Feldspars are mainly used in industrial applications, including production of glass containers, ceramics (incl. tiles and sanitary ware), fillers, glass fibre insulation, fillers, extenders and other commodities.
Relative content of feldspar in some feldspar-consuming product groups, %
The current trends characterising the behaviour of feldspar-consuming sectors (glassware, floor tiles, tableware, sanitary ware) demonstrate overall very positive trajectories, which are likely to persevere in the short- and middle-term future. This does not preclude some regional markets from struggling (for various reasons), while many companies have to constantly re-adjust their policies and strategies in order to be competitive. The potent corporate strategy, which seems to be quite operable at the moment, is entering into strategic partnerships with different companies. The vivid example is a strategic partnership between Samca, a diversified Spanish industrial group, and Imerys, a French multinational company which specialises in the production and processing of industrial minerals, including feldspars. The partnership implies a mutually beneficial exchange of various commercial activities, ownership rights and operations. Thus, Samca becomes the owner of Imerys Ceramics Espana (ICES). This division of Imerys has ceramics plants in Spain and is engaged in mining activities, including those related to feldspar recovery. In return, Imerys becomes Samca’s exclusive distributor for ceramic products sold in the rest of the world, while Samca will be appointed as the exclusive distributor of Imerys products in Spain for the ceramics industry. Such complex interconnection of commercial interests and operations create viable business synergies and opens up unique possibilities for both companies, raising their capitalization and improving their positions from resource- and knowledge-based view. Of course, negative repercussions of such partnerships are also possible, but it is anticipated that positive effects will outweigh them. It is predicted that such partnerships in the feldspar sector will grow in numbers.
Further information on the feldspar market can be found in insightful research study “Feldspar: 2016 World Market Review and Forecast”.