Coal Fossilized carbon rock burned for power and heat, and baked into coke for steelmaking.
Share of world coal production: China 52%, India 12%, Indonesia 8.7%, Rest of world 28%.China 52%, India 12%, Indonesia 9% (2025)
$135.2/t Australian thermal, Newcastle
+20%
Crude oil Unrefined petroleum pumped from underground reservoirs and refined into fuels and petrochemical feedstocks.
Share of world crude oil production: United States 21%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Russia 11%, Rest of world 57%.United States 21%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Russia 11% (2025)
$90.9/bbl Brent (dated, 38° API)
+33%
Natural gas Mostly methane, produced from gas and oil fields and moved by pipeline or as liquefied natural gas (LNG); priced regionally, not globally.
Share of world natural gas production: United States 26%, Russia 15%, Iran 6.3%, Rest of world 54%.United States 26%, Russia 15%, Iran 6% (2025)
$2.77/MMBtu US Henry Hub
-5%
Uranium A heavy metal mined as ore, concentrated into yellowcake, then converted and enriched into fuel for nuclear reactors.
Share of world uranium production: United States 29%, China 17%, France 14%, Rest of world 40%.United States 29%, China 17%, France 14% (2025)
Aluminum A light metal smelted from alumina, which is refined from bauxite ore; the chain runs mine (bauxite) to refinery (alumina) to smelter (metal).
Share of world aluminum production: China 61%, India 5.7%, Russia 5.3%, Rest of world 28%.China 61%, India 6%, Russia 5% (2025)
$3,251/t LME cash, high grade
+25%
Bauxite The ore of aluminum: a tropical weathering product refined into alumina, which is then smelted into metal.
Share of world bauxite production: Guinea 34%, Australia 22%, China 20%, Rest of world 24%.Guinea 34%, Australia 22%, China 20% (2025)
No benchmark
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Chromium The metal that makes stainless steel stainless, mined as chromite ore and smelted into ferrochrome.
Share of world chromium production: South Africa 45%, Turkey 18%, Kazakhstan 14%, Rest of world 24%.South Africa 45%, Turkey 18%, Kazakhstan 14% (2025)
No benchmark
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Cobalt A metal recovered mostly as a by-product of copper and nickel mining, used in battery cathodes and superalloys.
Share of world cobalt production: DR Congo 74%, Indonesia 14%, Russia 2.5%, Rest of world 9.1%.DR Congo 74%, Indonesia 14%, Russia 2% (2025)
$55,873/t Cobalt, 99.8% minimum purity, LME spot
+70%
Copper A conductive red metal mined as ore, concentrated, smelted and refined into cathode for wiring, motors and pipes.
Share of world copper production: Chile 23%, DR Congo 14%, Peru 12%, Rest of world 51%.Chile 23%, DR Congo 14%, Peru 12% (2025)
$14,326/t LME cash, grade A cathode
+48%
Gold A precious metal mined from ore and recycled from jewellery, held as bars and coins by central banks and investors and worn as jewellery.
Share of world gold production: China 12%, Russia 9.4%, Australia 8.5%, Rest of world 71%.China 12%, Russia 9%, Australia 8% (2025)
$4,411/troy oz London PM fix
+31%
Graphite A crystalline form of carbon, mined as flake or amorphous ore and processed into battery anodes, refractories and lubricants.
Share of world graphite production: China 78%, Madagascar 4.4%, Tanzania 4.2%, Rest of world 14%.China 78%, Madagascar 4%, Tanzania 4% (2025)
No benchmark
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Iron ore Rock rich in iron oxides, mined in bulk and shipped to blast furnaces to make steel; the most traded dry-bulk cargo.
Share of world iron ore production: Australia 38%, Brazil 16%, India 12%, Rest of world 33%.Australia 38%, Brazil 16%, India 12% (2025)
$96.3/dmtu 62% Fe fines, CFR China spot
-3%
Lead A dense, soft metal used overwhelmingly in lead-acid batteries, and the most recycled of the base metals.
Share of world lead production: China 42%, Australia 11%, Peru 6.4%, Rest of world 41%.China 42%, Australia 11%, Peru 6% (2025)
$1,855/t LME cash
-5%
Lithium A light metal extracted from hard-rock spodumene or salt-lake brine and refined into carbonate, hydroxide or metal for battery cathodes.
Share of world lithium production: Australia 32%, China 21%, Chile 19%, Rest of world 28%.Australia 32%, China 21%, Chile 19% (2025)
$156,809/t Lithium metal, 99% battery grade
+103%
Manganese A metal used almost entirely in steelmaking, where it removes oxygen and sulfur and adds strength; also a battery cathode ingredient.
Share of world manganese production: South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10%, Rest of world 27%.South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10% (2025)
$2,843/t Electrolytic manganese metal, CIF Northwest Europe
+40%
Molybdenum A refractory metal recovered mostly as a by-product of copper mining, added to steel for strength and corrosion resistance.
