| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| CAGR | 4.00 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Kaolin Market Analysis
The Kaolin Market is expected to register a CAGR of greater than 4% during the forecast period.
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the kaolin market. However, the market recovered significantly in 2021, owing to rising consumption of various daily-use materials, such as rubber, ceramics, paper, plastic, and others.
- Over the short term, the increasing applications in ceramics and refractories and the growing demand from paper and rubber industries are major factors driving the market's growth.
- High costs and regulations in mining and the adoption of other substitutes are expected to hinder market growth.
- Further, the growing demand for sanitary ceramics is expected to be a market opportunity in the coming years.
- The Asian-Pacific region dominated the market worldwide, with countries like China, India, and Japan being the biggest consumers.
Kaolin Market Trends
Growing Demand from Paper and Ceramics Industries
- Kaolin is primarily used in the paper industry; it makes paper smoother and whiter, and it also acts as a filler in the interstices of the sheet.
- The use of kaolin supports gaining properties such as adding ink receptivity and opacity to the paper sheet and coupling to coat the surface, which in turn supports producing sharp photographic illustrations and bright printed colors.
- Kaolin has perfect opacity, which is an extremely important property for the paper industry. Using kaolin gives brightness, gloss, and viscosity properties to paper. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), USA, about 60% of kaolin is used only by the paper industry.
- In ceramics, kaolin is used for whiteware products, insulators, and refractories. Kaolin has excellent molding properties and adds dry and fired strength, dimensional stability and a smooth surface finish to ceramic products.
- According to AFRY, global paper consumption reached 476 million metric tons in 2022 and registered a growth of 1.27 % compared to 470 million metric tons in the previous year.
- According to the Reserve Bank of India, India exported ceramic and glassware goods worth more than INR 258.24 billion (USD 3.28 billion) in the fiscal year 2022, thus supporting market growth.
- Furthermore, as per the Reserve Bank of India's survey, ceramic products exported from India were INR 258.24 billion (USD 3.16 billion) in 2022 and registered growth compared to 225.53 in 2021.
- Similarly, according to The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry( METI (Japan)), the production volume of paper and paperboard in Japan reached 23.67 million metric tons in 2022.
- Therefore, owing to the above-mentioned factors, the demand for kaolin is expected to increase significantly during the forecast period.
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Asia Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global market owing to the highly developed ceramic sector, paper and paperboard production in China and India, and the continuous investments made in the region to advance the plastic and rubber technology sectors through the years.
- The growing ceramic industry in China and India increases the utilization of kaolin. Especially products like sanitaryware, tableware, and tiles had decent growth in recent years. According to the Ceramic World Web, China stands first globally, followed by India, in ceramic tile manufacturing in the current scenario.
- In Asia-Pacific, the major usage of kaolin is in the paper industry because of the cost and limitations of pulp in producing paper and paperboard.
- According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, around 11.6 million metric tons of processed paper and cardboard were produced in China in September 2022, reflecting an increase of nearly 8% compared to August 2022.
- Recently, the usage of kaolin in paints, rubber, plastics, medicines, adhesives, and cement sectors has been significantly growing due to its abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, and chemical inertness properties.
- According to the Rubber Board, in FY 2022, India consumed more than 1.2 million metric tons of natural rubber, an increase of 13% annually. In 2022, India was the world's second-largest user of natural rubber.
- Thus, the increasing demand from various applications is likely to surge the demand for kaolin in the region during the forecast period.
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Kaolin Industry Overview
The kaolin market is partially consolidated in nature. Some of the major players in the market include BASF SE, Sibelco, EICL, Quartz Works GmbH and Imerys, among others (in no particular order).
Kaolin Market Leaders
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BASF SE
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Quartz Works GmbH
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EICL
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Imerys
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Sibelco
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Kaolin Market News
- September 2022: KaMin acquired the Kaolin Minerals Division of BASF. The purchase includes two processing plants, linked mines, and four production locations across middle Georgia, United States.
- March 2022: Imerys completed the sale of selected North American assets and mining resources supplying hydrous kaolin to the paper & packaging sectors to Thiele Kaolin Corporation, one of the top suppliers of processed kaolin clay.
Kaolin Industry Segmentation
Kaolin is a layered silicate mineral commonly known as china clay. It is a soft white clay used to make a wide range of products, including paper, rubber, paint, and many other products. Kaolin is used in coated paper, toothpaste additives, ceramics, food additives, medicine, cosmetics, etc. The kaolin market is segmented by application and geography. The market is segmented by application into rubber, ceramics, paper, plastics, paintings, and other applications. The report also covers the market size and forecasts in 15 countries across major regions. For each segment, market sizing and forecasts have been done based on volume (tons).
| Application | Rubber | ||
| Ceramics | |||
| Paper | |||
| Plastics | |||
| Paintings | |||
| Other Applications | |||
| Geography | Asia-Pacific | China | |
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| North America | United States | ||
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Middle-East and Africa | Saudi Arabia | ||
| South Africa | |||
| Rest of Middle East and Africa | |||
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Kaolin Market Research FAQs
What is the current Kaolin Market size?
The Kaolin Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 4% during the forecast period (2025-2030)
Who are the key players in Kaolin Market?
BASF SE, Quartz Works GmbH, EICL, Imerys and Sibelco are the major companies operating in the Kaolin Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Kaolin Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Kaolin Market?
In 2025, the Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Kaolin Market.
What years does this Kaolin Market cover?
The report covers the Kaolin Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Kaolin Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Kaolin Industry Report
The global kaolin market is experiencing significant growth, driven by its diverse applications across various industries such as paper, ceramics, paints and coatings, rubber, and plastics. The market is segmented based on processes like water-washed, airfloat, calcined, delaminated, and surface-modified & unprocessed kaolin, each catering to specific industrial needs. Water-washed kaolin, known for its high purity and brightness, dominates and is primarily used in the paper and ceramics industries. Despite the challenges posed by the rise of digital media, the paper industry remains the largest consumer of kaolin, leveraging its properties to enhance printability and appearance. Additionally, the Asia Pacific region is witnessing rapid growth due to increasing industrial activities and a rising middle class, boosting demand for consumer goods and construction materials that incorporate kaolin. The market is also exploring innovative applications in advanced ceramics and 3D printing, presenting new opportunities for growth. Even with competition from substitutes like calcium carbonate in the paper industry, kaolin's versatility and essential role in various applications continue to drive its market expansion globally. For detailed statistics, market share, size, and revenue growth rate, access a sample of the industry analysis as a free report PDF download from Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports.
