China to be largest kaolin market by 2015

The world market for kaolin is projected to grow 3.7%/yr through 2015 to 28.4Mt, valued at nearly US$4.0bn. This represents a significant acceleration from the relative stagnation of the 2005 to 2010 period. Growth in kaolin demand will be fuelled by a generally stronger economic climate worldwide, with especially rapid growth in developing economies. Kaolin demand in developed economies is forecast to recover from declines seen between 2005 and 2010 and post moderate growth going forward.

These and other trends are presented in World Kaolin, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc, the USA-based industry market research firm.

The largest gains will be seen in China, which alone will account for 37% of the growth in worldwide kaolin demand between 2010 and 2015. Currently the world’s second largest consumer of kaolin, China will experience large-scale manufacturing growth and easily overtake the USA to become the world’s largest kaolin market by 2015.

India will also see a sizeable increase in kaolin demand, fuelled by an economy showing significant development across the board. India’s growth in kaolin demand will represent an acceleration of the already rapid pace of the 2005 to 2010 period, with the fastest growth occurring in the country’s paper industry.

The developed nations of the USA and Japan and most of the countries in Western Europe will see weak growth through 2015, although all will post recoveries in comparison to the 2005-2010 performance.

From 2010 to 2015, demand for kaolin in all its major industrial uses is expected to rise faster than in the 2005 to 2010 period. The paper market, which is the largest market for kaolin, will recover from declines posted over the previous decade.