Supply Situation Report: Asia kaolin market dominated by China

• Autores: Ian Wilson
• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 546, 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This includes 5.5m tonnes for crude kaolin from Uzbekistan and 3.55m tonnes of crude kaolin from Czech Republic (with estimated output of beneficiated kaolin of 900,000m tonnes). [Bob Virta] reports that the kaolin output for 2011 of processed clay was between 23 to 25m tonnes. However, USGS reports do not indicate any kaolin production from China and just report that "in addition to countries listed China may also have produced kaolin but information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels". In this report it is estimated that output of kaolin in 2011 from China was 4m tonnes of which 3m tonnes has been identified.

    English Indian Clays Ltd (EICL) has clay and starch divisions and is a well established company originally set-up as a joint-venture with English China Clays (now Imerys). In 1992 EICL became a fully owned Indian Company. Production capacity is 240,000 tpa with 180,000 tpa hydrous kaolin and 60,000 tpa calcined kaolin with its mine and processing plants located at Veli, northwest of Trivandrunm, Kerala. Calcined clay capacity was increased to 60,000 tpa in 2009. EICL is the largest single producer of kaolin in Asia based on its high quality sedimentary kaolin deposits in the Trivandrum area.

    South Korea relies on high quality hydrous and calcined clay for many industries as advised by SB Park of SBP Ltd. Calcined clay imports for 2011 were 49,000 tonnes mainly from the US with 19,000 tonnes (US $ 464/tonne CIF), China 18,000 tonne ($303/tonnes CIF) and other cheaper imports. Korea is an important paper producing country and 1.185m tonnes mineral pigment were used in 2011 dominated by ground calcium carbonate (GCC) with 1.1m tonnes, precipated calcium carbonate (PCC) 100,000 tonnes and 85,000 tonnes of imported paper coating clay mainly from the US and some from Brazil. 16,000 tonnes of hydrous kaolin was imported in 2011 for non-paper markets supplied from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and UK for ceramic grades.