Kaolin Market

The global kaolin market was valued at USD 4,462.65 million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 5,893.47 million by the end of 2025, at a CAGR of 3.97% during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the market was pegged at 29,072.38 kilotons in 2018 and the demand is projected to reach 36,826.97 kilotons by the end of 2025.

The prominent factor driving the growth of the global kaolin market is the increasing demand for kaolin in the paper industry. Kaolin offers properties such as brightness, whiteness, opacity, gloss, film strength, and viscosity, which make it an ideal product for the coating of paper and as a filler in the bulk of the paper. Kaolin is widely adopted in the production of high-grade ceramics which is further used in the formulation of whitewares, such as tableware, sanitaryware, and tiles. Furthermore, the emergence of new application areas such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals is likely to propel the growth of the market in the future. However, the availability of potential substitutes is likely to hamper the growth of the global kaolin market. The global pandemic due to the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the disruption of production and supply and thereby hindered the global market.

The global kaolin market has been segmented by grade, application, and region.

Based on grade, the global kaolin market has been segmented into calcined, hydrous, delaminated, surface treated, and structured. In terms of value, the calcined segment dominated the global market with a 50.2% share in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 4.37% during the review period. The growth in this market is attributed to the growing demand for calcined kaolin in the paper, ceramics, and paints & coatings industries.

Based on application, the global kaolin market has been segmented into paper, ceramics, paints & coatings, rubbers & plastics, fiberglass, and others. The paper segment accounted for the largest share of 37.56% in 2018 due to the exceptional properties offered by kaolin to the paper surface such as whiteness, glossiness, ink absorptivity, and printing characteristics. The segment was valued at USD 1,676.2 million in 2018; it is expected to register a CAGR of 3.14% to reach USD 2,092.5 million by the end of 2025.

By region, the global kaolin market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific dominated the global kaolin market with a share of 40.8% by value in 2018 and is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. The market growth in Asia-Pacific is driven by various factors including its growing paper industry, increasing construction activities, and an increase in the production of paints & coatings in the region. The Europe kaolin market accounted for the second-largest share in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 3.2% during the review period. Country-wise, the growth in the kaolin market over the long term is expected to remain strong in India, the US, Germany, China, and the GCC countries.