TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE (Data in thousand metric tons, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: The total estimated crude ore value of 1995 domestic production was $35 million. There were 16 talc-producing mines in 7 States in 1995. Companies in Montana, New York, Texas, and Vermont accounted for 98% of domestic production. Ground talc was consumed in ceramics, 35%; paint, 19%; paper, 16%; plastics, 6%; roofing, 5%; cosmetics, 4%; and other, 15%. Two firms in North Carolina and one firm in California accounted for 100% of domestic pyrophyllite production, which increased slightly from that of 1994. Consumption was in ceramics, refractories, and insecticides, in decreasing order of tonnage. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 19921/ 19931/ 19941/ 1995e/ 1/ Production, mine 1,040 997 968 935 1,050 Sold by producers 864 817 900 923 959 Imports for consumption 67 80 100 155 110 Exports 178 175 135 154 190 Shipments from Government stockpile excesses -- (2/) -- -- -- Consumption, apparent 929 902 933 936 970 Price, crude or ground, dollars per ton 11-308 15-325 13-400 7-350 7-560 Stocks, producer, yearend 80 80 80 80 80 Employment, mine and mill 880 880 800 750 750 Net import reliance3/ as a percent of apparent consumption E E E E E Recycling: Insignificant. Import Sources (1991-94): China, 35%; Canada, 33%; Japan, 17%; and other, 15%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN4/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Crude, not ground 2526.10.0000 0.03›/kg 0.6›/kg. Ground, washed, powdered 2526.20.0000 1.9% ad val. 35.0% ad val. Cut or sawed 6815.99.2000 Free 2.2›/kg. Depletion Allowance: Block steatite talc: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Other: 14% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: Stockpile Status--9-30-95 (Metric tons) Uncommitted Committed Authorized Disposals Material inventory inventory for disposal Jan.-Sept. 95 Talc, block and lump 982 -- 980 -- Talc, ground 988 -- 988 -- Prepared by Robert L. Virta, (703) 648-7726. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE Events, Trends, and Issues: Production and sales increased from those of 1994. Apparent consumption increased 3% in 1995. Exports increased 23% from those of 1994. Belgium, Canada, Japan, and Mexico were the major importers of U.S. talc. Imports for consumption decreased 29% from those of 1994. Canada, China, and Japan supplied approximately 85% of the imported talc. World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Mine production Reserves5/ Reserve base5/ 1994 1995e/ United States1 935 1,050 136,000 544,000 Brazil 440 440 14,000 54,000 China 2,400 2,400 Large Large India 442 450 4,000 9,000 Japan 999 990 132,000 200,000 Korea, South 710 710 14,000 18,000 Other countries 1,950 1,860 Large Large World total (may be rounded) 7,880 7,900 Large Large World Resources: The United States is self-sufficient in most grades of talc and related minerals. Domestic and world resources are estimated to be approximately five times the quantity of reserves. Substitutes: The major substitutes for talc are clay and pyrophyllite in ceramics; calcium carbonate, diatomite, kaolin, and mica in paint; calcium carbonate and kaolin in paper; clays, feldspar, mica, silica, and wollastonite in plastics; and calcium carbonate, kaolin, and silica in rubber. e/Estimated. E Net exporter. 1/Excludes pyrophyllite. 2/Less than 1/2 unit. 3/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 4/See Appendix B. 5/See Appendix C for definitions. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996