Export Performance Of China’s Abrasives & Abrasive Tools Industry in Q1 2026

Released on June 8, 2026

China's abrasives and abrasive tools industry saw an overall uptick in exports during the first quarter of 2026. This report analyzes the export data of four core products: brown fused alumina, white fused alumina, silicon carbide and abrasive tools, based on statistics from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and China Superhard Materials Network.

 

In Q1 2026, the total export volume of the four major products reached 417,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 18.21%. The corresponding export value hit 526 million US dollars, rising by 13.21% year on year. The specific export figures of each product are shown in the table below:

Product	Export Volume (10,000 tons)	Year-on-Year Change	Export Value (10,000 US dollars)	Year-on-Year Change
Brown Fused Alumina	8.85	-20.86%	5,719	-23.46%
White Fused Alumina	11.06	+31.41%	7,823	-3.16%
Silicon Carbide	10.18	+46.64%	7,892	+17.92%
Abrasive Tools	11.61	+32.89%	31,176	+28.69%

 

 

Monthly Export Trend Analysis

Looking at the monthly export volume data dating back to 2024, distinct trends emerged in Q1 2026. The export volume of brown fused alumina kept declining month by month. White fused alumina experienced an upward trend followed by a slight drop, while silicon carbide maintained mild fluctuations.

 

In terms of export value performance, abrasive tools recorded continuous growth in Q1 2026, outperforming the same period of previous years by a notable margin. Silicon carbide delivered steady performance and stayed at a relatively high level. White fused alumina showed stable value fluctuations. By contrast, brown fused alumina lagged behind the historical level, facing prominent export pressure. Overall, the industry presented a divergent pattern: abrasive tools led the growth, while brown fused alumina struggled with sluggish exports.

 

Major Export Destinations (Top 10 Countries and Regions)

The four categories of products have distinct major overseas markets in Q1 2026:

1. Brown Fused Alumina: Mainly exported to India, Japan, the United States, South Korea, Thailand, Chinese Taiwan, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines.
2. White Fused Alumina: Primary destinations include India, Japan, the United States, Turkey, South Korea, Chinese Taiwan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
3. Silicon Carbide: The top markets are the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Mexico, India, Vietnam, Belgium, Italy and Sweden.
4. Abrasive Tools: Major importers cover India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, South Korea and the United States.

 

Supplementary Notes

1. All data in this report are sourced from the General Administration of Customs of China and China Abrasives Network.
2. The classification standards adopted by customs commodity codes are not fully consistent with the conventional classification used within the abrasives industry.
3. The scope of "abrasive tools" in the statistics includes bonded abrasive grinding wheels and ceramic grinding wheels as well as their parts, stone mills and grinders made of bonded abrasives or ceramics, grinding products made of natural stone, hand sharpening stones and other hand-held grinding and polishing tools.