Market research

Asbestos market in China, 2026

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The asbestos market in China grew from 241 thousand tons in 2018 to 327 thousand tons in 2022. This expansion occurred amid increasing regulatory attention to health risks, with slow enforcement of IMO bans in shipbuilding allowing continued industrial use in the short term. Domestic demand remained steady at an estimated 250-300 thousand tons, supporting market volume even as major state-owned producers like Qinghai Chuang'an encountered operational difficulties and neared a production halt in 2020, a shift compensated by rising imports.

Production volumes fluctuated during this period, falling in 2020 due to the virtual stoppage at state enterprises before recovering strongly. Subsequent years saw continued growth in market size, supported by resilient demand in construction and manufacturing. By 2023 and 2024, industry factors highlighted a tightening regulatory environment, including a new stricter asbestos testing standard (GB/T 23263-2024) set for implementation, which aligns with a broader push for green industrial transformation and substitution by safer materials in sectors like construction.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2022
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2022
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in China
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2018-2022, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2018-2022, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2022, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2022
  3. 5.2.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2022
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production asbestos in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, China ranked third globally in asbestos production.

Top producers of asbestos, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of asbestos, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, China produced 130.0 K t of asbestos, a modest 7.1% decrease from 2019. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 120.0 K t, then peaked in 2019 at 140.0 K t with a 16.7% increase. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 4.2%, averaging 1.4% annually.

Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.8%)	16.7%	(7.1%)	1.4%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

China's asbestos production value rose for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 57 411 K $ US, a 10.9% increase from 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 44 298 K $ US, which saw a 2.1% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 16.8%. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 26.8%, with an average annual rate of 8.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.1%)	16.8%	10.9%	8.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports asbestos from China

Exports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, China's asbestos export volume declined in 2020 to 19.7 K t, a sharp 35.0% drop from the previous year. Exports peaked in 2019 at 30.3 K t, with the largest increase of 10.6% in 2018. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 21.8%, averaging a 7.9% annual decline.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.6%	8.8%	(35.0%)	(7.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Tajikistan were the main destinations for China's asbestos exports in kind, accounting for 72.9% of the total. Indonesia led with 44.9%, followed by Vietnam at 15.2% and Tajikistan at 12.8%.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of improvement, China's asbestos export value fell in 2020 to 8 682 K $ US, a solid 22.4% decrease year-over-year. The highest value was in 2019 at 11 184 K $ US, with the largest increase of 12.5% in 2018. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, export value declined by 4.9%, averaging a 1.7% annual drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.5%	8.9%	(22.4%)	(1.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Indonesia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam formed the key group of partners for China's asbestos exports in value terms, representing 71.1% of total flows. Indonesia accounted for 38.1%, Tajikistan for 17.7%, and Vietnam for 15.2%.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports asbestos to China

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, China's asbestos imports in kind reached 147.8 K t, a strong 15.9% increase from 2019. Imports peaked in 2018 at 149.2 K t with a 17.2% rise, then saw the largest decline of 14.5% in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 16.1%, averaging 5.1% annually.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	17.2%	(14.5%)	15.9%	5.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China's imports in kind were heavily concentrated, with Russia and Kazakhstan jointly accounting for 99.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to China in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, China's asbestos import value rose to 40 635 K $ US, a 19.8% increase from the previous year. The lowest value was in 2019 at 33 919 K $ US, which saw a 19.2% decline, while the highest was in 2018 at 41 972 K $ US with a 21.5% increase. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, import value grew by 17.7%, averaging 5.6% annually.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2017-2020, K $ US