While China topped global production charts last year, the surprisingly massive kaolin industry—supplying everything from glossy magazine paper to fine ceramics—is actually dominated by a network of specialized mines and markets from Georgia to the Amazon.
Key Takeaways
- Global kaolin production in 2022 totaled 42 million metric tons, with China leading at 3.8 million metric tons.
- United States kaolin production in 2022 was 5.47 million metric tons, primarily from Georgia.
- Brazil produced 2.1 million metric tons of kaolin in 2021, mainly for export.
- World kaolin reserves estimated at 11.5 billion metric tons as of 2022.
- United States kaolin reserves stand at 250 million metric tons, mainly in Georgia.
- Brazil holds 1.2 billion metric tons of kaolin reserves in Para state.
- Global kaolin consumption reached 38 million metric tons in 2022.
- Paper industry consumed 55% of global kaolin at 21 million tons in 2022.
- Ceramics sector used 25% of kaolin, or 9.5 million tons globally in 2022.
- Global kaolin exports reached 15 million metric tons in 2022.
- US kaolin exports were 4.8 million tons valued at $650 million in 2022.
- Brazil exported 2.5 million tons of kaolin, mainly to Europe.
- Global kaolin market size valued at $4.2 billion in 2022.
- Kaolin market projected to grow to $5.8 billion by 2028 at 5.2% CAGR.
- Paper segment held 52% share of kaolin market revenue in 2022.
The global kaolin industry is a multi-billion dollar market dominated by paper and ceramics production.
Consumption
- Global kaolin consumption reached 38 million metric tons in 2022.
- Paper industry consumed 55% of global kaolin at 21 million tons in 2022.
- Ceramics sector used 25% of kaolin, or 9.5 million tons globally in 2022.
- China kaolin consumption was 12 million tons in 2022.
- US domestic kaolin consumption totaled 5.2 million tons in 2022.
- Europe kaolin demand was 8 million tons, led by paper at 4.5Mt.
- India's kaolin consumption reached 2.8 million tons in FY2022 for refractories.
- Brazil consumed 1.5 million tons domestically, rest exported.
- Japan kaolin use in paper was 800,000 tons in 2022.
- Global paints and coatings kaolin consumption 3.2 million tons in 2022.
- Rubber industry global kaolin demand 1.8 million tons.
- Refractories consumed 2.1 million tons of kaolin worldwide.
- Asia-Pacific kaolin consumption grew 5% to 18 million tons in 2022.
- Paper grade kaolin consumption 20 million tons globally.
- Calcined kaolin demand hit 5.5 million tons for coatings.
- US paper sector kaolin use declined to 2.1 million tons.
- China's ceramics kaolin consumption 6 million tons.
- Europe coatings kaolin use 2.8 million tons.
Consumption Interpretation
The global appetite for kaolin paints a clear picture: we're happily coating, filling, and refining our world, one sheet of paper, ceramic tile, and paint can at a time.
Market
- Global kaolin market size valued at $4.2 billion in 2022.
- Kaolin market projected to grow to $5.8 billion by 2028 at 5.2% CAGR.
- Paper segment held 52% share of kaolin market revenue in 2022.
- Calcined kaolin market size $2.1 billion in 2022.
- US kaolin market value $1.5 billion including exports.
- China kaolin market dominated with $1.8 billion sales.
- Europe kaolin market $1.2 billion, led by UK and Germany.
- Average kaolin price globally $120 per ton in 2022.
- Hydrous kaolin price rose to $110/ton FOB in 2022.
- Paper grade kaolin premium price $150/ton.
- Kaolin market in paints grew to $800 million.
- Ceramics kaolin sub-market $900 million globally.
- Asia-Pacific kaolin market largest at $2.5 billion.
- Brazilian kaolin export value $400 million in 2022.
- UK kaolin producer revenues $300 million annually.
- Global kaolin production value $5 billion in 2022.
- Kaolin futures price index up 8% in 2022.
Market Interpretation
The world remains stubbornly attached to paper, fueling a $4.2 billion market for the humble clay that keeps our magazines glossy, our paints bright, and our coffee cups from leaking, all while China quietly dominates the balance sheet and the price per ton creeps ever upward.
Production
- Global kaolin production in 2022 totaled 42 million metric tons, with China leading at 3.8 million metric tons.
- United States kaolin production in 2022 was 5.47 million metric tons, primarily from Georgia.
- Brazil produced 2.1 million metric tons of kaolin in 2021, mainly for export.
- United Kingdom kaolin output reached 940,000 metric tons in 2022 from Cornwall mines.
- Germany's kaolin production in 2022 was 1.2 million metric tons, focused on high-grade ball clay.
- France produced 780,000 metric tons of kaolin in 2021, sourced from Brittany.
- India's kaolin production grew to 2.5 million metric tons in FY2022.
- Australia kaolin output was 250,000 metric tons in 2022, from Western Australia deposits.
- Turkey produced 1.8 million metric tons of kaolin in 2022.
- South Korea's kaolin production stood at 450,000 metric tons in 2021.
