4.2.3.1 Availability and Consumption

Magnesite is consumed mainly in the form of processed products like burned magnesite grains and light-burned magnesia. In recent years, the production of burned magnesite grains from magnesite is about 3 million t/a, and the production of light-burned magnesia is about 0.6 million t/a. These products are mainly used in metallurgical industry, cement industry, building materials industry and for export. The burned magnesite grains used in metallurgical industry account for one-third of the total, and 10%~20% are used in cement and building materials industries, the remained around 50% are exported. Magnesite is one of important export products in China. Export of magnesite was 0.1665 million tons in 1997, that of heavy burned magnesia--1.3728 million tons and that of light-burned magnesia--0.402 million tons (Table 4.2.4). As the magnesite production is affected by the situation in international market, the annual export volume of magnesite changes greatly.

Table 4.2.4 Export and import statistics of related products of magnesite (t)

Currently from the consumption situation of magnesite it can be seen that the demand of burned magnesite grains used in metallurgical and other industries in China is nearly 1.1 million tons, that of light-burned magnesia--0.24 million tons, and the total are up to 1.34 million tons. According to a ratio of 1:2.3 of burned magnesia grains or light-burned magnesia to magnesite mineral, the annual demand of magnesite ores is 3.08 million tons. At present, production and production capacity of magnesite in China is 7 million tons and 6~7 million tons respectively, so the production can not only meet the domestic demand, but also export to the overseas in a large amount.

4.2.3.2 Trends

Magnesite is a superior advantageous mineral resource and one of important export ore products in China. The explored reserves can not only ensure to meet the demand for domestic consumption, but also export to the international market in a large amount. Except for existing production mines like Haicheng magnesite mine, Qingshanhua magnesite mine, Huaziyu magnesite mine in Liaoning, Fenzishan magnesite mines in Shandong and so on, other mineral fields such as Zhujiashan magnesite deposit, Shengshuisi magnesite deposit of Liaoning, Youyoushan magnesite deposit, Laizhou City, Shandong Province, Subeigai magnesite deposit, Gansu, Baxia magnesite deposit, Tibet autonomous region and so on can also be designed and planned to be exploited. and have a vast range of development prospects.

In a long period of time, the magnesite industry in China has been steadily in a position of "first grade raw materials, second grade processing, third grade products, with fourth grade price". After the reform and opening up to the outside, holding the chance of construction of Baoshan Iron and Steel Co., Shanghai, centering its needs on refractory, tackling the key problems of science and technology in the development and introduction of technology from abroad, three magnesite floation plants have been set up in Liaoning and Shandong provinces in China, which made the quality of products improved greatly and an end to a condition when China was unable to produce the high grade burned magnesite grains. Since 1980, high-purity and high-quality heavy burned magnesia has been produced by two-step calcining method in Liaoning Magnesian Minerals Co., with content of MgO over 98%. High purity burned magnesia grain processing machinery introduced from abroad has put into production, which meets the urgent demand of high grade raw materials in iron and steel industry in China. But recently the production of the high purity, high volume density and large crystal line sintered magnesia is limited and can't meet the needs and its competitiveness in international market is poor. The exported burned magnesia grains are only common ones, their volume of export is big, but value of foreign exchange earning is very low. For magnesite mineral make full use of the advantage of superior resources, introduce advanced technology and equipment, improve the products quality and develop high grade burned magnesia grains, increase the varieties of products is the inexorable way to development.