Filtration continues to be the largest market for diatomite
World production of diatomite has averaged 1.95Mtpy over the past five years, with higher output in China and Chile offset by lower production in the USA, Spain and the closure of the Kisilidjan plant in Iceland in 2004. The USA and China continue to dominate world production, with future expansion in diatomite production likely to be concentrated in China. Projects have been proposed in Algeria, Armenia, New Zealand and Zambia, but Chinese output is estimated to show the highest growth in the near term. However, Russia could emerge as a producer of high-grade diatomite in the second half of this decade as foreign investment has been sought for the development of a recently announced 6.6Mm3 deposit in the Republic of Mordovia. Prospects for the development will be helped by the existence of a large potential local market, in both beer filtration and construction. Worldwide, filter aids account for 55-60% of diatomite consumption. Although diatomite has lost market share to CFMF processes in the wine industry, it is still considered the most effective filtration medium in beer and edible oil production, with 95% of commercial breweries worldwide continuing to use diatomite filtration in 2005. Growth in diatomite consumption in filtration markets is forecast at 1-2%py through to 2010, led by demand from Chinese and Russian beer producers. The key trends, issues and developments in the market are analysed in this major new report from Roskill. It provides a clear insight into the industry and its trends, and an authoritative analysis of the prospects for the future.
What the report gives you
- Independent, in-depth research and analysis
- Essential market intelligence for successful business planning
- Detailed survey of production in 40 countries
- Up-to-date profiles of over 38 producing companies and their activities, including Imerys, CECA, EP Filtration and Minerals, Showa Chemicals, Grefco and Dali Qingzhong Sci-Tech
- Forecasts for end-use consumption and world supply and demand
Report highlights
The diatomite industry is undergoing restructuring in 2005. Imerys of France has acquired World Minerals, by far the largest diatomite producer worldwide, with operations in USA, Chile, China, France, Mexico, Peru and Spain. EaglePicher Industries, the parent company of the second largest producer, EPFM, filed to reorganise under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in April 2005. EPFM could be divested.
Although the market for diatomite is estimated to remain stable in the short-term, the longer-term outlook may be less optimistic. Potential EU-wide classification of spent diatomite as hazardous waste would necessitate disposal in registered sites and increase utilisation costs.
Offsetting the current growth in filtration markets, is the continued fall in demand for speciality diatomite fillers. Fillers currently account for 15-20% of world diatomite consumption. In paint, diatomite is the most cost-effective flatting agent, while in polyethylene, diatomite acts as an anti-blocking agent. Concerns over health and safety issues associated with the free crystalline silica content of calcined diatomite, and the costs of installing necessary handling and worker protection systems, have resulted in substitution of diatomite fillers by talc or ground calcium carbonate. Some paint manufacturers have switched to natural diatomite grades, but others have reduced consumption or plan to eliminate diatomite from new paint formulations.
Reflecting the market pressures, diatomite pricing is very competitive and leading producers have traditionally discounted list prices to retain market share. US list prices range from below US$200/t for concrete grades to over US$450/t for some filter aid material. Over the past two years, leading producers have raised diatomite list prices three times, primarily reflecting higher energy costs, but also to offset rising freight, raw material and environmental compliance costs. It seems likely that diatomite prices will continue to rise in line with energy costs in the near future.
Table of Contents
1. Summary 1
2. Introduction, composition and properties of diatomite 4
- 2.1 Properties of diatomite 5
3. Occurrences and reserves of diatomite 7
- 3.1 Reserves of diatomite in North America 7
- 3.2 Reserves of diatomite in Central and South America 8
- 3.3 Reserves of diatomite in Europe 8
- 3.4 Reserves of diatomite in Africa 9
- 3.5 Reserves of diatomite in Asia 10
- 3.6 Reserves of diatomite in Oceania 10
4. Mining and processing of diatomite 11
- 4.1 Mining 11
- 4.2 Natural diatomite 11
- 4.3 Calcined diatomite 12
- 4.4 Flux calcined diatomite 12
