How much zirconium does South Africa produce and export?
South Africa is the 2nd largest producer of zirconium: 270,000 tonnes in 2025, 23% of the world's 1.2 million tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $619.7 million in 2024, 36% of world exports of zirconium ore and concentrate (HS 261510) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 62% of its zirconium exports by value.
All about zirconium · All about South Africa
South Africa's zirconium production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 270,000 tonnes | 23% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
South Africa's zirconium exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $619.7 million | 36% | 559,569 t | $1,108 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 261510 (Zirconium ores and concentrates).
Where South Africa's zirconium goes
| Destination | Value | Share of South Africa's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $384M | 62% |
| Malaysia | $38M | 6.2% |
| India | $33M | 5.3% |
| Netherlands | $33M | 5.3% |
| Spain | $32M | 5.1% |
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "South Africa zirconium: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/ZAF/zirconium/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.