — 144

Singapore ..................................... — 18 3 15

Sri Lanka...................................... — 11,467 — 11,467

Syria ............................................. — 1,580 — 1,580

Thailand ....................................... — 50,272 — 50,272

Turkey .......................................... — 9,757 — 9,757

United Arab Emirates .................. — 6,860 — 6,860

Vietnam........................................ — 36,507 — 36,507

 Total ......................................... 352,647 520,106 19,116 853,636

Appendix  63
Table A14. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1998.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Central and North America:

Bahamas....................................... — (3) 1 -1

Canada.......................................... 337,000 186 319,430 17,756

Cuba ............................................. — 6,908 — 6,908

Dominican Republic .................... — 976 — 976

El Salvador................................... — 1,680 (

3

) 1,680

Guatemala .................................... — — 4 -4

Honduras...................................... — 6 — 6

Mexico ......................................... — 35,068 — 35,068

Nicaragua ..................................... — 26 — 26

Panama......................................... — 990 — 990

United States................................ 7,190 15,824 18,896 4,118

 Total ......................................... 344,190 61,664 338,331 67,523

Europe:

Armenia4 ...................................... — 435 — 435

Austria.......................................... — 7 3 4

Azerbaijan4................................... — 1,364 — 1,364

Belarus4 ........................................ — — 3,604 -3,604

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — — 685 -685

Bosnia and Herzegovina5 ............. — 12 — 12

Bulgaria........................................ 350 1,673 (3) 2,023

Croatia5......................................... — 948 12 936

Czech Republic ............................ — 5,522 51 5,471

Estonia4 ........................................ — 301 — 301

France........................................... — 74 — 74

Germany....................................... — 256 — 256

Greece .......................................... 35,068 715 35,361 422

Hungary........................................ — 2,750 — 2,750

Ireland .......................................... — 630 (3) 630

Italy .............................................. — 1 7 -6

Kazakhstan4.................................. 139,300 394 123,906 15,788

Kyrgyzstan4 .................................. — 16,421 — 16,421

Latvia4 .......................................... — 1,123 40 1,083

Lithuania4 ..................................... — 2,439 2,982 -543

Moldova4 ...................................... — 6,229 — 6,229

Netherlands.................................. — 7 — 7

Poland .......................................... — 5,174 323 4,850

Portugal........................................ — 6,666 (3) 6,666

Romania ....................................... — 15,494 — 15,494

Russia4.......................................... 675,000 36,583 238,131 473,452

Serbia5 .......................................... 361 — — 361

Slovakia........................................ — 1,764 1 1,763

Slovenia5 ...................................... — 1,685 — 1,685

Spain ............................................ — 21,819 15 21,804

Switzerland .................................. — — (

3

) (

3

)

Tajikistan4..................................... — 656 — 656

Turkmenistan4 .............................. — 5,752 — 5,752

64  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A14. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1998.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Ukraine4 ....................................... — 71,516 — 71,516

United Kingdom........................... — 1,861 45 1,815

Uzbekistan4 .................................. — 26,480 — 26,480

 Total ......................................... 850,079 236,752 405,166 681,665

Oceania: Australia........................... — 1,550 — 1,550

South America:

Argentina...................................... 259 5,028 1,052 4,235

Bolivia.......................................... — 2,520 — 2,520

Brazil............................................ 188,386 37,715 51,243 174,859

Chile............................................. — 4,937 — 4,937

Colombia...................................... 5,000 18,095 — 23,095

Ecuador ........................................ — 2,499 — 2,499

Paraguay....................................... — 1 — 1

Peru .............................................. — 2,875 — 2,875

Uruguay........................................ — 1,309 — 1,309

Venezuela ..................................... — 1,664 13 1,651

 Total ......................................... 193,645 76,644 52,308 217,981

Unknown trade destinations............. — 4,393 — 4,393

 Grand total ........................... 1,897,456 983,417 984,537 1,896,336

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account 

for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Belgian Congo became Zaire between 1960 and 1998 and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

[or Congo (Kinshasa)] after 1998.

3

Less than 0.5 t.

4

Data from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan became available after the dissolution 

of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both Asian and European countries of the former Soviet Union are listed 

under Europe to facilitate comparison of regional totals for different time periods.

5

Data for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia were combined under Yugoslavia 

before 1991.

