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Barite is a critical mineral in the US and the EU. What it means for buyers
Both the United States and the European Union now list barite as critical. The reason is simple: heavy dependence on a few supplying countries.
Quick answer
Barite is on the final 2025 US List of Critical Minerals, published on 7 November 2025, and on the EU list of critical raw materials in the Critical Raw Materials Act of 2024.12 The United States imports more than 75% of the barite it uses.3
The US list
The US Department of the Interior, through the U.S. Geological Survey, published its final 2025 List of Critical Minerals in the Federal Register on 7 November 2025. It contains 60 minerals, and barite is one of them. Barite was also on the previous list, from 2022.1
The data behind the decision is clear. In the United States, more than 90% of barite sold is used in oil and gas drilling fluids. Net import reliance has been above 75% every year from 2021 to 2025, and USGS says there are no large-scale alternatives to barite in drilling fluids.3
Where US barite comes from
Four countries supplied 93% of US barite imports over this period. The largest, India, has since made exports of its high-grade barytes subject to a licence.4
The EU list
In the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the Critical Raw Materials Act, lists baryte among its critical raw materials in Annex II. It is not on the shorter list of strategic raw materials in Annex I.2 The regulation entered into force in May 2024.
Critical status in the EU is used to target monitoring, supply diversification and risk assessments of value chains. For buyers, the practical message is the same as in the United States: depending on one or two supplying countries is now treated as a risk.
Tariffs: what has applied to barite
Barite has generally been kept out of recent US tariff actions because of its role in drilling.
- Under normal trade relations, ground barite (HTS 2511.10.1000) enters the United States duty-free.3
- In April 2025, natural barium sulphate under HTS 2511.10.10 and 2511.10.50 was listed in Annex II of the reciprocal tariff order, the list of goods not covered.5
- In June 2026, the US Trade Representative's proposed Section 301 action listed the same barite codes as not covered.6 Buyers should confirm the treatment in the final notice for their country of origin.
Tariff rules have changed several times since 2025. Check the current position with your customs broker before each contract.
What buyers should do
- Treat barite as a supply-risk item in procurement planning, not a commodity that will always be there.
- Spread purchases across more than one producing country.
- Ask suppliers for their mine licence terms and reserve position. A supplier with its own licensed reserves can plan years ahead.
KHN Minerals mines barite in Türkiye at its own licensed sites: an operating licence over 1,941 hectares at Doğanhisar, Konya, valid until 2031 and extendable, and two licences in Yalvaç, Isparta, valid until 2029 and extendable.
Frequently asked questions
Is barite a critical mineral?
Yes. Barite is on the final 2025 US List of Critical Minerals and on the EU list of critical raw materials under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.
Why is barite considered critical?
Because it is essential to oil and gas drilling, has no large-scale substitute in that use, and the United States imports more than 75% of what it uses from a small number of countries.
Is barite a strategic raw material in the EU?
No. Baryte is on the EU critical list in Annex II of the Critical Raw Materials Act, but not on the strategic list in Annex I.
Sources
- Federal Register, "Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals", U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, 7 November 2025. federalregister.gov
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Critical Raw Materials Act), Official Journal of the European Union. eur-lex.europa.eu
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Barite, February 2026. pubs.usgs.gov
- Bhatia Bhola & Associates, "DGFT Notification 12/2026 dated 17.04.2026: baryte export policy amended", 22 April 2026. bhatiabhola.com
- The White House, Annex II to Executive Order 14257, April 2025. whitehouse.gov
- Office of the US Trade Representative, proposed action in the Section 301 forced labor investigations, June 2026. ustr.gov
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