Year-by-year annual average price for barite in USD/metric ton, sourced from U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Barite (BaSO₄), API drilling grade; demand tracks oil & gas drilling activity.
Barite is irreplaceable in oil and gas drilling — no substitute matches its combination of high density, chemical inertness, and low cost as a drilling fluid weighting agent. Demand is driven primarily by Oil and gas drilling fluids (weighting agent), Medical imaging (barium contrast media for X-rays and CT scans), Paints, coatings, and plastics filler. Supply is concentrated in China, India, Morocco, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Barite prices.
Barite prices held roughly steady at $195 per USD/metric ton (2023 average: $195) in 2024.
Barite prices held roughly steady at $195 per USD/metric ton (2022 average: $195) in 2023.
Barite prices rose +11.4% from 2021's $175 per USD/metric ton to $195 per USD/metric ton in 2022. That made 2022 the highest annual average in the recorded series.
Barite prices rose +6.1% from 2020's $165 per USD/metric ton to $175 per USD/metric ton in 2021.
Barite prices fell -5.7% from 2019's $175 per USD/metric ton to $165 per USD/metric ton in 2020.
Movement summaries above are calculated directly from the annual averages shown in the table. Critical Minerals HQ does not attribute price moves to specific events except where backed by sourced reporting.
| Year | Average Price (USD/metric ton) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $195 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | $195 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | $195 | +11.4% |
| 2021 | $175 | +6.1% |
| 2020 | $165 | -5.7% |
| 2019 | $175 | +2.9% |
| 2018 | $170 | +13.3% |
| 2017 | $150 | +7.1% |
| 2016 | $140 | -12.5% |
| 2015 | $160 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | $160 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | $150 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | $150 | +3.4% |
| 2011 | $145 | +16.0% |
| 2010 | $125 | +8.7% |
| 2009 | $115 | -17.9% |
| 2008 | $140 | +21.7% |
| 2007 | $115 | +15.0% |
| 2006 | $100 | +11.1% |
| 2005 | $90 | +20.0% |
| 2004 | $75 | +15.4% |
| 2003 | $65 | +8.3% |
| 2002 | $60 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | $60 | +9.1% |
| 2000 | $55 | — |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Barite (BaSO₄), API drilling grade; demand tracks oil & gas drilling activity
The most recent annual average we track is $195 per USD/metric ton for 2024. Live spot prices are shown on the Barite live-price page.
up +0.0% — from $195 per USD/metric ton in 2023 to $195 per USD/metric ton in 2024.
up +11.4% — from $175 per USD/metric ton in 2019 to $195 per USD/metric ton in 2024.
up +21.9% — from $160 per USD/metric ton in 2014 to $195 per USD/metric ton in 2024.
Barite is irreplaceable in oil and gas drilling — no substitute matches its combination of high density, chemical inertness, and low cost as a drilling fluid weighting agent. Demand is driven primarily by Oil and gas drilling fluids (weighting agent), Medical imaging (barium contrast media for X-rays and CT scans), Paints, coatings, and plastics filler. Supply is concentrated in China, India, Morocco, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Barite prices.
The highest annual average barite price in our recorded series was $195 per USD/metric ton in 2022.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Barite (BaSO₄), API drilling grade; demand tracks oil & gas drilling activity