In 2023, China's bentonite production stood at approximately 6.75 million metric tons. Forecasts suggest a steady increase in production reaching 7.5271 million metric tons by 2028. Year-on-year growth rates are approximately 2.35% from 2024 to 2025, and a consistent growth averaging around 2.3% annually for the following years. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the five-year forecast period is approximately 2.15%, indicating a stable upward trend.

Future trends to watch include:

Increasing domestic demand driven by expanding applications in construction and oil drilling.
Potential impacts of environmental regulations on mining operations.
Technological advancements improving production efficiency.