Imerys GCC is supplied in slurry form
to paper mills in Jiangsu province, China
During the last decade, the industry of ground calcium carbonate (GCC) has been expanding dramatically, thanks to an increasing demand from its main end market, the paper industry.
World production of GCC has increased dramatically to 80m. tonnes in 2009 from 56m. tonnes in 2004.
Having been severely affected by the financial crisis, sources from the industry agree on the fact that 2010 showed cautious signed of recovery, although the industry is not back yet to pre-crisis levels. “The market is very competitive,” Vipul Joshi, marketing manager at Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI), USA, declared to IM.
Among the main challenges, GCC producers have to deal with increasing transport and energy costs which account for more than 50% of the final price. In addition, while GCC consumption is increasing, prices are decreasing. “Prices are low because of...