In 2024, Hungary was estimated to be the fifth-ranked producer of perlite, accounting for 1.7% of global production, and ninth-ranked producer of zeolites, accounting for 2.4% of global production. Other minerals produced in the country included alumina, aluminum (secondary), bentonite, cement, diatomite, pig iron, lime, nitrogen (ammonia), peat, sand and gravel, steel (raw and semimanufactured), stone, and sulfur. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy. Hungary’s major trade partners for mineral-related exports by value were Germany, Romania, and Ukraine, and for mineral-related imports by value were Austria, Russia, and Slovakia.
The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Hungary is provided by the Mining Act No. 48 of 1993, and Governmental Decree 203/1998 on the Act’s implementation. The Supervisory Authority of Regulated Activities (SZTFH) oversees the mineral sector and is responsible for ensuring compliance with rules on the management of mineral assets, environmental protection, and safety during activities under its supervision. Most mineral commodities were produced by domestic private companies.
