Greece’s leading position in perlite, bentonite, bauxite, marble
2024 was a profitable year and a good basis for the next financial years, including 2026, for the mining sector.
According to the Environment and Energy Ministry’s report on Mineral Resources and Geothermal Energy, it is noteworthy that the mining sites activity increased by 407% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
This is mainly due to the start of research activity within mining concessions, within the framework of a program for the optimization of the exploitation of chromite deposits and the examination of the recovery of critical raw materials of platinum group metals from the utilization of mining and enrichment waste.
Greece maintains 1st place in the EU and 2nd place worldwide in the production of perlite (widely used in construction and horticulture), and 1st place in the EU in the production of bentonite (this is a natural highly absorbent clay with excellent properties for supporting industrial and other applications) and bauxite (a raw material for the production of alumina and gallium aluminum, which figures in the top positions of critical mineral raw materials). In marble, it holds 2nd place in the EU.
Turnover, Production, Exports
In 2024, the turnover of active mining activity increased by 6.2%. Bauxite production increased by 9% to 1.06 million tons, alumina and aluminum production remained stable and chromite ore production resumed. A 71% increase was recorded in the production of choudite/hydromagnesite, an increase in the production of olivinite (52%), pozzolan (26%), perlite (18%) and aluminosilicate materials for supplying the cement industry (13%), an increase in the production of ogomambers by 40%, a 30% increase in the production of special-purpose aggregates (supplying the cement industry, lime works, concrete units) and sand by 6%, a 36% increase in the production of double-fired magnesia.
In 2024, the total value of the country’s mineral exports amounted to 764 million euros and was 12% higher than in 2023. Among the countries where the mineral products are destined are Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy and China.
