The world mine kaolin output has recently been on downtrend. It went down by 15%, or 5.8 million tonnes, from 2006 through 2010. A certain production raise was registered in 2011. Global manufacturers generated 33.3 million tonnes during the year, up by 0.6%, or 200,000 tonnes, year on year.
Kaolin: world mine production structure, by country, 2011
Uzbekistan, the USA and Germany produce the largest volumes of the material. The countries made around 15.5 million tonnes in 2011 in total. The figure was a little bit more modest a year earlier – it amounted to 15.4 million tonnes.
Germany generates stably high amounts of kaolin on an annual basis. Domestic companies made 4.5 million tonnes in 2011. The output was unchanged if compared to 2010.
However, country’s production volumes grew by 18%, or 700,000 tonnes, from 2006.
The demand level in 2011 in Germany was almost similar to the one a year earlier. It slightly exceeded 4.8 million tonnes.
Germany-based kaolin companies export up to 500,000 tonnes per year. Export volumes reached 390,000 tonnes in 2010, in comparison with 370,000 tonnes in 2009.
Austria, Italy and Poland were the key export markets for German kaolin producers – they obtained 212,000 tonnes in 2010.
The German kaolin market is attractive for overseas suppliers. For instance, imports surpassed 700,000 tonnes in 2010, a rise by 22%, or 130,000 tonnes, year on year.
The UK, the USA and Belgium were the major importers of the product to Germany. Their import volumes totaled 420,000 tonnes in 2010, opposing to 366,000 tonnes a year earlier.
Kaolin market growth trend till 2016, thousand metric tons
The world market for kaolin is likely to expand by over 3.5% per year. The largest amount of the material will be consumed by Chinese downstream companies.
Prices are forecast to enhance by 9%, or USD 15 per tonne, by 2016 in the US domestic market if compared to 2011.
More information on the Kaolin market can be found in the report Kaolin Market Review
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