Appendix  65
Table A15. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1999.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 

2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.................................................. — 11,875 — 11,875

Angola.................................................. — 920 — 920

Benin.................................................... — 154 — 154

Congo (Kinshasa)................................. — 10 — 10

Egypt.................................................... — 2,838 — 2,838

Ghana ................................................... — 66 — 66

Guinea .................................................. — 20 — 20

Kenya ................................................... — 57 32 25

Malawi ................................................. — 1 — 1

Mali...................................................... — 240 — 240

Morocco ............................................... — 922 — 922

Nigeria.................................................. — 79,370 — 79,370

Senegal................................................. — 1,261 581 680

Seychelles ............................................ — 2 — 2

South Africa ......................................... 18,782 17,268 44,794 -8,743

Sudan.................................................... — 88 (

2

) 88

Swaziland............................................. 12,690 — 7,000 5,690

Tanzania ............................................... — 18 — 18

Togo ..................................................... — 341 — 341

Tunisia.................................................. — 3,190 — 3,190

Uganda ................................................. — 30 — 30

Zambia ................................................. — 1,736 — 1,736

Zimbabwe ............................................ 152,000 37 152,658 -620

 Total ................................................. 183,472 120,444 205,064 98,852

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh........................................... — 1,425 — 1,425

China.................................................... 315,000 66,082 10,720 370,363

Hong Kong........................................... — 425 — 425

India ..................................................... 21,000 115,220 172 136,048

Indonesia .............................................. — 29,263 198 29,065

Iran ....................................................... 2,000 44,587 1 46,586

Iraq ....................................................... — 146 — 146

Israel..................................................... — 17 — 17

Japan .................................................... — 114,951 20 114,931

Korea North......................................... — 357 — 357

Korea, Republic of............................... — 33,101 3 33,097

Kuwait.................................................. — 18 — 18

Lebanon................................................ — 1,310 — 1,310

Malaysia............................................... — 16,361 1 16,360

Maldives............................................... — 1 — 1

Mongolia.............................................. — 5 — 5

Nepal.................................................... — 100 — 100

Oman.................................................... — 18 — 18

Pakistan ................................................ — 2,509 — 2,509

Philippines............................................ — 2,755 — 2,755

66  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A15. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1999.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 

2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Asia and the Middle East (continued):

Saudi Arabia......................................... — 288 17,970 -17,682

Singapore ............................................. — 4,733 22 4,711

Sri Lanka.............................................. — 15,716 (

2

) 15,716

Syria ..................................................... — 2,050 — 2,050

Thailand ............................................... — 71,488 — 71,488

Turkey .................................................. — 17,108 60 17,048

United Arab Emirates .......................... — 10,441 — 10,441

Vietnam................................................ — 2,569 — 2,569

 Total ................................................. 338,000 553,042 29,166 861,876

Central and North America:

Bahamas............................................... — 14 — 14

Canada.................................................. 309,719 150 332,406 -22,537

Cuba ..................................................... — 8,687 — 8,687

Dominican Republic ............................ — 600 — 600

El Salvador........................................... — 1,042 — 1,042

Guatemala ............................................ — 18 1 17

Honduras.............................................. — 1 — 1

Mexico ................................................. — 37,791 3 37,788

Panama................................................. — 962 — 962

United States........................................ 5,260 14,508 35,260 14,508

 Total ................................................. 314,979 63,773 337,670 41,082

Europe:

Albania................................................. — 4 — 4 

Armenia4 .............................................. — 592 — 592 

Austria.................................................. — (

2

) — (

2

)

Azerbaijan4........................................... — 824 — 824

Belarus4 ................................................ — — 4,334 -4,334

Belgium and Luxembourg ................... — 509 1 508

Bosnia and Herzegovina ...................... — 8 — 8

Bulgaria................................................ 350 781 — 1,131

Croatia.................................................. — 701 8 693

Cyprus.................................................. — 60 41 19

Czech Republic .................................... — 712 1 711

Estonia4 ................................................ — 728 578 150

France................................................... — 6 — 6

Georgia4................................................ — 591 592 -1

Germany............................................... — 998 — 998

Greece .................................................. — 79 28,408 -28,328

Hungary................................................ — 809 — 809

Ireland .................................................. — 6 — 6

Italy ...................................................... — — (

2

) (

2

)

Kazakhstan4.......................................... 233,200 421 109,739 123,882

Kyrgyzstan4 .......................................... — 9,176 — 9,176

Latvia4 .................................................. — 399 — 399

Lithuania4 ............................................. — 858 3,967 -3,109

Moldova4 .............................................. — 4,129 — 4,129

Appendix  67
Table A15. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 1999.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 

