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The ceramics industry registered a dip in trade and production following the global economic downturn in 2008. But, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh finds, trade in Asia is now picking up, which is putting renewed pressure on kaolin, zircon, bentonite and other ceramics markets.
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India has recorded economic growth of around 7% per year in the past three years. But while it has significant resources of some of the most widely used industrial minerals, this sector has shown only modest growth, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh discovers.
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Hectorite has attracted significant attention in the last few years as a potential source of lithium, while clays like attapulgite and sepiolite have for decades been important sources of speciality material. Ian Wilson, Consultant*, offers a snapshot of the special clays sector.
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Improvements in oil and gas drilling activity in North America have paved the way for recovery in demand for oilfield minerals such as frac sand, barite and bentonite, but as Kasia Patel, IM Correspondent, reports, the rebound has tested suppliers’ ability to respond.
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High volatility in energy prices shook commodity markets over the past year, with oil taking a dive headfirst to lows that had not been reached for over a decade. This had negative consequences for oilfield service operators as well as mineral suppliers, who saw demand and prices falling for proppants and barite, while bentonite was, to an extent, spared.
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As the US Geological Survey prepares to issue a special publication on the mineral resources of Iran, the international business community is kicking its heels in frustration about the snail’s pace of progress towards establishing trade links with the Islamic Republic, Rose Pengelly, IM Correspondent, writes.
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Recent growth in bentonite consumption has been driven largely by foundry, oil drilling and iron ore pelletising markets. However, the latest downturn in oil and steel prices is likely to see volumes in the latter two markets decrease in the short to medium term. Andrew Scogings* gives an overview of worldwide bentonite production
and consumption.
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China is believed to host the world’s largest reserves of calcium bentonite, but a lack of sophisticated beneficiation technology has kept the sector’s value low. Albert Li, IM Analyst, discovers how some of the country’s top researchers are seeking to tackle this issue with new technology.
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A roundup of the year's main events in the global oilfield minerals industries.
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The UK's Convervative party has pledged to support fracking in a bid to boost domestic energy production. Emma Hughes explores what this means for industrial minerals.
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As well as importing more minerals into the region, countries in the Middle East also started to concentrate on developing their own minerals industry, here, Siobhan Lismore-Scott details why this has happened and where.
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An increase in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) over the past few years means that demand for oilfield minerals has never been stronger. Continued drilling and exploration kept demand high for minerals such as frac sand, bauxite, kaolin, bentonite and barite over the course of 2014.
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External pressure on bentonite and bauxite prices to continue in 2015
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The term usually applied to food prepared for domesticated livestock is ‘fodder,’ which is primarily composed of natural organic ingredients such as hay, straw, silage, pelleted foods, oils, grains, legumes and molasses as well as spent grain from breweries and distilleries and DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles), from bio-ethanol production. Frank Hart* looks into the use of naturally-occurring minerals in animal feed.
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Owing to recent political events in Ukraine, and indirectly those in the Middle East, concerns have mounted in relation to oil and gas delivery to Europe, with some analysts suggesting that North American shale resources may need to be called upon. However, due to basic economic factors, a more realistic solution would be for the EU and Ukraine to develop their own shale resources but, so far, with the exception of the UK, and to a lesser extent Poland and Spain, no large-scale efforts are being undertaken, finds Vasili Nicoletopoulos.*
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North American demand for oilfield minerals has never been stronger, but now other countries, such as China, are looking to increase their production of oil and gas from shale reserves. As a result, the global proppant and drilling mud industries are seeing changes in traditional supply chain patterns, exacerbated by new regulations and changes to product requirements, Emma Hughes, Deputy Editor and Nilima Choudhury, Chief Reporter, discover.
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Turkey has an abundant variety of industrial raw materials and is in an ideal location to deliver high volume industrial minerals to European, Asian and African markets at competitive prices.
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Oilfield minerals aid the process of extracting natural oil and gas from beneath Earth’s surface. For many years, lubricants such as bentonite and weighting agents like barytes (barite) have been used in conventional drilling while others, such as frac sand and sintered bauxite and kaolin, have seen demand increase as a boom in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) took off in the US and further afield. Ahead of IM’s Oilfield Minerals Outlook: Middle East, Emma Hughes, Deputy Editor, takes a look at some of the key minerals used in this end-market.
