Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Processors | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barite Ore (Drilling Grade) | 4.20 S.G. min, 90% BaSO₄ | $120-150/MT | China, India, Morocco | Oil & gas drilling mud weighting |
| Barite Ore (Chemical Grade) | 96-98% BaSO₄ | $160-220/MT | China, India, Morocco | Chemical production feedstock |
| Barite Ore (Pharmaceutical Grade) | 99%+ BaSO₄, low heavy metals | $280-400/MT | China, USA, Germany | Medical imaging, pharma |
| Witherite Ore | 70-85% BaCO₃ | $250-350/MT | China, UK (limited) | Rare, used for specialty chemicals |
Barite (Baryte) Ore - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $120-180/MT FOB (varies by grade and location) Major Global Reserves: China: 150 million MT (35% of world reserves) India: 85 million MT (20% of world reserves) Morocco: 65 million MT (15% of world reserves) United States: 15 million MT (3.5% of world reserves) Mexico: 12 million MT (2.8% of world reserves) 2025 Production Leaders: China: 3.2 million MT (36% of global production) India: 2.1 million MT (24% of global production) Morocco: 1.0 million MT (11% of global production) United States: 0.4 million MT (4.5% of global production) Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Processors Major Sources Notes Barite Ore (Drilling Grade) 4.20 S.G. min, 90% BaSO₄ $120-150/MT China, India, Morocco Oil & gas drilling mud weighting Barite Ore (Chemical Grade) 96-98% BaSO₄
⚠️ Seawater Barium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.013-0.021 ppm (extremely low) Chemical Form: Ba²⁺ (free ion) and BaSO₄⁰ (ion pairs) Status: No commercial concentrated seawater barium form exists. Despite being more concentrated than aluminum in seawater, the 0.02 ppm concentration is still far too low for economic extraction compared to abundant barite mining. Note: Barium is rapidly removed from seawater by precipitation with sulfate, maintaining low concentrations.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Barium Compound | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barite Ore (1.7 MT for 1 MT BaCO₃) | $270-370 | 25-30% | Chemical grade barite required |
| Energy (Coal/Natural Gas) | $150-250 | 15-20% | Reduction roasting at 900-1000°C |
| Reducing Agent (Coal/Coke) | $80-120 | 8-10% | 0.3-0.4 MT coal per MT product |
| Chemicals (HCl, Na₂CO₃) | $180-280 | 18-22% | For leaching and precipitation |
| Labor & Overhead | $220-380 | 20-25% | Varies by country |
| Total Production Cost (BaCO₃) | $900-1,400 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $1,200-1,800/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduction Roasting | 8-10 MJ/kg | 50-55% | Coal/Natural Gas | BaSO₄ + 4C → BaS + 4CO at 900-1000°C |
| Grinding & Milling | 1-2 MJ/kg | 8-10% | Electricity | Size reduction of barite ore |
| Leaching & Dissolution | 2-3 MJ/kg | 15-18% | Steam/Electricity | Hot water leaching of BaS |
| Crystallization & Drying | 3-4 MJ/kg | 20-22% | Natural Gas/Steam | Evaporation and product drying |
| Material Handling | 0.5-1 MJ/kg | 3-5% | Electricity | Conveying, pumping, packaging |
Black Ash Process Details
Ore Preparation: 8-10% - Crushing to <2mm Reduction Kiln: 50-55% - Rotary kiln at 900-1000°C Leaching: 15-18% - Hot water extraction Purification: 5-7% - Filtration and settling Carbonation: 3-5% - CO₂ addition for BaCO₃
Alternative Processes
Direct Acid Leaching: Using HCl on barite Electrothermal Process: Electric arc furnace Soda Ash Process: Na₂CO₃ fusion method Biological Leaching: Sulfate-reducing bacteria (research stage)
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium Sulfate (Barite) | BaSO₄ | 233.39 g/mol | 90-99% | $0.12-0.40 | Drilling mud, paints, X-ray contrast |
| Barium Carbonate | BaCO₃ | 197.34 g/mol | 98-99.5% | $1.20-1.80 | Ceramics, glass, rat poison |
| Barium Chloride | BaCl₂·2H₂O | 244.26 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.80-1.50 | Chemical manufacturing, steel treatment |
| Barium Nitrate | Ba(NO₃)₂ | 261.34 g/mol | 98-99% | $1.50-2.50 | Pyrotechnics (green color), explosives |
| Barium Hydroxide | Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O | 315.46 g/mol | 95-98% | $1.20-2.00 | Chemical synthesis, sugar refining |