2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Netherlands.......................................... — 1 — 1

Poland .................................................. — 537 — 537

Portugal................................................ — 7,749 4 7,745

Romania ............................................... — 12,628 4 12,624

Russia4.................................................. 750,000 24,556 262,557 511,999

Serbia and Montenegro ........................ 563 127 — 690

Slovakia................................................ — 1,290 — 1,290

Slovenia................................................ — 1,492 — 1,492

Spain .................................................... — 18,452 5 18,447

Switzerland .......................................... — 10 (

2

) 10

Turkmenistan4 ...................................... — 1,683 — 1,683

Ukraine4 ............................................... — 77,269 — 77,269

United Kingdom................................... — 578 49 529

Uzbekistan4 .......................................... — 35,609 — 35,609

 Total ................................................. 984,113 204,372 410,288 778,197

Oceania: Australia................................... — 1,429 12 1,417

South America:

Argentina.............................................. 254 2,603 12 2,845

Bolivia.................................................. — 802 — 802

Brazil.................................................... 209,332 12,686 49,419 172,598

Chile..................................................... — 2,296 — 2,296

Colombia.............................................. 5,000 12,497 (

2

) 17,497

Ecuador ................................................ — 4,299 — 4,299

Peru ...................................................... — 1,386 — 1,386

Suriname5 ............................................. — 234 — 234

Uruguay................................................ — 1,239 — 1,239

Venezuela ............................................. — 2,441 — 2,441

 Total ................................................. 214,586 40,482 49,431 205,637

Unknown trade destinations..................... — 22,195 — 22,195

 Grand total ................................... 2,035,150 1,005,738 1,031,633 2,009,255 1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Less than 0.5 t.

3

Includes exports and reexports of asbestos fiber.

4

Data for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan became available after the dissolution of the Soviet Union 

in 1991. Both Asian and European countries of the former Soviet Union are listed under Europe to facilitate 

comparison of regional totals for different time periods.

5

Dutch Guiana and Netherlands Guiana became Suriname after 1975.

68  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A16. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2000.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; 

Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.................................................. — 7,611 — 7,611

Angola.................................................. — 1,520 — 1,520

Benin.................................................... — 52 — 52

Burundi ................................................ — 200 — 200

Congo (Kinshasa)................................. — 122 — 122

Egypt.................................................... — 1,912 — 1,912

Ghana ................................................... — 1,071 — 1,071

Kenya ................................................... — 27 1 27

Malawi ................................................. — 15 — 15

Mauritius.............................................. — 42 — 42

Morocco ............................................... — 2,232 — 2,232

Mozambique ........................................ — 128 — 128

Namibia................................................ — — (

2

) (

2

)

Niger .................................................... — 40 — 40

Nigeria.................................................. — 7,222 — 7,222

Senegal................................................. — 1,277 147 1,130

Sierra Leone ......................................... — 1 — 1

South Africa ......................................... 18,782 10,842 34,695 -5,071

Swaziland............................................. 12,690 — 6,933 5,757

Tanzania ............................................... — 18 — 18

Togo ..................................................... — 32 — 32

Tunisia.................................................. — 2,200 144 2,056

Zambia ................................................. — 871 — 871

Zimbabwe ............................................ 152,000 — 64,583 87,417

 Total ................................................. 183,472 37,436 106,502 114,406

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh........................................... — 1,445 — 1,445

Burma................................................... — 100 — 100

China.................................................... 315,000 79,129 11,814 382,315

Hong Kong........................................... — 1,135 — 1,135

India ..................................................... 21,000 124,433 403 145,030

Indonesia .............................................. — 42,877 — 42,877

Iran ....................................................... 2,000 38,707 — 40,707

Israel..................................................... — 20 — 20

Japan .................................................... — 85,440 — 85,440

Korea, North......................................... — 848 — 848

Korea, Republic of............................... — 30,135 12 30,124

Lebanon................................................ — 975 — 975

Malaysia............................................... — 17,711 — 17,711

Maldives............................................... — 2 — 2

Mongolia.............................................. — 690 — 690

Oman.................................................... — 1 180 -179

Pakistan ................................................ — 1,589 — 1,589

Philippines............................................ — 2,631 — 2,631

Saudi Arabia......................................... — 68 9,733 -9,664

Singapore ............................................. — 3,014 24 2,990

Sri Lanka.............................................. — 12,640 — 12,640

Appendix  69
Table A16. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2000.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; 

Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Asia and the Middle East (continued):

Syria ..................................................... — 2,010 — 2,010

Thailand ............................................... — 109,600 — 109,600

Turkey .................................................. — 27,569 — 27,569

United Arab Emirates .......................... — 10,221 1 10,220

Vietnam................................................ — 44,150 — 44,150

Yemen .................................................. — 172 — 172

 Total ................................................. 338,000 637,310 22,165 953,145

Central and North America:

Bahamas............................................... — 515 — 515

Canada.................................................. 309,719 22 314,706 -4,965

Costa Rica ............................................ — 109 — 109

Cuba ..................................................... — 5,512 — 5,512

Dominican Republic ............................ — 200 — 200

El Salvador........................................... — 1,460 2 1,458

Guatemala ............................................ — 20 2 18

Haiti...................................................... — 17 — 17

Honduras.............................................. — 2 — 2

Mexico ................................................. — 36,945 1 36,945

Panama................................................. — 1,280 — 1,280

Trinidad and Tobago ............................ — — (2) (

2

)

United States........................................ 5,260 14,849 318,975 1,134

 Total ................................................. 314,979 60,932 333,686 42,225

Europe:

Austria.................................................. — — 5 -5

Azerbaijan............................................ — 7,149 — 7,149

Belarus ................................................. — — 65 -65

Belgium and Luxembourg ................... — — (

2

) (

2

)

Bosnia and Herzegovina ...................... — 21 — 21

Bulgaria................................................ 350 391 324 417

Croatia.................................................. — 3,655 — 3,655

Cyprus.................................................. — 324 (2) 324

Czech Republic .................................... — 1,076 — 1,076

Estonia.................................................. — 180 (2) 180

France................................................... — 20 46 -26

Georgia................................................. — 5 — 5

Germany............................................... — 212 — 212

Greece .................................................. — 90 8,946 -8,856

Hungary................................................ — 3,456 — 3,456

Ireland .................................................. — — (2) (2)

Italy ...................................................... — 40 — 40

Kazakhstan........................................... 233,200 1,252 162,716 71,737

Kyrgyzstan ........................................... — 16,486 — 16,486

Latvia ................................................... — 1,124 — 1,124

Lithuania .............................................. — 1,305 643 663

Macedonia............................................ — 48 — 48

Moldova ............................................... — 1,679 — 1,679

70 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A16. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2000.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more than 

three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; 

Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Netherlands.......................................... — 3 — 3

Norway................................................. — 12 — 12

Poland .................................................. — 117 — 117

Portugal................................................ — 3,437 36 3,401

Romania ............................................... — 10,658 — 10,658

Russia................................................... 750,000 31,656 332,417 449,239

Serbia and Montenegro ........................ 563 43 69 537

Slovakia................................................ — 1,201 — 1,201

Slovenia................................................ — 754 — 754

Spain .................................................... — 13,060 126 12,934

Sweden................................................. — — 12 -12

Switzerland .......................................... — — (2) (

2

)

Tajikistan.............................................. — 450 — 450

Turkmenistan........................................ — 979 (2) 979

Ukraine................................................. — 80,942 — 80,942

United Kingdom................................... — 270 2 268

Uzbekistan............................................ — 43,374 — 43,374

 Total ................................................. 984,113 225,467 505,405 704,175

Oceania:

Australia............................................... — 1,424 — 1,424

Tokelau................................................. — 212 — 212

 Total ................................................. — 1,636 — 1,636

South America:

Argentina.............................................. 254 1,843 26 2,071

Bolivia.................................................. — 513 — 513

Brazil.................................................... 209,332 26,362 63,134 172,560

Chile..................................................... — 1,969 158 1,811

Colombia.............................................. 5,000 12,994 2 17,992

Ecuador ................................................ — 4,595 — 4,595

Paraguay............................................... — 396 — 396

Peru ...................................................... — 1,275 (2) 1,275

Uruguay................................................ — 778 — 778

Venezuela ............................................. — 2,943 — 2,943

 Total ................................................. 214,586 53,668 63,320 204,934

Unknown trade destinations..................... — 14,630 — 14,630

 Grand total ................................... 2,035,150 1,031,079 1,031,079 2,035,150

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Less than 0.5 t.

3

Includes exports and reexports of asbestos fiber.