Share of world molybdenum production: China 37%, Chile 16%, United States 15%, Rest of world 31%.China 37%, Chile 16%, United States 15% (2025)
No benchmark
—
Nickel A corrosion-resistant metal used mostly in stainless steel and increasingly in battery cathodes.
Share of world nickel production: Indonesia 67%, Philippines 6.9%, Russia 5.1%, Rest of world 21%.Indonesia 67%, Philippines 7%, Russia 5% (2025)
$16,751/t LME cash
+12%
Palladium A precious metal used mainly in petrol-engine autocatalysts, mined with platinum and nickel.
Share of world palladium production: Russia 44%, South Africa 37%, Canada 8.4%, Rest of world 11%.Russia 44%, South Africa 37%, Canada 8% (2025)
$1,267/troy oz Palladium, spot
+6%
Platinum A precious metal used in autocatalysts, jewellery and industry, mined almost entirely from two geological complexes.
Share of world platinum production: South Africa 73%, Russia 12%, Zimbabwe 11%, Rest of world 4.1%.South Africa 73%, Russia 12%, Zimbabwe 11% (2025)
$1,780/troy oz London afternoon fix
+33%
Rare earths A group of seventeen chemically similar metals, mined together and separated at great cost, used in magnets, catalysts and phosphors.
Share of world rare earths production: China 69%, United States 13%, Australia 7.4%, Rest of world 10%.China 69%, United States 13%, Australia 7% (2025)
No benchmark
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Silver A precious metal that is also an industrial one: most mined silver is a by-product of lead, zinc, copper and gold mines.
Share of world silver production: Mexico 24%, Peru 14%, China 13%, Rest of world 49%.Mexico 24%, Peru 14%, China 13% (2025)
$65.4/troy oz Handy & Harman, New York
+71%
Steel Iron alloyed with a little carbon, made in blast furnaces from iron ore or in electric arc furnaces from scrap; the most used metal on earth.
Share of world steel production: China 52%, India 8.4%, United States 4.3%, Rest of world 36%.China 52%, India 8%, United States 4% (2025)
No benchmark
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Tin A soft metal used mostly as solder in electronics, plus tinplate and chemicals; the smallest of the major base metals.
Share of world tin production: China 24%, Indonesia 21%, Peru 11%, Rest of world 43%.China 24%, Indonesia 21%, Peru 11% (2025)
$55,385/t LME cash
+64%
Zinc A metal used mainly to galvanize steel against rust, plus die-casting alloys and brass.
Share of world zinc production: China 32%, Peru 12%, Australia 8.5%, Rest of world 48%.China 32%, Peru 12%, Australia 8% (2025)
Canola Seed of the rape plant, bred for low erucic acid (canola), crushed into cooking oil and biodiesel with a protein meal by-product.
Share of world canola production: Canada 22%, China 19%, India 15%, Rest of world 44%.Canada 22%, China 19%, India 15% (2024)
$1,474/t Rapeseed oil, crude, FOB Rotterdam
+22%
Coconut oil Oil pressed from dried coconut flesh (copra), used in food, soap and oleochemicals.
Share of world coconut oil production: Philippines 39%, Indonesia 21%, India 18%, Rest of world 23%.Philippines 39%, Indonesia 21%, India 18% (2023)
$1,853/t Philippines/Indonesia, CIF Rotterdam
-32%
Linseed The seed of the flax plant, crushed for a drying oil used in paint and linoleum and eaten whole as flaxseed.
Share of world linseed production: Russia 39%, Kazakhstan 25%, China 9.3%, Rest of world 26%.Russia 39%, Kazakhstan 25%, China 9% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Olive oil Oil pressed from olives without solvents, graded by acidity and defect rather than by refining.
Share of world olive oil production: Spain 33%, Italy 14%, Turkey 9%, Rest of world 45%.Spain 33%, Italy 14%, Turkey 9% (2023)
No benchmark
—
Palm kernel oil Oil pressed from the seed inside the oil palm fruit; chemically closer to coconut oil than to palm oil.
Share of world palm kernel oil production: Indonesia 59%, Malaysia 25%, Thailand 3.7%, Rest of world 12%.Indonesia 59%, Malaysia 25%, Thailand 4% (2023)
$2,264/t Malaysia, CIF Rotterdam
0%
Palm oil Oil pressed from the fruit flesh of the oil palm; the world's most produced vegetable oil, used in food, soap and biodiesel.
Share of world palm oil production: Indonesia 59%, Malaysia 23%, Thailand 4.2%, Rest of world 13%.Indonesia 59%, Malaysia 23%, Thailand 4% (2023)
$1,117/t Malaysia, CIF Northwest Europe
+9%
Peanuts A legume grown underground, eaten whole, crushed for oil, or ground into paste and butter.