| Barium Titanate | BaTiO₃ | 233.19 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $15.00-50.00 | Capacitors, piezoelectric devices |
| Barium Oxide | BaO | 153.33 g/mol | 95-99% | $2.50-4.00 | Glass manufacturing, desiccant |
| Barium Peroxide | BaO₂ | 169.33 g/mol | 85-95% | $3.00-5.00 | Bleaching, hydrogen peroxide production |
| Barium Chromate | BaCrO₄ | 253.32 g/mol | 98-99% | $4.00-8.00 | Pigments, corrosion inhibitor |
| Barium Ferrite | BaFe₁₂O₁₉ | 1111.46 g/mol | 97-99% | $8.00-20.00 | Permanent magnets, magnetic recording |
| Barium Stearate | Ba(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₂ | 704.27 g/mol | 95-98% | $2.50-4.50 | PVC stabilizer, lubricant |
| Precipitated BaSO₄ (Blanc Fixe) | BaSO₄ | 233.39 g/mol | 98-99.5% | $0.60-1.20 | High-quality paints, plastics filler |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Guizhou Redstar | BaCO₃, BaCl₂, BaSO₄, BaTiO₃ | World's largest barium carbonate producer |
| Hubei Jingshan Chutian | BaCO₃, BaCl₂, Ba(NO₃)₂ | Electronic grade barium compounds |
| Shenzhou Jiaxin Chemical | BaSO₄ (precipitated), BaCO₃ | High-purity precipitated barium sulfate |
| Shaanxi Ankang Jianghua | Barite, BaSO₄, BaCO₃ | Integrated mining and processing |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Atul Ltd | BaCl₂, Ba(NO₃)₂, BaCO₃ | Pharmaceutical grade barium compounds |
| Sakai Chemical India | BaTiO₃, BaCO₃ | Electronic grade barium titanate |
| Aravali Minerals | Barite, BaSO₄ | Drilling grade and chemical grade barite |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Cimbar Performance Minerals | BaSO₄ (natural & precipitated) | High-performance barite products |
| Chemical Products Corporation | BaCO₃, BaCl₂, Ba(OH)₂ | Technical grade barium chemicals |
| Excalibar Minerals | Barite, ground BaSO₄ | Oil & gas drilling applications |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Solvay (formerly Rhodia) | BaCO₃, BaCl₂, precipitated BaSO₄ | High-purity electronic grade |
| Merck KGaA | All barium compounds | Laboratory and pharmaceutical grade |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sakai Chemical Industry | BaTiO₃, BaCO₃, BaSO₄ | Electronic ceramics, MLCC materials |
| Nippon Chemical Industrial | BaCO₃, BaTiO₃ | High-purity electronic materials |
🇲🇽 Mexico
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Minerales y Arcillas | Barite, ground BaSO₄ | Mining and processing of barite |
| Baramin | Barite, BaSO₄ | Drilling grade barite |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | USA Market | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barite (Drilling Grade) | $2.8 billion | 18% share | 28% share | 4.5% |
| Barium Carbonate | $450 million | 12% share | 65% share | 3.8% |
| Precipitated BaSO₄ | $380 million | 15% share | 45% share | 5.2% |
| Barium Titanate | $320 million | 8% share | 35% share | 7.5% |
| Barium Chloride | $120 million | 10% share | 55% share | 3.2% |
| Other Barium Compounds | $150 million | 14% share | 48% share | 4.0% |
Market trends
Oil & Gas Recovery: Drilling activity rebound driving 4-5% annual growth in barite demand Electronics Miniaturization: MLCC market growth pushing barium titanate demand up 7-8% annually Environmental Regulations: Stricter controls on barium compounds due to toxicity concerns Supply Chain Concentration: China controls 36% of production but consumes 45% of global barite Green Chemistry: Development of bio-based alternatives to barium in some applications Medical Imaging Evolution: Competition from iodine-based contrast agents affecting medical BaSO₄ market Recycling Challenges: Limited recycling of barium compounds due to dispersion in use Price Volatility: Barite prices fluctuating with oil drilling activity cycles
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium Metal | Ba | 137.33 | 7.28 |
| Barium Sulfate | BaSO₄ | 233.39 | 4.29 |
| Barium Carbonate | BaCO₃ | 197.34 | 5.07 |
| Barium Chloride (dihydrate) | BaCl₂·2H₂O | 244.26 | 4.09 |
| Barium Nitrate | Ba(NO₃)₂ | 261.34 | 3.83 |
| Barium Hydroxide (octahydrate) | Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O | 315.46 | 3.17 |
| Barium Titanate | BaTiO₃ | 233.19 | 4.29 |
| Barium Oxide | BaO | 153.33 | 6.52 |
References
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