Appendix  71
Table A17. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2001.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 

2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.................................................. — 5,813 — 5,813

Angola.................................................. — 260 — 260

Congo (Kinshasa)................................. — 24 — 24

Egypt.................................................... — 2,145 — 2,145

Eritrea................................................... — 8 — 8

Ghana ................................................... — 18 — 18

Kenya ................................................... — 96 (

2

) 96

Mauritius.............................................. — 18 — 18

Morocco ............................................... — 414 — 414

Mozambique ........................................ — 200 — 200

Nigeria.................................................. — 2,146 — 2,146

Senegal................................................. — 1,190 8 1,182

Sierra Leone ......................................... — 397 — 397

South Africa ......................................... 13,393 18,961 21,456 10,898

Sudan.................................................... — 21 — 21

Swaziland............................................. — — 7,894 -7,894

Tanzania ............................................... — (2) — (

2

)

Tunisia.................................................. — 700 — 700

Uganda ................................................. — — 9 -9

Zambia ................................................. — 1,225 — 1,225

Zimbabwe ............................................ 136,327 32 85,033 51,326

 Total ................................................. 149,720 33,670 114,401 68,989

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh........................................... — 1,266 — 1,266

Brunei................................................... — 1 — 1

Burma................................................... — 302 — 302

China.................................................... 310,000 102,755 18,431 394,324

Hong Kong........................................... — 3,400 — 3,400

India ..................................................... 21,000 130,291 1,129 150,161

Indonesia .............................................. — 38,566 4 38,562

Iran ....................................................... 2,000 42,391 — 44,391

Iraq ....................................................... — 81 — 81

Japan .................................................... — 78,304 57 78,247

Korea, North......................................... — 750 — 750

Korea, Republic of............................... — 25,049 5 25,044

Lebanon................................................ — 142 — 142

Malaysia............................................... — 12,266 6,100 6,166

Maldives............................................... — (2) — (

2

)

Mongolia.............................................. — 91 (

2

) 91

Oman.................................................... — 1,799 — 1,799

Pakistan ................................................ — 464 — 464

Philippines............................................ — 3,023 — 3,023

Saudi Arabia......................................... — 54 4,626 -4,573

Singapore ............................................. — 418 3 415

Sri Lanka.............................................. — 11,205 40 11,165

Syria ..................................................... — 1,197 — 1,197

72 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A17. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2001.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 

2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Asia and the Middle East (continued):

Thailand ............................................... — 103,321 1 103,320

Turkey .................................................. — 5,315 5 5,310

United Arab Emirates .......................... — 8,675 — 8,675

Vietnam................................................ — 24,905 — 24,905

 Total ................................................. 333,000 596,030 30,402 898,627

Central and North America:

Bahamas............................................... — 19 — 19

Canada.................................................. 276,790 424 272,596 4,618

Costa Rica ............................................ — 1 — 1

Cuba ..................................................... — 7,344 — 7,344

Dominican Republic ............................ — 253 — 253

El Salvador........................................... — 1,974 — 1,974

Guatemala ............................................ — 1 4 -3

Honduras.............................................. — 4 — 4

Mexico ................................................. — 28,075 3 28,072

Panama................................................. — 1,040 — 1,040

Trinidad and Tobago ............................ — — (

2

) (

2

)

United States........................................ 5,260 12,760 314,748 3,272

 Total ................................................. 282,050 51,894 287,350 46,594

Europe:

Austria.................................................. — 1 — 1

Azerbaijan............................................ — 4,142 — 4,142

Belarus ................................................. — 1,588 3 1,585

Belgium and Luxembourg ................... — 1 — 1

Bosnia and Herzegovina ...................... — 1 — 1

Bulgaria................................................ — 529 36 493

Croatia.................................................. — 1,815 (

2

) 1,815

Czech Republic .................................... — 1,922 — 1,922

Estonia.................................................. — 605 606 -2

France................................................... — 17 59 -42

Germany............................................... — 135 — 135

Greece .................................................. — 69 252 -183

Hungary................................................ — 2,339 — 2,339

Ireland .................................................. — — 1 -1

Italy ...................................................... — 52 — 52

Kazakhstan........................................... 271,300 1,952 58,954 214,298

Kyrgyzstan ........................................... — 10,546 — 10,546

Latvia ................................................... — 664 — 664

Lithuania .............................................. — 105 139 -34

Macedonia............................................ — 72 4 68

Moldova ............................................... — 170 — 170

Netherlands.......................................... — 28 — 28

Poland .................................................. — 948 — 948

Portugal................................................ — 4,238 (

2

) 4,238

Romania ............................................... — 13,278 — 13,278

Russia................................................... 750,000 2,688 340,397 412,291

Appendix  73
Table A17. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2001.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no more 

than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics Division, 

2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

Serbia and Montenegro ........................ 194 101 75 221

Slovakia................................................ — 337 — 337

Slovenia................................................ — — (

2

) (

2

)

Spain .................................................... — 13,963 36 13,927

Switzerland .......................................... — 2,526 (

2

) 2,525

Turkmenistan........................................ — 1,925 — 1,925

Ukraine................................................. — 55,220 228 54,992

United Kingdom................................... — 179 1 178

Uzbekistan............................................ — 26,609 — 26,609

 Total ................................................. 1,021,494 148,764 400,791 769,467

Oceania: Australia................................... — 653 — 653

South America:

Argentina.............................................. 203 1,636 — 1,839

Bolivia.................................................. — 684 — 684

Brazil.................................................... 172,695 30,763 53,919 149,540

Chile..................................................... — 301 — 301

Colombia.............................................. 5,000 11,402 8 16,394

Ecuador ................................................ — 3,959 — 3,959

Peru ...................................................... — 920 — 920

Venezuela ............................................. — 2,833 1 2,832

 Total ................................................. 177,898 52,497 53,927 176,468

Unknown trade destinations..................... — 3,365 — 3,365

 Grand total ................................... 1,964,162 886,874 886,873 1,964,164 1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to account for 

changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from stocks.

2

Less than 0.5 t.

3

Includes exports and reexports of asbestos fiber.

74  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A18. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2002.

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 14,126 — 14,126

Angola.......................................... — 762 — 762

Congo (Kinshasa)......................... — 54 — 54

Egypt............................................ — 2,431 — 2,431

Kenya ........................................... — 36 (

2

) 36

Malawi ......................................... — 4 — 4

Mali.............................................. — 40 — 40

Mauritius...................................... — 23 — 23

Morocco ....................................... — 1,206 — 1,206

Mozambique ................................ — 233 — 233

Namibia........................................ — — 32 -32

Nigeria.......................................... — 660 — 660

Rwanda ........................................ — 3 — 3

Senegal......................................... — 1,382 NA 1,382

South Africa ................................. 372 5,923 9,743 -3,448

Swaziland..................................... — — 1,372 -1,372

Tunisia.......................................... — 1,450 — 1,450

Uganda ......................................... — (2) — (

2

)

Zambia ......................................... — 1,069 — 1,069

Zimbabwe .................................... 168,000 1 78,242 89,759

 Total ......................................... 168,372 29,403 89,389 108,386

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh................................... — 1,467 — 1,467

Burma........................................... — 601 — 601

China............................................ 270,000 113,486 5,029 378,457

Hong Kong................................... — 970 — 970

India ............................................. 18,000 150,461 169 168,292

Indonesia ...................................... — 34,633 14 34,618

Iran ............................................... — 46,265 — 46,265

Iraq ............................................... — 60 — 60

Israel............................................. — 175 — 175

Japan ............................................ — 44,550 29 44,521

Korea, North................................. — 893 — 893

Korea, Republic of....................... — 18,044 9 18,035

Malaysia....................................... — 10,645 38 10,607

Mongolia...................................... — 192 — 192

Pakistan ........................................ — 1,530 — 1,530

Philippines.................................... — 2,764 25 2,738

Saudi Arabia................................. — 14 4,594 -4,579

Singapore ..................................... — (

2

) — (

2

)

Sri Lanka...................................... — 8,659 — 8,659

Syria ............................................. — 50 — 50

Thailand ....................................... — 109,684 — 109,684

Turkey .......................................... — 13,564 3 13,561

United Arab Emirates .................. — 10,091 — 10,091

Vietnam........................................ — 27,885 — 27,885

 Total ......................................... 288,000 596,682 9,911 874,771

Appendix  75
Table A18. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2002.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 240,500 24 235,138 5,386

Cuba ............................................. — 10,196 — 10,196

Dominican Republic .................... — 125 — 125

El Salvador................................... — 2,473 — 2,473

Guatemala .................................... — — 1 -1

Mexico ......................................... — 21,088 1 21,087

Panama......................................... — 1,068 — 1,068

United States................................ 2,722 6,672 36,866 2,528

 Total ......................................... 243,222 41,647 242,007 42,862

Europe:

