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[March 2008]
New Report Analyses Worldwide Feldspar Supply & Demand
A new Roskill report says that consolidation of the feldspar industry over the past several years has increased concentration in the hands of a few large companies. Six companies each produce over 1 million tons per year (mtpy) compared to an industry average of less than 100,000tpy. The six largest producers are Gruppo Minerali (3mtpy capacity, mainly in Italy), Imerys (1.5mtpy capacity, mainly in France), Esan Eczacibasi Industrial Raw Minerals (1.2mtpy), Cine Akmaden (1.4mtpy), Kaltun (1.4mtpy) and Unimin/Sibelco (1mtpy capacity, worldwide). Together they account for about 10mtpy of capacity or almost 50% of world production.
Economic deposits of feldspar are known in at least 70 countries with production currently undertaken in over 50 countries. Roskill estimates total production of feldspars and associated aplite, phonolite and China stone in 2006 at 20 million tons, plus 1.4 million tons of nepheline syenite used in competitive applications with feldspar. About 1mtpy of additional nepheline syenite for use in making alumina and for aggregates is also produced.
Once available only from Canada. Norway and Russia, nepheline syenite projects in a number of countries have been developed. Brazil, China and Turkey have brought nepheline syenite projects into production for feldspathic uses and Iran is doing a feasibility study for its use in alumina production. Nepheline syenite has also been used for some time in South Africa and the USA for road aggregates and roofing granules.
The market for feldspathic minerals is dominated by the ceramics and glass industries, which together account for over 90% of all material produced. Within these applications, ceramic whitewares and container glass are the most important, with ceramic glazes, frits, fibreglass, flat glass, dinnerware and other speciality glass making up most of the remainder.
In 2006, the ceramics industry consumed an estimated 14.6 million tons of feldspar and nepheline syenite or around 68% of total world demand. The most important types of ceramics in terms of feldspathic mineral consumption are floor and wall tiles, ceramic dinnerware and sanitaryware. The main centres of ceramics production are Italy, Spain, China, South East Asian countries and Latin America. The production of ceramics in these areas, and in particular Italy, Spain and China, has been the main driver behind the steady rise in feldspar demand seen over the past several decades, and will remain a major factor in future growth in the feldspar industry.
Demand for feldspar and associated minerals is forecast to increase on average at 5.5%pa to 29.5 million tons by 2012, with the main growth to be concentrated in South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. This will raise production levels by 38% over 2006 levels. World resources are more than adequate to meet this demand.
‘The Economics of Feldspar (11th Edition 2008)’ is available at £2400/US $5000/€4000 from Roskill Information Services Ltd, 27a Leopold Road, London SW19 7BB, England.
www.roskill.co.uk
ENDS