Alexandra Feytis
SUPPLY SECURITY
The estimated 430,000 tpa global andalusite market is produced by just a handful of companies in the world (see table). South Africa is the world’s largest producer of the aluminosilicate mineral, which is used as a feedstock for refractory and foundry products, with an estimated output of 295,000 tonnes in 2010.
The other main producer is France with a 80,000 tpa capacity, followed by China with 40,000 tpa. Peru is the market’s newcomer - entering the industry about two years ago - with Spain expected to follow the trend, coming on stream in 2012.
Damrec SA - subsidiary of France’s mining conglomerate Imerys SA - remains the world’s largest producer, having operations in South Africa, France, and China, in addition to an unexploited deposit in Peru.
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