Kaolin Industry Overview

The global kaolin market size was valued at USD 3.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0% from 2024 to 2030.Increasing investment in construction and infrastructure industry is propelling demand for paints & coatings, ceramic-based products, and cement, which is driving market growth.

Global construction industry is expected to witness lucrative growth over shifting inclination towards green construction, which in turn is expected to provide a significant growth opportunity for kaolin market. For instance, according to the World Bank’s new IFC report, green construction is anticipated to make investment opportunities worth USD 1.5 trillion for emerging markets.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Kaolin Market

Investments in construction, infrastructure development, and automotive production are expected to contribute to market growth over the forecast period. Growth of construction industry in the U.S. is a key factor contributing to demand for kaolin in the country. According to U.S. Census Bureau, total construction spending (residential and non-residential) grew by 3.5% in June 2023 on a y-o-y basis. The spending on single-family housing increased by 2.1% and multi-family housing by 1.5%.

Growing demand for painting due to rising investments in construction is leading companies to engage in strategic measures such as mergers & acquisitions, which are expected to influence the market demand positively. For instance, in November 2021, GDB International, Inc., a producer of paints & coatings, acquired a paint manufacturing plant in Illinois, U.S. This plant has a production capacity of 5 million gallons per year and can produce both water and solvent-based paints.

Further investments in medical industry are another driving factor for the market. For instance, in December 2021, Pfizer announced that it would acquire Arena Pharmaceuticals for about USD 6.70 billion. This deal was completed in March 2022 and is expected to help advance its presence in treatment of several immuno-deficiency diseases. Such developments indicate healthy growth for country’s pharmaceutical and medical industries. This is anticipated to have a positive impact on demand for kaolin in pharmaceuticals and medical application segment.

Browse through Grand View Research's Advanced Interior Materials Industry Research Reports.

  • The India kaolin market size was estimated at USD 349.6 million in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030. The increasing construction and infrastructural developments, paper manufacturing, and growing paints and coating industries are driving growth for kaolin.
  • The global HDPE and LLDPE geomembrane market size was estimated at USD 1.36 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2024 to 2030.

Kaolin Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global kaolin market report based on grade, application and region

Kaolin Grade Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Calcined
  • Hydrous
  • Delaminated
  • Surface Treated
  • Structured

Kaolin Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Paper
  • Ceramics
  • Paint & Coatings
  • Fiberglass
  • Plastic
  • Rubber
  • Pharmaceuticals & Medical
  • Cosmetics
  • Others

Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America
    1. U.S.
    2. Canada
    3. Mexico
  • Europe
    1. Germany
    2. U.K.
    3. Russia
    4. Turkey
  • Asia Pacific
    1. China
    2. India
    3. Japan
    4. South Korea
    5. Australia
  • Central & South America
    1. Brazil
  • Middle East & Africa
    1. Saudi Arabia

Key Companies profiled:

  • BASF SE
  • EICL Ltd.
  • Imerys S.A.
  • I-Minerals Inc.
  • KaMin LLC
  • LB Minerals Ltd.
  • Maoming Xingli Kaolin Co. Ltd.
  • Quazwerke GmbH
  • Sibelco
  • Thiele Kaolin Company

Key Kaolin Company Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market include KaMin LLC, Imerys S.A. and Sibelco.

  • KaMin LLC acquired the kaolin business from BASF SE in September 2022. The divestiture consists of the production hub with sites Toddvile, Edgar, Deweyville, and Gordon mines, mills, and reserves in the U.S.
  • Imerys S.A. specializes in the production & processing of minerals. It sells its products through three business segments: Performance Minerals Americas, Performance Minerals Asia Pacific, and Performance Minerals Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
  • Sibelco’s product portfolio includes dry sand, wet sands, kaolin, silica flour, frac sand, ball clay, cristobalite, feldspar, filtration sand, olivine sand, spherical silica, high-purity quartz, quicklime, coated sands, red clay, prepared bodies, hydrated lime, diatomite, nepheline Semite, olivine flour, and lithium minerals. The company manufactures kaolin for producing fine ceramics. The company’s kaolin reserves are in UK, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine.

WA Kaolin Limited and Maoming Xingli Kaolin Co., Ltd. are some of the emerging market participants.

  • WA kaolin is a mineral exploration, mining, and processing company. In November 2020, the company completed its definitive feasibility study of Wickepin Kaolin Project and in 2022 the company commissioned stage 1 of the Wickepin Processing plant
  • Maoming Xingli Kaolin Co., Ltd. has a high-quality mine named acicular kaolin mine that spreads across 800 acres. The company offers several products such as bone china clay, clay for porcelain, kaolin clay, porcelain clay, and others. Its key focus is on washed kaolin (without acid), 90-degree ball clay, and 90- degree kaolin.

Recent Developments

  • In November 2023, KaMin LLC and CADAM announced a price increase of their kaolin products by up to 9% starting from January 2024. This is to offset cost increase due to inflation, increase in mining cost, stringent environmental and regulatory requirements, and increase in electricity rates in the U.S. and Brazil, and labor cost.
  • In January 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced that it has started to explore the possibility of production of salt and kaolin in Abuja. This is expected to increase global supply, hence providing price favorability to end users at a regional level.

Order a free sample PDF of the Kaolin Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter