Kaolin features

• A growth trajectory: ceramics markets look to Asia IM April 2018

  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. Read More

• BASF invests $200mln in kaolin business for industrial end-market share 06 March 2018

  A positive outlook in end markets has fueled a significant investment in BASF’s kaolin business, while the company seeks new uses for the mineral within the industrial sectors. Read More

• On the way up: Industrial minerals in India IM March 2018

  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. Read More

• US exiting Paris Treaty not expected to impact minerals sector IM July-August 2017

  In the wake of President Trump’s announcement that the US will be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Climate Treaty, IM looks at the significance of this move and the possible impact this will have on the industrial minerals market. By Mark Rowe Read More

• A hard sell? Metakaolin in high-performance concrete IM June 2017

  Adding metakaolin to cement can improve the strength, corrosion resistance and appearance of concrete, but as Frank Hart* explains, the construction industry is yet to be fully won over by its performance benefits. Read More

• Kaolin’s opportunity IM October 2016

  Although kaolin has long been associated with the paper industry, new opportunities are presenting themselves in new markets, such as ceramics. Ian Wilson, Consultant, details how each producing country in the world is responding to new calls for demand. Read More

• Bridging the Gulf IM July-August 2016

  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. Read More

• Industrial minerals in British Columbia IM March 2016

  Canada’s most southwesterly province has a long history of industrial mineral mining. George Simandl and Michaela Neetz of the British Columbia Geological Survey at the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines give a detailed over view of its non-metallic mineral activity and potential. Read More

• Ceramics minerals: Taking the floor IM March 2016

  While technical ceramics may be a growing application for minerals such as kaolin and zircon, the majority of these are still consumed by traditional applications like construction and tiles. Kasia Patel, North American Editor, looks at some recent developments in the sector. Read More

• Kaolin in India: Cracking high value markets IM February 2016

  Growing demand for high quality kaolin in lucrative end markets like ceramics and paints represents an opportunity for India’s kaolin miners, but only a slim proportion of the country’s output is good enough for these applications. Sunder Singh, IM Correspondent, spoke to India’s top producers of the clay about how they intend to secure a share of an expanding industry. Read More

• New South Wales maps out industrial mineral opportunities IM November 2015

  The eastern Australian state of NSW is home to a large number of highly prospective industrial mineral deposits. Cameron Perks and David Forster* outline how the Geological Survey of New South Wales is producing an updated map of the region’s geology in order to showcase its potential to investors, geologists and the wider community. Read More

• Kaolin’s shifting end markets IM November 2015

  Paper, the largest consumer of kaolin, has seen declining demand in recent years in developing nations, owing to the increase of e-media. However, there are still growth opportunities for the clay mineral in a number of consuming industries, Kasia Patel, North American Editor, finds. Read More

• Strict specifications: UK frac sand potential IM June 2015

  The UK is actively looking at the potential production of shale gas and, as a result, the country’s extractive minerals industry is looking at the role it can play in providing minerals that could be used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking). One such mineral is silica sand, which is used as a proppant, commonly referred to as “frac sand”. Clive Mitchell, Industrial Minerals Specialist, provides an educated guess as to where this frac sand could come from in the UK. Read More

• What the future holds for US proppants IM June 2015

  The US has long enjoyed a successful fracking industry, having drilled more than a million wells to date. Yet, with plummeting oil prices causing some to question the short-term success of this process, Vasili Nicoletopoulos* provides an executive summary of IM’s latest research report on the US proppants market. Read More

• Coatings turn to new products IM April 2015

  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. Read More

• Lessons from 100 years of mineral data IM January 2015

  With the recent publication of data for 2012, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has 100 years of continuous mineral production data - but what do they tell us about worldwide industrial mineral production? Teresa Brown analyses some of these trends and what they say about the industry as a whole. Read More

• Tough times for many in 2015 IM January 2015

  Energy minerals still waiting for battery lift off; chromite market bearish over next 12 months Read More

• Pressures in Asian markets squeeze refractory and chemical minerals IM December 2014

  Global increases for calcium carbonate and kaolin Refractory minerals under strain in China Read More

• South East Asia: Room to grow IM December 2014

  Although regulatory difficulties in the past may have discouraged foreign investment, South East Asia is being touted as a region ripe for development with many underexploited resources and demand for industrial minerals in a variety of markets including refractories, glass, ceramics, construction and proppants. Andrew Scogings, IM Correspondant, Kasia Patel, Deputy Editor, and Tran Kim Phuong, Contributor Read More

• The use of naturally occurring minerals in animal feed IM October 2014 issue

  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. Read More

• Advances in medical uses for alumino-silicate clay minerals IM September 2014

  Frank Hart* addreses the importance of clays in medicine, including kaolin used to cure stomach upset and the promising future of halloysite nanotubes. Read More

• Prices lag rising consumption in industrial markets while speciality grades look up IM June 2014

  Bauxite values stable following Q1 price rises; Paper grade kaolin prices increase as costs bite; Rutile “tough” business in China-led market Read More