Share of world peanuts production: China 34%, India 21%, Nigeria 7.5%, Rest of world 38%.China 34%, India 21%, Nigeria 7% (2024)
$1,250/t Groundnuts, CIF Europe
0%
Sesame seed A drought-tolerant oilseed pressed for oil and ground into tahini, grown across the Sahel and Asia.
Share of world sesame seed production: India 13%, Myanmar 11%, Sudan 9.4%, Rest of world 67%.India 13%, Myanmar 11%, Sudan 9% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Soybeans An oilseed legume crushed into meal (animal feed) and oil (cooking oil and biodiesel); the world's most traded farm product by value.
Share of world soybeans production: Brazil 36%, United States 30%, Argentina 12%, Rest of world 22%.Brazil 36%, United States 30%, Argentina 12% (2024)
$482/t US, CIF Rotterdam
+18%
Sunflower oil Oil pressed from sunflower seeds, a light cooking oil concentrated in the Black Sea basin.
Share of world sunflower oil production: Russia 31%, Ukraine 27%, Argentina 7.5%, Rest of world 35%.Russia 31%, Ukraine 27%, Argentina 8% (2023)
Oranges Citrus fruit sold fresh or squeezed into juice concentrate; the juice and fresh markets barely overlap.
Share of world oranges production: Brazil 23%, China 11%, Mexico 7.2%, Rest of world 58%.Brazil 23%, China 11%, Mexico 7% (2024)
$0.77/kg Mediterranean exporters, CIF France
-40%
Pineapples A bromeliad fruit grown on an eighteen-month cycle and shipped fresh or canned.
Share of world pineapples production: Costa Rica 11%, Philippines 10%, Indonesia 9.4%, Rest of world 70%.Costa Rica 11%, Philippines 10%, Indonesia 9% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Pistachios A desert nut that bears heavily only every other year, grown mostly in Iran, the United States and Turkey.
Share of world pistachios production: United States 36%, Turkey 28%, Iran 23%, Rest of world 13%.United States 36%, Turkey 28%, Iran 23% (2024)
No benchmark
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Plantains Starchy cooking bananas, boiled, fried or pounded as a staple across west and central Africa and the Caribbean.
Share of world plantains production: Uganda 27%, DR Congo 11%, Cameroon 11%, Rest of world 52%.Uganda 27%, DR Congo 11%, Cameroon 11% (2024)
No benchmark
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Potatoes A tuber staple that stores well but travels badly, so most of it is eaten in the country that grew it.
Share of world potatoes production: China 24%, India 15%, Ukraine 5.4%, Rest of world 56%.China 24%, India 15%, Ukraine 5% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Tomatoes The world’s largest vegetable crop by weight, split between fresh salad fruit and processing tomatoes for paste.
Share of world tomatoes production: China 33%, India 11%, Turkey 7.8%, Rest of world 48%.China 33%, India 11%, Turkey 8% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Yams A large tropical tuber, grown overwhelmingly in the west African yam belt and eaten pounded.
Share of world yams production: Nigeria 71%, Ghana 11%, Ivory Coast 8.3%, Rest of world 10%.Nigeria 71%, Ghana 11%, Ivory Coast 8% (2024)
Cotton The seed fibre of the cotton plant, ginned into lint and spun into yarn; the world's main natural textile fibre.
Share of world cotton production: China 23%, India 22%, Brazil 12%, Rest of world 43%.China 23%, India 22%, Brazil 12% (2023)
$2.11/kg Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East
+22%
Jute A bast fibre retted from stems in the Ganges delta and woven into sacking, twine and geotextiles.
Share of world jute production: Bangladesh 56%, India 38%, Cambodia 4.1%, Rest of world 1.4%.Bangladesh 56%, India 38%, Cambodia 4% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Natural rubber Latex tapped from the Hevea tree, coagulated into sheets or block rubber; two-thirds of it goes into tyres.
Share of world natural rubber production: Thailand 32%, Indonesia 15%, Ivory Coast 11%, Rest of world 41%.Thailand 32%, Indonesia 15%, Ivory Coast 11% (2024)
$2.24/kg TSR20, SGX/SICOM
+31%
Silk Filament reeled from the cocoon of the mulberry silkworm, the only natural continuous-filament fibre.
Share of world silk production: India 56%, China 32%, Uzbekistan 6.5%, Rest of world 5.8%.India 56%, China 32%, Uzbekistan 6% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Sisal A hard leaf fibre cut from agave plants, used for agricultural twine, rope and polishing cloth.
Share of world sisal production: Brazil 40%, Tanzania 26%, Kenya 9%, Rest of world 25%.Brazil 40%, Tanzania 26%, Kenya 9% (2024)
No benchmark
—
Wool Fleece shorn from sheep, sold greasy by micron thickness and scoured before spinning.
Share of world wool production: China 21%, Australia 17%, New Zealand 7.4%, Rest of world 55%.China 21%, Australia 17%, New Zealand 7% (2024)
1,601¢/kg Wool, fine 19 micron, Australian Wool Exchange spot