- Nigeria kaolin production reached 1.2 million metric tons in 2022 from local beneficiation plants.
- Ukraine produced 500,000 metric tons of kaolin before disruptions in 2022.
- Bulgaria's kaolin output was 320,000 metric tons in 2021.
- Iran's kaolin production estimated at 900,000 metric tons in 2022.
- Mexico kaolin production was 150,000 metric tons in 2021.
- World's largest kaolin mine in Georgia, USA, produced 4.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Calcined kaolin production globally exceeded 4 million metric tons in 2022.
- Georgia, USA, accounted for 90% of US kaolin production at 4.92 million tons in 2022.
- UK's Devon and Cornwall produced 850,000 tons of kaolin in 2022.
- Brazilian kaolin from Amazon region hit 1.9 million tons in 2021.
- China's Guangxi province led with 2.1 million tons kaolin in 2022.
- Japan's kaolin production was 120,000 tons in 2022 for ceramics.
- South Africa's kaolin output reached 80,000 tons in 2021.
- New Zealand produced 50,000 tons of halloysite kaolin in 2022.
- Russia's kaolin production was 600,000 tons in 2022.
- Spain's kaolin from Galicia was 200,000 tons in 2021.
- Global kaolin production capacity utilization was 85% in 2022.
- US kaolin production value reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Europe kaolin production totaled 4.5 million tons in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific kaolin production share was 45% of global in 2022.
Production Interpretation
While China leads in headline numbers, the real heavyweight champion is clearly Georgia, USA, whose singular clay belt single-handedly flexes a production tonnage that overshadows entire continents and defines the industry's economic core.
Reserves
- World kaolin reserves estimated at 11.5 billion metric tons as of 2022.
- United States kaolin reserves stand at 250 million metric tons, mainly in Georgia.
- Brazil holds 1.2 billion metric tons of kaolin reserves in Para state.
- United Kingdom reserves of kaolin are 700 million metric tons in Southwest England.
- China kaolin reserves estimated at 4.5 billion metric tons.
- Australia's kaolin resources exceed 100 million metric tons in WA.
- India's kaolin reserves are 760 million metric tons, per government survey.
- Turkey's kaolin reserves total 1.1 billion metric tons.
- France kaolin reserves in Brittany region at 150 million tons.
- Nigeria reserves of kaolin estimated at 3 billion metric tons.
- Ukraine kaolin reserves 500 million tons in Poltava region.
- Bulgaria reserves stand at 400 million tons of kaolin.
- Iran's kaolin reserves exceed 1 billion tons.
- Mexico kaolin reserves at 200 million tons.
- Germany's kaolin reserves 300 million tons in Saxony.
- South Korea kaolin reserves 150 million tons.
- Russia kaolin reserves estimated at 800 million tons.
- Spain kaolin reserves 250 million tons in Galicia.
- South Africa kaolin reserves 120 million tons.
- New Zealand halloysite reserves 50 million tons.
- Global economic demonstrated kaolin reserves are 7.2 billion tons.
- Europe's kaolin reserves total 2.5 billion tons.
- Asia kaolin reserves share 60% of world total.
- US Georgia kaolin reserves 200 million tons recoverable.
- Brazilian Capim kaolin deposit reserves 1 billion tons.
- UK China Clay reserves 600 million tons proven.
- China's kaolin resource base includes 5 billion tons sub-economic.
Reserves Interpretation
The global kaolin game reveals a stark geopolitical poker match, with China holding a mountain of sub-economic clay cards, the US meticulously counting its premium Georgia chips, and Brazil confidently sitting on a billion-ton Capim river bluff, while the rest of the world carefully watches the table.
Trade
- Global kaolin exports reached 15 million metric tons in 2022.
- US kaolin exports were 4.8 million tons valued at $650 million in 2022.
- Brazil exported 2.5 million tons of kaolin, mainly to Europe.
- UK kaolin exports totaled 750,000 tons to paper markets in 2022.
- China kaolin exports grew to 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- Germany exported 900,000 tons of kaolin products.
- France kaolin exports 600,000 tons to Asia.
- Australia's kaolin exports 200,000 tons to Japan.
- Turkey kaolin exports reached 1.5 million tons.
- India exported 500,000 tons of processed kaolin in FY2022.
- Global kaolin import value was $2.1 billion in 2022.
- Japan imported 1.1 million tons of kaolin.
- South Korea kaolin imports 700,000 tons from China.
- Indonesia kaolin imports totaled 400,000 tons.
- Vietnam imported 850,000 tons for paper industry.
- Netherlands as hub imported 1.2 million tons kaolin.
- Belgium kaolin imports 550,000 tons for processing.
- Italy imported 450,000 tons kaolin for ceramics.
- Spain kaolin exports 300,000 tons intra-EU.
Trade Interpretation
Despite painting a global picture where the US cashes in, Brazil ships out, and Europe prints on it, the world's appetite for this humble clay proves that even in a high-tech age, civilization is still built on getting its hands dirty.
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