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Digitization is continuing to drive change across many sectors worldwide, fueling a steady decline in writing and printing paper with the rise of e-readers, smart phones and calls for paperless offices. Although this has caused consolidation in the paper industry among some of the largest producing regions, there are still growth opportunities for paper manufacturers and their raw materials suppliers in less mature markets and in packaging products.
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Consumption of mineral filler is growing rapidly, with the market forecast to grow to a worldwide total value of $62.54 billion by 2024, according to some estimates, with global economic growth supporting expansion of the paper, plastics, rubber, paints and construction industries. Industrial Minerals explores the key drivers of this growth, and asks what makes calcium carbonate so attractive as a filler?
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Although the number of industrial minerals covered by IM is far reaching and the technology required for their production often varies by sector, the mining industry is seeing increasing calls for corporate social responsibility and greener technology, particularly in light of the growing role renewable energy has to play in the everyday lives of consumers.
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Valued as a plentiful source of cheap, basic ground calcium carbonate materials, China now wants to tackle its overcapacity problems by shifting its emphasis onto higher value products – a familiar story with an uncertain ending, as Albert Li, IM China Analyst, explains.
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While other markets are still suffering a downturn, the use of minerals in plastics is steady, as traditional materials in packaging, construction and the automotive sector are being switched for more lightweight and durable alternatives, Kasia Patel, North American Editor, discovers.
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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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The biggest end uses for ground calcium carbonate are the paper, plastics, paints and sealants industries, with Asia representing one of the sector’s largest markets. Ian Wilson* looks at overall GCC production in Asia and assesses the industry by country and market share.
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Changes in regulation and customer preference are driving the emergence of exciting new products in the coatings industry, but behind the headlines many producers are concerned about weaknesses in key consuming sectors.
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As the global population continues to expand rapidly, there is a growing need to increase crop production. Frank Hart* examines the role minerals can play in achieving this goal.
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Global increases for calcium carbonate and kaolin
Refractory minerals under strain in China
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Since the financial crisis, construction investment in many regions has been drastically cut. Kasia Patel, Senior Reporter, takes a look at the outlook for construction and where opportunities lie for calcium carbonate producers.
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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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Paper has traditionally been driving the market for talc, but as Kasia Patel discusses, other markets such as in automobiles and construction are looking up
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The new age of digital technology has caused a decline paper demand, which is expected to continue to fall. Kasia Patel, Senior Reporter, looks at where this leaves papermakers, and whether there are still opportunities for filler producers which supply them.
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Guangzhou based show confronts a downshift in global economy
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Fillers were first introduced into the plastics industry as a cost-saving device. But, as Ajay Kulshreshtha discovers, their myriad properties perhaps should be more correctly focused on improving performance and driving innovation
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Prices for all grades of flake graphite from key producing regions in the world are stabilising, new information from IM Data has shown.
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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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Mineral fillers offer cost reduction – and sometimes enhanced properties – to polymer formulations. Siddhartha Roy outlines ground calcium carbonate’s changing role in the growing polymer market
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Professor Roger Rothon reports on the themes and revelations at this year’s Eurofillers conference, held 21-25 August in Dresden, Germany
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K-Tron’s Jaime A. Gómez outlines the impact of flowability on material handling when using mineral fillers in polymer resins
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These days, tile adhesives are a complicated mixture of additives, chemicals and fillers, each playing a crucial part in the adhesive performance. But, as Ed Hiam explains, traditional materials such as industrial minerals still play a key role in this evolving market
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Mineral fillers are widely used in the plastics industry to enhance polymer properties and reduce ingredient costs. But, as Siddartha Roy demonstrates, over-use of fillers can be a false economy
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In just over 25 years, China’s sanitaryware industry has grown more than 2,000% to 174.1m. pieces. Eileen Hao and Ian Wilson outline the country’s main producers and examine growth challenges for the future
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Rising demand from papermakers drives GCC growth which sees Europe and North America tailing behind Asia
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Bumpy road ahead for pigment producers as construction and automotive markets decline in the west but rise in the east, driven by an emerging Asian middle class
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Ian Wilson and Larry Lai examine how China’s paper industry has carved such a dominant global position and the impact this has had on filler and coating mineral consumption
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The Rainbow Nation has significant mineral resources but will have to go through transformation to make the most of them
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Strong government support is seeing increased development of Vietnam’s key mineral resources, but red tape threatens to hold back over-eager foreign investors
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With the recession receding in the rear view mirror, the filler minerals industry looks forward to a smoother ride ahead with the automotive market
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The versatility of non-metallic minerals ensures they remain central to pharmaceuticals developments
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Mineral fillers keep pace with plastic product requirements as demand grows, including applications with higher loadings
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GCC, presently the most widely used mineral filler in paper production, looks set to increase its paper market share now that modern paper machines can handle over 50% mineral loading
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Liu Yingjun reviews the growing consumption of minerals in plastics and how they are playing a key role in reducing the consumption of oil
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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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In celebration of IM’s 500th issue, we invited leading lights of the industry to share with us their views on the shaping of the industry and its future
Edited by Mike O’Driscoll, Editor
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China has switched to domestic demand priority status. Those relying on Chinese mineral exports should now be seeking alternative sources. Here we examine how China’s mineral industry has changed tack, its impact on world markets, how it will cope with the recession, and spotlight on barytes, bauxite, fluorspar, magnesite, paper minerals, and rare earths
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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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A report on the 16th Functional Fillers conference organised by Intertech-Pira, held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on 22-24 September 2008, and comprised 16 papers spread over four sessions, plus optional seminars on plastic fillers selection and flame retardants.
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Innovations are expanding markets for mineral use in
plastics, demand for which is forecast to rise in the long
term. Alison Russell reviews trends in plastics usage and
end markets, and industrial mineral consumption
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China's need for ceramics raw materials is increasing. The response from southern sources is examined
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Murray Lines examines the main glass minerals and highlights trends in the rapidly expanding Asia Pacific market, dominated by China.
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Driven by paper, Asia is set to become the largest ground
calcium carbonate producing region in the world. Ian Wilson looks at the region’s main sources of supply
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As calcium carbonates eat ever more into kaolin’s largest end-use market, papermaking, Ian Wilson looks at how kaolin producers have adjusted and started to diversify in order to survive
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Eastern European minerals and markets are attracting increasing interest. For the region, Ian Wilson examines the main sources of supply, players involved, and market demand for ground calcium carbonate (GCC)
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Driven by development and growth of certain paper grades and fibre use, mineral demand in Asian papermaking is forecast to rise significantly. Tony Noon examines the current and projected demand for mineral pigments by the paper industry in Asia
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A report on IM's recent 7th Chinese Industrial Minerals Conference - CIMC 2007, 9-11 October 2007 in Dalian
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