Kaolin Market Report 2025

The kaolin market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $10.12 billion in 2024 to $11.13 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industrialization and urbanization, ceramic industry demand, paper industry growth, rise in construction activities, cosmetics and pharmaceutical usage.

The kaolin market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $15.69 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to consumer preference shifts towards natural products, globalization and trade expansion, rise in agricultural usage, environmentally sustainable alternatives, growing cosmetic applications. Major trends in the forecast period include nanotechnology applications, R&D for innovative applications, bio-ceramics and medical uses, kaolin-based filtration systems, inclusion in polymers and composites.

The kaolin market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $14.67 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to shifts in consumer preferences towards natural products, globalization and the expansion of trade, increased usage in agriculture, the demand for environmentally sustainable alternatives, and the growing applications of ceramics in cosmetics. Major trends expected in this period include the application of nanotechnology, research and development for innovative applications, the use of bio-ceramics and medical applications, the use of kaolin-based filtration systems, and the inclusion of ceramics in polymers and composites.

The increasing demand for paper and ceramic products is anticipated to boost the kaolin market. Ceramics are products made from metal or non-metal compounds that are shaped and hardened through high-temperature heating. Paper products include items such as paper napkins, towels, and corrugated papers created from materials like sugar cane waste, flax, bamboo, wood, linen rags, cotton, and wheat straw. The application of kaolin coating enhances the appearance of both ceramics and paper by influencing their gloss, smoothness, brightness, opacity, and printability. For example, in September 2024, the American Forest and Paper Association, a U.S.-based trade association, reported a 4% increase in total printing-writing paper shipments in August 2024, while U.S. purchases rose by 11% in July 2024 compared to the same months in 2023. Additionally, in April 2023, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), a UK-based tool for visualizing international trade data, revealed that the United Kingdom's ceramic product exports increased by £14.7 million (10.5%) from £141 million to £156 million between July 2023 and July 2024. Thus, the rising demand for paper and ceramic products is expected to drive the kaolin market.

The expanding construction industry is projected to enhance the growth of the kaolin market in the future. The construction industry encompasses the planning, design, development, and execution of buildings, infrastructure, and other physical structures. Kaolin plays a significant role in producing premium ceramics and porcelain used in construction, prized for its fine particle size and its ability to improve characteristics such as whiteness and strength, particularly in the manufacture of tiles and sanitaryware. For instance, in March 2023, Oxford Economics, a UK-based economic information services firm, projected that the value of construction work would rise from $9.7 trillion in 2022 to $13.9 trillion by 2037, driven by major construction markets in China, the U.S., and India. Therefore, the growing construction industry is propelling the growth of the kaolin market.

The kaolin market is witnessing a significant trend towards facility expansion as manufacturers aim to bolster the mining sector's growth and meet rising market demands. An illustrative example of this trend occurred in May 2023 when the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the Kaolin Ore Processing Plant in Alkaleri. This initiative signifies a strategic pivot from simply exporting raw materials to exporting processed materials, highlighting the emphasis on value addition for increased profitability. The government's proactive approach involves encouraging stakeholder participation to fully tap into Nigeria's abundant mineral potential. This strategic move aims to create a considerable number of direct and indirect job opportunities, foster wealth generation, and contribute significantly to bolstering the national GDP.

Major companies in the Kaolin market are employing a strategic partnership approach to supply green hydrogen. Strategic partnerships involve companies leveraging each other's strengths and resources to achieve mutual benefits and success. For example, in May 2023, Carlton Power, a UK-based energy development company, formed a partnership with Imerys, a France-based kaolin manufacturer, and Sibelco, a Belgium-based kaolin manufacturing company. The collaboration aims to provide green hydrogen fuel for the clay mining operations located within a five-mile radius of Carlton's Langage Green Hydrogen project. Imerys and Sibelco have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decade, with hydrogen playing a key role in their sustainability initiatives. The green hydrogen produced at Langage will be transported through an underground pipeline to support Sibelco's Cornwood operation and Imerys' Lee Moor operation. Both facilities are involved in the production of kaolin used in the brick, ceramics, and tile industries.

In July 2024, Flacks Group, a U.S.-based investment firm, acquired Artemyn for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to broaden Flacks Group's portfolio into the mining sector, capitalizing on Artemyn's global presence and high-quality kaolin reserves to enhance operational efficiencies and promote growth. Artemyn is a Brazil-based company that specializes in offering specialty mineral-based solutions, including kaolin.

Major companies operating in the kaolin market include Ashapura Group, Sibelco Group, Thiele Kaolin Company, Arcilla Mining & Land Company LLC, Quarzwerke Group, KaMin LLC, Burgess Pigment Company, G&W Mineral Resources, Ashok Alco-Chem Limited, Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company (K-T Clay), Edgar Minerals Inc., Quimialmel S.A., Shree Ram Group of Industries, LB Minerals s.r.o., Keramost a.s., EPK Group, Advanced Primary Minerals Corporation Altech Chemicals Ltd., WA Kaolin Ltd., English Indian Clays Ltd., I-Minerals Inc., Sedlecký Kaolin a.s., South African Kaolin Group, Satintone Inc., UMA Group of Kaolin Companies.

Kaolin is a type of clay that appears as a soft white powder primarily made up of the mineral kaolinite, along with trace quantities of quartz, anatase, muscovite, feldspar, and quartz. It is extensively utilized in the ceramic industry due to its white-burning characteristics and high fusion temperature, making it suitable for the production of porcelain, refractories, and whiteware.

Kaolin is available in two primary types such as synthetic and natural. Synthetic kaolin is a laboratory-manufactured clay used in various industrial applications and medical purposes. It can undergo processes such as water-washing, air-floating, calcining, delaminating, surface-modifying, or remain unprocessed. The main end-users of kaolin include industries such as ceramics, fiberglass, paints and coatings, rubber, adhesives and sealants, plastics, and other sectors such as personal care and healthcare, and agriculture.

The kaolin market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $9.37 billion in 2023 to $10.29 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industrialization and urbanization, ceramic industry demand, paper industry growth, rise in construction activities, cosmetics and pharmaceutical usage.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the kaolin market in 2024. The regions covered in the kaolin market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the kaolin market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The kaolin market consists of sales of white kaolin, yellow kaolin, pink kaolin, and red kaolin. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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