The annual output of MgO is about 12 million tons. It is to determine sulfur and arsenic in coal, pyrite and steel. Standard for white pigments. Light magnesium oxide is mainly used as raw materials for preparing ceramics, enamels, refractory crucibles and refractory bricks. It is also used as a polishing agent binder, coating, and paper filler, promoter and activator of chloroprene rubber and fluororubber. After mixing with magnesium chloride and other solutions, it can be made into magnesium oxide water conditioner. In medicine, it is used as an antacid and laxative, as an over acid stomach and peptic ulcer. In chemical industry, it is used as a catalyst and raw material for manufacturing magnesium salt. It is also used in the manufacture of glass, dye meal, phenolic plastics, etc. Heavy magnesium oxide is used in rice milling industry for firing grinding and half drum. The construction industry is used to manufacture artificial chemical floor, artificial marble heat-proof board, sound insulation board, and plastic industry is used as filler. It can also be used to produce other magnesium salts.

One of the main uses of magnesium oxide is as a flame retardant. Traditional flame retardant materials widely use halogen-containing polymers or combination of halogen-containing flame retardants. However, in case of fire, due to thermal decomposition and combustion, a large number of smoke and toxic corrosive gases will be generated, which will hinder fire fighting and personnel evacuation, corrosion of instruments and equipment. In particular, it is found that more than 80% of the fatalities in the fire are caused by the thick smoke and toxic gases produced by the materials. Therefore, in addition to the flame-retardant efficiency, low smoke and low toxicity are also indispensable indicators of flame retardants. The development of China's flame retardant industry is very unbalanced, and the proportion of chlorine based flame retardants is relatively heavy, ranking first among all flame retardants, among which chlorinated paraffin occupies a monopoly position. However, chlorine flame retardants release toxic gases when they act, which is far away from the non-toxic and high efficiency that modern life pursues. Therefore, in order to comply with the development trend of low smoke, low toxicity and pollution-free, the development, production and application of magnesium oxide flame retardant are imperative.