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Many countries in the MENA region are taking steps to diversify their economies away from almost sole reliance on oil and gas production and to pay greater attention to their reserves of metals and minerals. Dr Elizabeth Stephens, JLT Consulting,* looks into the political risk in MENA
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Fluorspar prices to remain flat to 2016, iodine resists further drop and rare earths halt their decline
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Bentonite is an abundant, versatile mineral found in many regions around the world. Its vast quantities and unique properties have stood bentonite miners in good stead over the past few years, as the mineral’s supply and demand situation has remained relatively secure throughout the economic downturn.
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Dr Elizabeth Stephens, JLT Specialty Ltd, UK, explains the risks involved with developing a project in Spain and discusses recent developments in the Spanish minerals sector
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Frac sand, a specific type of silica sand, is a durable, round grain, crush-resistant material produced for use in the hydraulic fracturing process (more widely known as fracking).
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Increased regulation and cost pressures mean that more than ever companies are looking to see which products better suit them. Siobhan Lismore looks at the industrial minerals used in wastewater treatment, with particular emphasis on magnesium hydroxide and lime, and speaks to key figures about how the market is progressing
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As the global recession loosens its grip on the world economy, IM considers how bentonite has weathered the storm, looking at its most important end markets and their economic drivers
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Could shale gas provide the answer to global energy concerns? There are vast untapped resources in Europe, but fracking, the controversial method of extraction, could prove to be the stumbling block as Vasili Nicoletopoulos* explains
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With bearish headlines flashing across screens this month it would be logical to come to the conclusion that all markets, minerals ones included, were failing.
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Supplying the oilfield market is not for the faint-hearted, with the need to have 24/7 ability to cope with sudden changes in delivery schedules or requirements.
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Greece is opening its doors to private investment to boost domestic industries. Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis discuss the country’s key exploration targets for industrial minerals development
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While economic difficulties for Greece continue, Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis highlight the wealth of the country’s mineral resources and suggest how they could contribute to assisting its financial future
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Sustainability issues, a rise in allergy prevalence and the EU’s REACH directive are all encouraging the use of bentonite-based additives in the detergent industry, as Dr Andreas Werner discusses
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Oil and gas drilling activity is on the rise, fuelling demand for oilfield minerals such as bentonite – but the drilling mineral is battling decreasing consumption
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The versatility of non-metallic minerals ensures they remain central to pharmaceuticals developments
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Automotive markets are giving foundries the drive they need to recover from recession, but western foundries will have to tap into specialised products to compete with developing countries’ heavy industries
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New Turkish mine becomes ‘powerhouse’ of Amcol Minerals Europe as the bentonite mining and processing group gains security from consumer related products
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Despite increasing attempts to pursue green technologies, the world’s thirst for oil and gas is set to ensure robust drilling mineral demand for decades
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With a shift in US environment policy and a global push for a cleaner environment, George Hawley reviews the potential of minerals in waste disposal
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Seeking Saudi mineral potential: A shift in national policy to diversify into non-oil resources has prompted domestic development and overseas interest in Saudi Arabia’s considerable wealth of untapped industrial minerals
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A review of the fertiliser minerals sector reveals how, since a record breaking 2008, producers are reacting to a severe slowdown in demand and the impact this has on future expansion plans
by Simon Moores, Senior Assistant Editor
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IM reports on the 4th High Performance Fillers for Polymer Composites conference, held 4-5 March 2009 in Barcelona, Spain, covering market outlook, new filler grades, plus developments in nanofillers and mineral processing
by Jessica Roberts, Assistant Editor
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As the word continues to seek a passage into India's industrial minerals industry, the country has continued to strengthen through domestic expansions and international acquisitions.
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High energy prices, manufacturing, pet ownership, environmental concerns and healthy diets have all contributed to a buzzing bentonite market. How has this versatile clay adapted to this changing global world?
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IM19’s field trip discovered how S&B Industrial Minerals has balanced the island of Milos’ natural beauty with one of the world’s largest bentonite and perlite operations
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Greek minerals group pursues white bentonite market while expanding foundry grade portfolio
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Some of the industry's leading players share their last 40 years and views on how they have evolved. See special supplement below for remaining features.
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Following in the foot steps of neighbouring countries, the Mozambican government is taking strides to make Mozambique a foreign investment magnet and develop its expanding mining sector
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Following mismanagement and corruption, the government has stepped up its pursuit for economic reform and exploitation of mineral wealth by declaring 2007 as “Minerals and Mines Year” implementing new legislation that could make Nigeria a promising new mining destination
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Government measures continue to push towards modern
mineral sector and development
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Efforts in the cat litter industry are focused on improved litter products using a range of clay and non-clay materials. But it seems that issues outside the litter box could shape the future market
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