Transparency Market Research

Kaolin and Metakaolin Market Is Expected to Reach USD 130 Billion in 2018: Transparency Market Research

 

Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/19/2014 -- According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research "Kaolin and Metakaolin Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast, 2012 - 2018," the demand for Kaolin and Metakaolin Market products was over 2,600 million units in 2011, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2012 to 2018. In terms of revenue, the market was valued at approximately USD 81 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach USD 130 billion by 2018.

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http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/kaolin-market.html

Kaolin and Metakaolin are mainly applied in industrial products like tiles, papers, paints, sanitary ware, mortar, shotcrete, concrete and rubbers. Kaolin is applied in refractories, ceramics, fiberglass, sanitary ware. It is also used as a food additive and a coloring agent. Unprocessed kaolin is applied in making ceramic products. The construction industry makes use of metakaolin. As the name suggests, metakaolin is derived from kaolin itself. Metakaolin is manufactured when clay mineral kaolinite is dehydroxylated under controlled temperature. Thermal treatment of kaolin leads to the formation of metakaolin. This gives rise to an amorphous aluminosilicate which is metakaolin.

Kaolin is made up of hydrated aluminosilicate of the clay mineral kaolinite. It has some distinct properties like chemical inertness, flat particle shape, non-abrasive texture and excellent opacity. Kaolinite is found in rocks that are known as kaolin or china clay. It is a stratified silicate mineral which is earthy, soft and generally white in color. Kaolinite is also used for producing porcelain. Metakaolin granules are not as fine as silica fume but are smaller than the particles of cement. Flexural strength, durability, lesser shrinkage, higher chemical attack resistance, lesser permeability are some of the advantages of using metakaolin in various areas. Kaolinite has a low tendency of expanding and shrinking.

Demand Drivers in the Global Kaolin and Metakaolin Market

The construction industry primarily drives the global kaolin and metakaolin market. Kaolinite is a very commonly used mineral and kaolin is mined in countries like India, Korea, the UK, Iran, Germany, Pakistan, Bulgaria, France, China, Spain, Czech Republic and Australia. Kaolin is widely used in the production of paper. India and China have a significant number of domestic manufacturers of kaolin and metakaolin. Rising demand for construction items like cement, concrete, mortar, sanitary ware and tiles fuel the demand in the global kaolin and metakaolin market. Ceramics make use of large quantities of kaolin to heighten the features of ceramics.

Metakaolin is an eco-friendly component that is used in cement that helps to decrease carbon emission. The demand for metakaolin is likely to increase in the global market because stringent emission laws are being passed by the governments of several countries. In depth research and development in the application of bio-ceramics in endodontics will also fuel the kaolin and metakaolin market in the forthcoming years.

Major Players in the Global Kaolin and Metakaolin Market

There is high demand for printing and writing papers in developing countries like India, China and other Asian economies due to several initiatives being taken by the governments in these countries for enhancing the literacy rates. The rising demand for paper in these countries is expected to fuel the demand in the global kaolin and metakaolin market. The demand for paper is declining in Europe and North America because of higher consumer preference for electronic media and the internet. The limited demand for paper from these countries is not likely to drive the global kaolin and metakaolin market.

Ceramics are extensively used in various applications like vitreous clay pipes, vitrified tiles, sanitary ware, and floor and wall tiles due to features like higher durability, chemical inertness, high strength, and electrical resistance. These factors are likely to boost the demand for kaolin in ceramics. The demand for kaolin is also increasing due to the growing rubber industry which is driven by the automobile industry.

Due to greater construction activities taking place in Latin America and the Asia Pacific, the demand for concrete is also on the rise. The global kaolin and metakaolin market is a capital intensive market which is highly fragmented leading to low market concentration.
Some of the dominant companies in the global kaolin and metakaolin market are Quarzwerke, BASF, Kaolin AD, Imerys and Thiele Kaolin Company.