5. Health and safety factors associated with diatomite 14
6. World production of diatomite 16
7. Production of diatomite by country and company 18
- 7.1 Algeria 18
- 7.2 Argentina 18
- 7.3 Armenia 19
- 7.4 Australia 20
- 7.4.1 ADE Environmental 20
- 7.4.2 Hudson Resources 21
- 7.4.3 Maidenwell Diatomite Australia Pty Ltd 21
- 7.4.4 Mount Sylvia Mining Pty Ltd 22
- 7.4.5 Unimin Australia Ltd 22
- 7.5 Brazil 22
- 7.5.1 Diatomita Ciemil 25
- 7.5.2 Cearita Empresa de Minera??o Industrial Ltda 27
- 7.5.3 Min?rios Ouro Branco 27
- 7.5.4 Diatom Minera??o Ltda 27
- 7.6 Canada 28
- 7.7 Chile 29
- 7.8 China 30
- 7.8.1 Celite China 32
- 7.8.2 Changbaixin Changbai Diatomite Co Ltd 33
- 7.8.3 Dunhua Diatomite Mine 33
- 7.8.4 Fusung Xintunzi Diatomite Mine 34
- 7.8.5 Huade Diatomite Filtrate Production Line 34
- 7.8.6 Jinshan County Caojing Chemical General Works 34
- 7.8.7 Longyang Co 34
- 7.8.8 Qingdao Chuanyi Diatomite Industry Co Ltd 35
- 7.8.9 Qingdao Qianhe Diatomite Co Ltd 36
- 7.8.10 Qingdao Sangxing Diatomite Co Ltd 36
- 7.8.11 Qingdao Taile Diatomite Co Ltd 36
- 7.8.12 Qingdao Three Star Diatomite Co Ltd 36
- 7.8.13 Shangdu County Diatomite Powder Processing 36
- 7.8.14 Shengzhou Diatomite Choiceness Corporation 36
- 7.8.15 Shengzhou Hueli Diatomite Product Co Ltd 37
- 7.8.16 Shengzhou Sanjiang Diatomite Concentration Mill 37
- 7.8.17 Tianjin Haixin Fine Chemical Factory 37
- 7.8.18 Yunnan Tengchong Filteraid Factory 37
- 7.8.19 Zhejiang Diatomite Manufacturing Plant 37
- 7.8.20 Potential diatomite producer 37
- 7.9 Costa Rica 38
- 7.10 Czech Republic 38
- 7.11 Denmark 40
- 7.11.1 Damolin 41
- 7.11.2 Skamol 42
- 7.12 Egypt 42
- 7.13 Ethiopia 42
- 7.14 France 43
- 7.14.1 CECA 44
- 7.14.2 Celite France 45
- 7.15 Georgia 45
- 7.16 Germany 46
- 7.17 Hungary 47
- 7.18 Iceland 47
- 7.19 Indonesia 49
- 7.20 Iran 49
- 7.21 Italy 49
- 7.22 Japan 50
- 7.23 Kenya 51
- 7.24 North Korea 51
- 7.25 South Korea 51
- 7.26 Macedonia 53
- 7.27 Mexico 53
- 7.27.1 Celite de Mexico SA de CV 54
- 7.27.2 Other mines and processing plants 55
- 7.27.3 Mexican trade in diatomite 55
- 7.28 New Zealand 55
- 7.29 Peru 56
- 7.30 Poland 56
- 7.31 Portugal 57
- 7.32 Romania 57
- 7.33 Russia 57
- 7.34 Saudi Arabia 58
- 7.35 Slovakia 59
- 7.36 Spain 59
- 7.37 Turkey 60
- 7.38 USA 60
- 7.38.1 World Minerals Corp 62
- 7.38.2 EaglePicher Industries Inc 64
- 7.38.3 Grefco Minerals Inc 67
- 7.38.4 Moltan Co 68
- 7.38.5 Oil-Dri Corporation of America 68
- 7.38.6 Other diatomite operations in the USA 69
- 7.39 Vietnam 70
- 7.40 Zambia 70
8. World consumption of diatomite 71
- 8.1 Consumption of diatomite by region 72
- 8.2 Future trends in demand for diatomite 77
9. Consumption of diatomite by application 78
- 9.1 Use of diatomite in filtration 78
- 9.1.1 Specifications for diatomite used in filter aids 83
- 9.1.2 Factors affecting the use of diatomite in filter aids 85
- 9.1.3 Use of diatomite in beer filtration 86
- 9.1.3.1 World production of beer 88
- 9.1.3.2 Leading producers of beer 90
- 9.1.3.3 Consumption of diatomite in beer filtration 90
- 9.1.4 Use of diatomite in wine filtration 91
- 9.1.4.1 World production of wine 94
- 9.1.4.2 Leading producers of wine 96
- 9.1.4.3 Consumption of diatomite in wine filtration 97
- 9.1.5 Use of diatomite in cider filtration 97
- 9.1.6 Use of diatomite in fruit juice filtration 98
- 9.1.7 Use of diatomite in edible oil filtration 100
- 9.1.8 Use of diatomite in corn syrup, glucose and dextrose filtration 104
- 9.1.9 Use of diatomite in sugar filtration 106
- 9.1.10 Use of diatomite in water treatment 109
- 9.1.11 Use of diatomite in titanium dioxide production 110
- 9.1.12 Use of diatomite in pharmaceuticals filtration 110
- 9.1.13 Future trends in diatomite consumption in filtration 110
- 9.2 Use of diatomite in fillers 112
- 9.2.1 Specifications for diatomite fillers 114
- 9.2.2 Use of diatomite in paints and varnishes 115
- 9.2.2.1 World production of paint 117
- 9.2.2.2 Trends in demand for diatomite in paint 121
- 9.2.3 Use of diatomite in plastics 122
- 9.2.4 Use of diatomite in abrasives 125
- 9.2.5 Use of diatomite in agriculture 125
- 9.2.6 Use of diatomite in catalysts 126
- 9.2.7 Use of diatomite in paper 127
- 9.2.8 Use of diatomite in Portland cement 127
- 9.2.9 Trends in demand for diatomite in fillers 127
- 9.3 Use of diatomite in absorbents 128
- 9.3.1 Use of diatomite in spillage control 128
- 9.3.2 Use of diatomite in cat litter 129
- 9.3.3 Use of diatomite in soil amendment 131
- 9.3.4 Specifications for diatomite used in absorbents 131
- 9.3.5 Trends in demand for diatomite in absorbents 132
- 9.4 Use of diatomite in insulation 133
- 9.4.1 Trends in demand for diatomite in insulation 134
10. International trade in diatomite 135
11. Prices of diatomite 141
List of Tables
- Table 1: Chemical composition of natural diatomites (oven dried basis)
- Table 2: World: Reserves of diatomite by country, 2004
- Table 3: Properties of natural, calcined and flux calcined diatomite
- Table 4: World: Production of diatomite (including moler) by country, 1996-2004
- Table 5: Supersorb Minerals: Sales of diatomite, 1999/2000-2002
- Table 6: Maidenwell Diatomite Australia: Actual and projected diatomite production, 2000-2003
- Table 7: Brazil: Reserves of diatomite, 2000
- Table 8: Brazil: Production of crude and processed diatomite by state, 2001-2003
- Table 9: Brazil: Production and trade in beneficiated diatomite, 1994-2003
- Table 10: Brazil: Consumption of locally produced diatomite by application, 1999-2003
- Table 11: Brazil: Consumers of diatomite by application, 2001
- Table 12: Ciemil: Specifications for filter grade diatomite
- Table 13: Ciemil: Specifications for filler grade diatomite
- Table 14: Diatom Minera??o: Specifications and applications for diatomite grades
- Table 15: China: Reserves of diatomite
- Table 16: China: Production of diatomite by province, 2002/03
- Table 17: China: Exports and recorded trading partner imports of siliceous fossil meals (including kieselguhr, tripolite and diatomite) and similar siliceous earths, 2001-2004
- Table 18: Linjiang City Xing Hui Filteraid Company: Diatomite products
- Table 19: Longyang Co: Diatomite filter aids
- Table 20: Czech Republic: Production of diatomite, 1994-2004
- Table 21: Czech Republic: Trade in diatomite, 1994-2003
- Table 22: Czech Republic: Exports of diatomite by country of destination, 2003
- Table 23: Calofrig: Diatomite specifications
- Table 24: Denmark: Exports of siliceous fossil meals (including kieselguhr, tripolite and diatomite) and similar siliceous earths estimated from imports of reporting trade partner countries, 2000-2004
- Table 25: Iceland: Exports of diatomite recorded in the import statistics of trading partners, 2000-2004
- Table 26: Italy: Imports of diatomite by country of origin, 2000-2004
- Table 27: South Korea: Diatomite reserves, end-2000 (Gyeongsangbuk-do Province only)
- Table 28: South Korea: Production of diatomite by major operating mines, 1998-2002
- Table 29: South Korea: Supply and demand for diatomite, 1999-2002
- Table 30: South Korea: Applications for diatomite, 2002
- Table 31: Mexico: Production of diatomite, 2000-2005
- Table 32: Mexico: Exports of diatomite by country of destination, 1999-2004
- Table 33: Russia: Imports of diatomite by country of origin, 1999-2004
- Table 34: Spain: Production of crude diatomite, 1996-2002
- Table 35: Spain: Exports of diatomite by country of destination, 2000-2004
- Table 36: World Minerals: Diatomite mines and processing plants
- Table 37: EaglePicher: Typical chemical and physical properties of Celatom? filter aids
- Table 38: Grefco: Typical applications for diatomite filter aids
- Table 39: USA: Consumption of diatomite by end-use, 1998-2004
- Table 40: Permeability comparison of filter aids used in dewatering and precoats
- Table 41: Comparison of porosity of filter materials used in winemaking
- Table 42: Materials filtered using diatomite or CFMF
- Table 43: Typical properties of Celite? filter aids
- Table 44: Typical properties of Celatom? filter aids
- Table 45: USA: Consumption of diatomite in filter aids, 1998-2004
- Table 46: World: Production of beer by leading country, 2002-2004
- Table 47: World: Leading beer producers, 2004
- Table 48: Typical properties of CelaBrew filter aids
- Table 49: Effect of diatomite grade on chemical composition of filtered white wine
- Table 50: Diatomite filter aids for winemaking
- Table 51: World: Production of wine by leading country, 2000-2004
- Table 52: EU: Cider consumption per capita, 2000
- Table 53: World: Leading producers of orange juice, 1998-2004
- Table 54: World: Leading producers of concentrated apple juice, 1998-2004
- Table 55: World: Production of edible oils by leading country, 2000/01-2004/05
- Table 56: USA: Production of glucose, dextrose and HFCS, 1994-2004
- Table 57: World: Production of sugar by region, 1999/00-2004/05
- Table 58: Filler applications for diatomite
- Table 59: Typical properties of Dicalite? diatomite functional fillers
- Table 60: Typical properties of Celatom? diatomite fillers
- Table 61: Properties of extender minerals used in paint
- Table 62: Europe: Demand for extenders and fillers in coatings, 2001
- Table 63: World: Production and consumption of paints by region, 2003
- Table 64: World: Forecast production of architectural paints by region, 1992-2012
- Table 65: World: Leading producers of paints and coatings, 2004
- Table 66: USA: Shipments of coatings, 1994-2004
- Table 67: Properties of CelTiX?
- Table 68: World: Regional use of polyethylene by product, 2003
- Table 69: World: Leading producers of polyethylene, 2004 and 2008
- Table 70: World: Forecast regional use of polyethylene by product, 2008
- Table 71: Typical properties of diatomite used in catalyst carriers
- Table 72: USA: Consumption of diatomite in filler applications, 1998-2004
- Table 73: Specifications for diatomite used in absorbents
- Table 74: USA: Consumption of diatomite in absorbents, 1998-2004
- Table 75: Selected countries: Estimated consumption of diatomite in insulation, 2004
- Table 76: World: Recorded exports of diatomite including tripolite and kieselguhr, by leading exporting country, 2000-2004
- Table 77: World: Export trade flows for diatomite and moler recorded by leading exporting country, 2004
- Table 78: World: Recorded imports of diatomite, including moler, tripolite and kieselguhr, by leading importing country, 2000-2004
- Table 79: World: Import trade flows for diatomite and moler recorded by leading importing country, 2004
- Table 80: UK: Prices of US filter aid grade diatomite, 1971-2005
- Table 81: USA: Average values of diatomite sold or used by end-use, 1990-2004
- Table 82: Brazil: Average values of processed diatomite by end-use, 1999-2003
- Table 83: Average values of significant trade flows for diatomite exports, 2000-2004
- Table 84: Average values of significant trade flows for diatomite imports, 2000-2004
- Table 85: China: Published prices of diatomite produced by Qingdao Qianhe Diatomite, 2004-2005
List of Figures
- Figure 1: Chile: Diatomite production, 1990-2003
- Figure 2: France: Exports of diatomite by destination, 2004
- Figure 3: Germany: Trends in imports of diatomite, 1999-2004
- Figure 4: Germany: Average values of imports of diatomite by country of origin, 1999-2004
- Figure 5: USA: Production of diatomite, 1990-2004
- Figure 6: EaglePicher: Celatom? grades, showing permeability (Darcy)
- Figure 7: World: Estimated consumption of diatomite (including moler) by end-use, 2004
- Figure 8: World: Estimated consumption of diatomite (excluding moler) by end-use, 2004
- Figure 9: USA: Diatomite sold or used by end-use, 1998-2004
- Figure 10: Brazil: Consumption of diatomite by end-use, 1998-2003
- Figure 11: EU: Consumption of diatomite by end-use, 2002
- Figure 12: France: Consumption of diatomite by end-use, 1999
- Figure 13: Japan: Consumption of diatomite by end-use, late 1990s
- Figure 14: USA: Consumption of diatomite(1) in filtration, 1993-2004
- Figure 15: Typical particle size distribution of filter grade diatomite used in winemaking
- Figure 16: World: Production of wine by leading country, 2004
- Figure 17: USA: Production of HFCS, glucose and dextrose, 1992-2003
- Figure 18: EU: Estimated sales of paint by type, 2003
- Figure 19: Eastern and Central Europe: Demand for paints by country, 2004
- Figure 20: Japan: Production of paint, 1994-2003
- Figure 21: Europe: Lightweight cat litter market by product, 2003
- Figure 22: USA: Exports of diatomite by region, 2004
- Figure 23: UK: Prices of US filter aid grade diatomite, 1971-2005
- Figure 24: USA: Average annual values of diatomite by end-use, 1990-2004


















