Infographic

Lead in numbers

Lead (Pb) drawn as one poster: 4.5 Mt of world mine production in 2025, China the largest producer, 2 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025LeadPbBase metal · symbol PbAbout 80% of lead goes into lead-acid batteries (vehicles and backup power). It is the mostrecycled of the base metals.WORLD MINE PRODUCTION 20254.5 MtPb content. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.TOP PRODUCER: CHINA42%1.9 Mt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 202595 MtLargest in Australia (34 Mt). Pb content.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS2Current government critical or strategic lists naminglead, across 2 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS59%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202533%PRICE 20251,960 $/mtTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where lead comes fromChina1.9 Mt42%Australia480 kt11%Peru290 kt6.4%United States280 kt6.2%Russia260 kt5.8%India220 kt4.9%Mexico200 kt4.4%Bolivia100 kt2.2%Iran70 kt1.6%Sweden70 kt1.6%Mine production, Pb content. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.Mine output was about 4.5 Mt in 2025, with China producing 1.9 Mt; Australia, Peru, the US, Russiaand India follow. Most lead supply is recycled metal from batteries.1900–2021A century of lead production0.00 t1.4 Mt2.8 Mt4.1 Mt5.5 Mt190019171935195219691986200420212021: 4.5 Mt1900: 749 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES12 countries reported lead output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest lead trade routesMexico → South Korea$716 mRussia → China$622 mUnited States → Canada$284 mUnited States → China$283 mPeru → South Korea$231 mHS 260700: Lead ores and concentrates. World trade $6.1 bn in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025South Korea: critical 2023prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Lead infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World mine production, 2025
4.5 Mt (Pb content) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
China, 1.9 Mt (42% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
59% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2025
95 Mt (Pb content), largest in Australia USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
2 current lists in 2 jurisdictions (South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
33% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
1,960 $/mt (Lead (nominal USD; LME refined, 99.97% purity, settlement price)) World Bank Pink Sheet
World production, 1900
749 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2021 (historical series)
4.5 Mt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Mexico → South Korea, $716 m (HS 260700, Lead ores and concentrates); world trade $6.1 bn CEPII BACI trade database

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Lead storyWhere lead is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics