Global consumption of chrysotile asbestos

Global consumption of chrysotile asbestos has dropped considerably since its peak in 1980 at approximately 5 million tonnes where it is now 1.25 million tonnes in 2023.

In 2023, the total amount of importation and consumption of chrysotile asbestos was 1.32 million tonnes with over 90% taking place in low and middle-income countries in Asia and the sub-continent.

The main countries importing and consuming asbestos fibre in 2023 continued to be India (482,000 tonnes), China (284,000 tonnes), Uzbekistan (125,400 tonnes) and Indonesia (94,200 tonnes) with Russia using 109,000 tonnes while exporting the vast majority of its mined chrysotile asbestos to other countries.

In Asia, the main countries importing and consuming chrysotile asbestos fibre in 2023 were Bangladesh (42,600 tonnes), Thailand (37,600 tonnes), Vietnam (35,300 tonnes) and Sri Lanka (32,500 tonnes ).

Country 2020 2021 2022 2023
India 311,000 408,000 424,000 482,000
China 258,000 261,000 261,000 284,000
Indonesia 86,200 109,000 104,000 94,200
Uzbekistan 109,000 95,400 108,000 125,000
Russia 113,000 145,000 230,000 109,000
Sri Lanka 48,200 71,400 24,400 32,500
Vietnam 29,400 30,700 26,800 33,200
Thailand 35,000 32,600 35,300 37,600
Bangladesh 28,900 29,300 19,100 42,600
Kazakhstan 25,700 28,400 15,600 15,000
total 1,044,400 1,159,500 1,248,200 1,255,100

Asbestos fiber consumption 2022

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up
Skip to content