• Ceramics: an urban landscape IM February 2014 issue

  Despite slow growth in traditional markets such as Europe, the ceramics industry is expected to be driven by urbanisation and a rebound in housing and construction in key markets such as China and the Middle East, creating opportunities for suppliers of ceramic minerals such as kaolin, zircon and feldspar. Read More

• Year in Review 2013: Kaolin IM January 2014 issue

  The ongoing consolidation of the kaolin industry was questioned in 2013 as Imerys’ purchase of the last independent UK kaolin producer, Goonvean, was referred to the Competition Commission (CC). Read More

• Year in Review 2013: Just when we couldn’t sink any further, we did IM January 2014 issue

  It has not been a good year for the industrial minerals industry. There have been some shining lights, of course Ñexploration continues at an astonishing rate in some markets despite falling demand and, consequently, prices - but on the whole producers and suppliers have felt the pinch. Read More

• Pricing trends remain unpredictable as 2014 approaches IM December 2013

  Fluorspar prices to remain flat to 2016, iodine resists further drop and rare earths halt their decline Read More

• Paper: the next evolution IM October 2013 issue

  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. Read More

• Affordable care could cause pain for US refractories businesses IM September 2013

  Healthcare reform will bring affordable medical provision to millions of Americans, but the administrative requirements for complying with new regulations is causing anxiety amongst manufacturers, Laura Syrett discovers. Read More

• Living off the fat of the frac sand IM June 2013

  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). Read More

• Cracks on the surface? IM May 2013

  The ceramics industry may have suffered on the back of bearish demand and flagging construction, but the sector’s major players are eyeing BRIC markets, while making expansions and acquisitions in far flung corners of the world, as Siobhan Lismore, Editor, discovers Read More

• China’s fracking future: challenges ahead IM April 2013 issue

  As Chinese thirst for energy continues unabated, its shale oil and gas potential, liberated by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), would appear to be the ideal solution. But, as Vasili Nicoletopoulos asks, how will it overcome numerous legislative, political and environmental concerns? Read More

• Supply Situation Report: Asia kaolin market dominated by China March 2013 issue

  Asia is now the leading regional kaolin producer in the world accounting for 28% of output in 2011 compared to 23% in 2007. Read More

• CERAMICS CHINA 2013: Technology goes first March 2013 issue

  Guangzhou based show confronts a downshift in global economy Read More

• Looking for the right mineral filler for plastics February 2013 issue

  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 Read More

• End User Focus: Cutting edge minerals January Issue 2013

  Medical applications for minerals might not be the main market driving factor or the biggest consideration for producers, but speciality applications in the medical industry are undeniably important for our everyday lives and advances in healthcare Read More

• IM 2012 Round-ups: Kaolin January Issue 2013

  The trend of consolidation of the major kaolin producing companies in recent years continued into 2012 with Imerys’ acquisition of Goonvean and KaMin’s purchase of CADAM SA from Vale. Read More

• Price Briefing: Mixed reaction from results, all change (or not) from US and China? December 2012 issue

  November was a month which saw both the long-awaited outcome of the US Presidential election, and also - significantly - a change in leadership in China. Read More

• The proppant choice January Issue 2013

  The wrong choice of proppant for hydraulic fracturing wells can hamper production, wasting time and money for oilfield drillers. But what is the right choice and how should the choice be made? Read More

• Burning up: Refractory clays face an unclear future November 2012 issue

  In the aftermath of a global economic crisis which refuses to wane, all eyes are on refractories and the industries which support them. For refractory clays — the name given to a group of specific grades of calcined kaolin, fireclay, chamotte and flint clay — however, the outlook is more positive, in the long run at least. Read More

• End User Focus: On a roll: glass fibre October 2012 issue

  While the dip in construction has hit sales of glass fibre, the move towards increasing energy efficiency has maintained strong global demand. Read More

• Industrial Minerals Prices July 2012 July 2012

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• End User Focus: Playing ceramic catch-up July 2012

  There are three main sectors for production of ceramics in the world: porcelain/tableware, sanitaryware and tiles. In all of these markets, China is the world’s leading producer and consumer and it is just the global ceramic tiles sector that will be considered in the following. Read More

• Vietnam’s refractory vision to 2020 June 2012

  Vietnam is a country rich in minerals, boasting significant reserves of barytes, bauxite, and clays. Dr Tran Kim Phuong argues the case for foreign investment in Vietnam’s refractory raw materials, outlining their strategic development through to 2020 Read More

• Resource strategy & scenario modelling May 2012

  ‘Resource strategy’ entails more than simply mining and selling products; it encompasses issues such as capacity planning, expansion timing, and political mindset, as Jeff Loehr explains Read More

• Indian ceramics eye new heights May 2012

  India’s ceramics industry has emerged as a modern, world-class sector, ready to take on global competition. Consultant Ajay Kulshreshtha outlines the country’s main ceramic producers and raw material sources Read More

• North Sea supply challenge March 2012

  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. Read More

• Greece seeks mineral lifeboat January 2012

  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 Read More

• Volume cost in plastics applications July 2011

  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 Read More

• End User Focus: China’s sanitaryware dominance continues May 2011

  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 Read More

• Pigments on rollercoaster ride January 2011

  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 Read More