Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Prices in China

China Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Export Price in September 2022

In September 2022, the non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use price amounted to $358 per ton (FOB, China), declining by -10% against the previous month. Over the period from January 2022 to September 2022, it increased at an average monthly rate of +1.7%. The growth pace was the most rapid in February 2022 an increase of 17% month-to-month. The export price peaked at $417 per ton in March 2022; however, from April 2022 to September 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination: the country with the highest price was the United States ($529 per ton), while the average price for exports to Japan ($260 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the United States (+7.2%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Export Prices by Type

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major types of exported product. In September 2022, the product with the highest price was bentonite ($498 per ton), while the average price for exports of fireclay ($313 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for the following types: bentonite (+4.6%), while the prices for the other products experienced mixed trend patterns.

China Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Exports

In September 2022, exports of non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use from China contracted slightly to 110K tons, standing approximately at the previous month. In general, exports recorded a noticeable downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2022 when exports increased by 52% month-to-month. The exports peaked at 134K tons in January 2022; however, from February 2022 to September 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, exports of non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use contracted to $39M (IndexBox estimates) in September 2022. Over the period under review, exports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2022 with an increase of 74% month-to-month. Over the period under review, the exports of attained the peak figure at 45K tons in June 2022; however, from July 2022 to September 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

China Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Exports by Type

Fireclay (75K tons) was the largest type of non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use exported from China, accounting for a 68% share of total exports. Moreover, fireclay exceeded the volume of the second product type, bentonite (26K tons), threefold.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of export of fireclay totaled -1.6%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: bentonite (-3.9% per month) and clays for construction and industrial use (-3.5% per month).

In value terms, the most traded types of non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use in China were fireclay ($23M), bentonite ($13M) and clays for construction and industrial use ($3.2M).

In terms of the main product categories, bentonite, with a CAGR of +0.5%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced a decline.

China Non-Kaolinitic Clays for Constructional and Industrial Use Exports by Country

India (25K tons), Japan (12K tons) and the Netherlands (9.3K tons) were the main destinations of exports of non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use from China, together accounting for 42% of total exports. Malaysia, Croatia, South Korea, Taiwan (Chinese), the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina, Vietnam and Turkey lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 43%.

From January 2022 to September 2022, the biggest increases were in Croatia (with a CAGR of +53.5%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest markets for non-kaolinitic clays for constructional and industrial use exported from China were India ($7.2M), Malaysia ($3.7M) and Japan ($3.2M), together accounting for 36% of total exports. These countries were followed by the Netherlands, South Korea, the United States, Croatia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan (Chinese), Thailand, Argentina and Turkey, which together accounted for a further 47%.

Croatia, with a CAGR of +49.1%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform