Source: Bureau of the Census. ASBESTOS 145 
 
 
CONSUMPTION AND USES 
 
 Total U.S. asbestos consumption decreas- approximately 1% of the total consumption.
ed 28%. Approximately 92% of the asbestos The end-use pattern for chrysotile
proconsumed was chrysotie and 3% was cro- sented in table 4 has been estimated
from, cidolite. Small amounts of amosite were data supplied by U.S. producers
and the reported used. Chrysotile grade 7 was most Asbestos Institute in
Quebec in cooperation commonly used, followed by grades 4,6, and with the
Government of Canada. The data 5. Spinning grades 1, 2, and 3 represented
account for 92% of the asbestos consumed. 
 
 
Table 4.—U.S. asbestos consumption by end use, grade, and type

(Thousand metric tons) 
 Chrysotile' A.mo- Cro- 0th- Total 
End use Grades Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade T tal site cido- er3 asbes 
  land2 3  4  5 6 7 0  11th  toe 
 l984total   0.1 2.0 25.1 21.7 17.4 153.6 219.9 0.4 5.7 226.0 
 
1985: 
 Asbestos-cementpipe_..., ——  16.8 1.9 4.5 ——
23.2
 4.8  23.0 
 Asbestos~cementsheet.,., (3) 3.9 2.7 6.6 6.6 
Coatings and compounds                                             23.1 23.1
                  23.1 
 Flooringproducts   7.0 7.0 7.0 
 Friction products  .2 .5 6.5 4.0 22.7 33.9 33.9 
Insulation: 
Electrical -- -- .1 -- -- .3 .4 .1 -- .5 Thermal       ——
——
(3) (3) —— —— .1                
    .1 
Packingandgaskets —— .2 .6 3.3 .3 2.0 6.4 ——
——
—— 6.4 
 Paper .5 16.3 16.8 16,3 
 Plastics .1 —— .6 .7 .7 
 Roofingproducts (3) .5 25.7 26.2 26.2 
 Textiles —— 1.2 (3) 1.2 1.2 
 Other .1 .1 .8 .2 (3) 3.6 4.8 .2 —— ——
5.~) 
 Total .1 1.7 18.8 ~12.1 13.7 104.0 150.4 .3 4.8 7.3 °155,5 
 
 ' im~l distribution based upon data provided by the Asbestos Institute,
Montreal, Canada, and the Bs~reau of Mines, asbestos producersurvey. 
 3Bureau of the Census. 
 3Less than 1/10 unit. 
 4Data do not add to total shown because of independent rounding. 
 5Does not include "Other" category in total. "Other"
contains unspecified
fiber type and end use. 
 
 
 
PRICES 
 
 Depressed markets and high producer domestically produced asbestos in 1985
was inventories of the last few years have caus- $357 per metric ton. The
average unit value ed negotiated asbestos prices to be lower of exported
asbestos was $361 per ton. 
than listed prices. The average unit value of 
 
 
Table 5.—Customs unit values of imported asbestos 
(Dollars per metric ton) 
 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 
 
Canad~ 
 Chrysotile: 
 Cement 272 234 257 284 —- 
 Crude —— 380 199 1,084 Fit 
 Spinning  927 917 932 699 731 
 Other 373 334 384 431 283 
South Africa, Republic of: 
 Amosite 728 771 840 869 838 
 Crocidolite 676 646 629 705 569