Albania......................................... — 29 — 29

Armenia........................................ — 247 — 247

Azerbaijan.................................... — 8,928 — 8,928

Bosnia and Herzegovina .............. — 20 — 20

Bulgaria........................................ — 612 9 603

Croatia.......................................... — 3,493 20 3,473

Cyprus.......................................... — — (

2

) (

2

)

Czech Republic ............................ — 943 — 943

Estonia.......................................... — 390 387 3

France........................................... — 1 — 1

Georgia......................................... — 247 247 (

2

)

Germany....................................... — 141 — 141

Gibraltar....................................... — 1 — 1

Greece .......................................... — — 29 -29

Hungary........................................ — 355 — 355

Italy .............................................. — 26 — 26

Kazakhstan................................... 291,000 1,912 117,327 175,584

Kyrgyzstan ................................... — 21,048 — 21,048

Lithuania ...................................... — 10 — 10

Macedonia.................................... — 123 1 122

Moldova ....................................... — 361 NA 361

Netherlands.................................. — 4 — 4

Poland .......................................... — 387 — 387

Portugal........................................ — 6,537 6 6,531

Romania ....................................... — 12,875 28 12,847

Russia........................................... 775,000 11,789 370,929 415,860

Serbia and Montenegro ................ — 9 48 -39

Slovakia........................................ — 575 — 575

Spain ............................................ — 2,261 1 2,260

Sweden......................................... — 10 -10

Switzerland .................................. — — (

2

) (

2

)

Tajikistan...................................... — 51 — 51

Turkmenistan................................ — 1,925 — 1,925

Ukraine......................................... — 115,613 361 115,252

76  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A18. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2002.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Terms used: NA, not available; —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed 

to be accurate to no more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from 

United Nations Statistics Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Europe (continued):

United Kingdom........................... — 107 1 106

Uzbekistan.................................... — 15,285 — 15,285

 Total ......................................... 1,066,000 206,303 489,404 782,899

Oceania:

Australia....................................... — 491 NA 491

New Caledonia............................. — — 1 -1

 Total ......................................... — 491 1 490

South America:

Argentina...................................... 155 1,000 — 1,155

Bolivia.......................................... — 883 — 883

Brazil............................................ 194,750 28,326 99,341 123,735

Colombia...................................... 5,000 13,071 — 18,071

Ecuador ........................................ — 2,779 — 2,779

Peru .............................................. — 547 — 547

Uruguay........................................ — 32 — 32

Venezuela ..................................... — 1,246 — 1,246

 Total ......................................... 199,905 47,884 99,341 148,448

Unknown trade destinations............. — 7,660 — 7,660

 Grand total ........................... 1,965,499 930,070 930,052 1,965,517

1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to 

account for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from 

stocks.

2

Less than 0.5 t.

3

Includes exports and reexports of asbestos fiber.

Appendix  77
Table A19. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2003.

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Africa:

Algeria.......................................... — 10,756 — 10,756

Angola.......................................... — 1,364 — 1,364

Benin............................................ — 99 — 99

Egypt............................................ — 2,382 — 2,382

Ghana ........................................... — 65 — 65

Guinea .......................................... — 4 — 4

Kenya ........................................... — 84 (2) 84

Malawi ......................................... — 2 — 2

Morocco ....................................... — 1,478 — 1,478

Mozambique ................................ — 320 — 320

Namibia........................................ — — (2) (2)

Nigeria.......................................... — 561 — 561

Senegal......................................... — 1,628 377 1,251

South Africa ................................. 6,218 1,470 4,192 3,496

Sudan............................................ — 91 — 91

Tanzania ....................................... — 2 — 2

Togo ............................................. — 259 — 259

Tunisia.......................................... — 1,020 — 1,020

Zambia ......................................... — 408 — 408

Zimbabwe .................................... 147,000 1 99,262 35,000

 Total ......................................... 153,218 21,994 103,831 28,642

Asia and the Middle East:

Bangladesh................................... — 2,802 — 2,802

Burma........................................... — 2 — 2

China............................................ 350,000 145,425 3,472 491,954

Hong Kong................................... — 2 — 2

India ............................................. 19,000 175,581 2,548 192,033

Indonesia ...................................... — 32,306 22 32,284

Iran ............................................... — 75,852 12 75,840

Iraq ............................................... — 12 — 12

Japan ............................................ — 23,459 22 23,437

Korea, North................................. — 1,234 — 1,234

Korea, Republic of....................... — 23,862 62 23,799

Malaysia....................................... — 13,439 — 13,439

Mongolia...................................... — 310 — 310

Nepal............................................ — 25 — 25

Pakistan ........................................ — 3,129 — 3,129

Philippines.................................... — 2,453 — 2,453

Saudi Arabia................................. — 7 — 7

Singapore ..................................... — 269 (2) 268

Sri Lanka...................................... — 6,106 — 6,106

Syria ............................................. — 1,209 — 1,209

Thailand ....................................... — 133,110 127 132,983

Turkey .......................................... — 13,552 42 13,510

United Arab Emirates .................. — 9,112 — 9,112

Vietnam........................................ — 39,382 — 39,382

 Total ......................................... 369,000 702,640 6,307 1,065,333

78  Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Table A19. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Central and North America:

Canada.......................................... 194,350 205 174,774 19,781

Cuba ............................................. — 9,896 — 9,896

Dominican Republic .................... — 75 — 75

El Salvador................................... — 2,600 — 2,600

Guatemala .................................... — — (2) (2)

Mexico ......................................... — 20,105 20 20,085

Panama......................................... — 1,080 — 1,080

United States................................ — 4,634 43,548 54,634

 Total ......................................... 194,350 38,596 178,342 58,152

Europe:

Austria.......................................... — (

2

) — (

2

)

Azerbaijan.................................... — 10,181 — 10,181

Belarus ......................................... — — 61 -61

Belgium and Luxembourg ........... — 111 — 111

Bosnia and Herzegovina .............. — — 1 -1

Bulgaria........................................ — 108 (

2

) 108

Croatia.......................................... — 2,709 — 2,709

Czech Republic ............................ — 1,610 (

2

) 1,610

Denmark....................................... — — 3 -3

Estonia.......................................... — — (

2

) (

2

)

France........................................... — — 5 -5

Georgia......................................... — (

2

) — (

2

)

Germany....................................... — 102 — 102

Greece .......................................... — — 13 -13

Hungary........................................ — 329 — 329

Iceland.......................................... — 3 — 3

Kazakhstan................................... 354,500 3,340 183,949 173,891

Kyrgyzstan ................................... — 23,652 — 23,652

Lithuania ...................................... — — (2) (

2

)

Macedonia.................................... — 50 — 50

Moldova ....................................... — 956 7 949

Netherlands.................................. — 2 — 2

Portugal........................................ — 1,648 (2) 1,648

Romania ....................................... — 11,400 113 11,286

Russia........................................... 878,000 1,050 450,031 429,020

Slovakia........................................ — 240 — 240

Spain ............................................ — 2 — 2

Switzerland .................................. — — (2) (

2

)

Tajikistan...................................... — 490 — 490

Turkmenistan................................ — 1,849 — 1,849

Ukraine......................................... — 156,393 — 156,393

United Kingdom........................... — 23 (2) 22

Uzbekistan.................................... — 42,362 — 42,362

 Total ......................................... 1,232,500 258,609 634,182 856,927

Appendix  79
Table A19. Asbestos production, trade, and consumption in 2003.—Continued

[Data in metric tons. Term used: —, zero. Data are unrounded but are believed to be accurate to no 

more than three significant digits. Production, import, and export data from United Nations Statistics 

Division, 2005; Virta, 2005a]

Region and country Production Imports Exports Apparent

consumption1

Oceania:

Australia....................................... — 20 1 19

Fiji................................................ — 1 — 1

 Total ......................................... — 21 1 20

South America:

Argentina...................................... 166 — — 166

Bolivia.......................................... — 1,159 — 1,159

Brazil............................................ 194,350 28,395 144,343 78,403

Colombia...................................... 5,000 8,118 — 13,118

Ecuador ........................................ — 1,458 — 1,458

Peru .............................................. — 492 (

2

) 492

Venezuela ..................................... — 1,464 — 1,464

 Total ......................................... 199,516 41,086 144,343 96,260

Unknown trade destinations............. — 3,609 — 3,609

 Grand total ........................... 2,148,584 1,066,556 1,067,006 2,108,943 1

Apparent consumption calculated as production plus imports minus exports, not adjusted to 

account for changes in government and industry stocks. Negative values indicate shipments from 

stocks. 2

Less than 0.5 t.

3

For Zimbabwe, which has a small manufacturing capacity for asbestos products, the calculated 

apparent consumption probably includes about 42,739 t going into stocks and 5,000 t of estimated 

consumption. 4

Includes exports and reexports of asbestos fiber.

5

For the United States, the apparent consumption is assumed to equal the imports.

80 Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003
Virta—Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003—Circular 1298