What should I request first when qualifying a kaolin supplier?

Ask for grade data that matches your use case, including brightness, particle size distribution, and abrasion. Then request a change control process so you know how feed and process shifts are managed.

How do I choose between hydrous and calcined grades for coatings?

Hydrous grades often support rheology and surface finish, while calcined grades can improve opacity and titanium dioxide replacement. Your choice should follow lab drawdowns and a real line trial under your drying conditions.

What are the most common supply risks for kaolin buyers?

Energy cost swings can disrupt calcination economics, and permitting delays can constrain mine extensions. Logistics shocks also matter because kaolin is bulky and often moved by rail and ship.

What evidence suggests a supplier can support battery related applications?

Look for proof of tight particle control, low contamination handling, and repeatable batch to batch consistency. Also check whether the supplier is investing in process stability and emissions controls for thermal steps.

How can I reduce switching risk when adding a second kaolin source?

Run a structured dual qualification plan with matched specifications and acceptance bands for critical properties. Keep packaging, handling, and moisture controls consistent so your trial results reflect the mineral, not the logistics.

When do substitutes become a serious threat to kaolin use?

Substitutes gain traction when cost or availability swings are large and performance requirements are moderate. Kaolin tends to hold better where brightness, opacity, or recipe stability are tightly specified.

Top Kaolin Companies - Key Players & More

Imerys

Financial performance in 2024 points to steady demand recovery and product mix discipline, with public reporting highlighting organic growth in its Performance Minerals activity and continued investment orientation. When regional construction slows, the company, a top manufacturer, can shift toward polymers, filtration, and other higher value applications to absorb the impact. The UK hydrogen partnership concept for kaolin calcining is an important decarbonization lever if it reaches commissioning targets. Energy cost volatility for calcination is the critical risk, which can compress margins quickly in fixed price contracts.

Leaders

KaMin LLC. / CADAM

Commercial moves in Europe are visible, since KaMin announced a 2025 agent partnership approach with Omya to support kaolin supply into packaging and paper applications, with KaMin taking more direct logistics responsibility. Using this structure, the company, a leading producer, can tighten service levels while reducing channel friction. Pricing actions in late 2025 also signal ongoing inflation pass through and continued investment intent in supply reliability. The key risk is sustained energy inflation in calcination combined with stricter environmental requirements, which can force repeated price resets.

Leaders

Quarzwerke GmbH

Sustainability signaling is becoming more visible, as Quarzwerke notes a 2025 EcoVadis Gold Rating milestone, supporting buyer confidence on ESG screening. By offering kaolin and quartz operations, the company, a major supplier, can deliver multi mineral contracts that simplify procurement for ceramics and paper groups. Quarzwerke emphasizes extraction, processing, and refining across a wide minerals portfolio, which supports operational resilience during demand shifts. Tightening local permitting and stakeholder management is the critical risk, which can slow quarry extensions and raise compliance spend.

Leaders

Sibelco

Reported 2024 results show strong momentum, with revenue up about 6% and EBITDA up about 14% versus 2023, plus ongoing decarbonization progress against a 2021 baseline. The company, a top player, can translate this cash generation into more reliable kaolin supply through maintenance discipline and selective capacity upgrades. The 2023 UK green hydrogen plan for Cornwood and nearby operations is directionally important for lowering calcination emissions if commissioning targets hold. Weather disruption and logistics fragility are the key risks, which can still create regional shortages during peak seasons.

Leaders

Active Minerals International LLC (J.M. Huber Corporation)

Ownership change is a near term pivot point, since J.M. Huber signed an agreement in May 2024 to acquire Active Minerals and fold it into its specialty minerals platform. As a major supplier with multi region mines and plants, the company can gain procurement leverage, yet integration missteps can disrupt service levels for kaolin customers. Tighter environmental scrutiny could raise site compliance costs, which then forces product mix upgrades rather than volume chasing. Execution drift during systems integration and leadership transition is the main risk.

Established

LASSELSBERGER Group GmbH

End use diversity is unusually broad, since the group highlights kaolin usage spanning automotive components and wind power station materials, alongside its core minerals and building materials activities. The group, a large integrated player, can stabilize kaolin output by balancing internal demand with third party sales when construction cycles turn. Regulatory exposure includes higher expectations for rehabilitation and biodiversity outcomes at extraction sites, which can raise long run unit costs. Western European customers asking for tighter provenance documentation is a realistic what if that would push investments in traceability systems. The critical risk is that kaolin competes internally for capital with tiles and building materials projects.

Established

Thiele Kaolin Company

Pricing actions in 2025 point to persistent cost pressure, as Thiele announced increases tied to higher energy, chemicals, labor, and logistics inputs. The company, a respected U.S. based producer, can extend reach through partners, and the 2025 distribution agreement with Calcit targets Central Europe coverage with added slurry preparation capability. Tighter mine permitting and water use controls in mature basins are likely policy constraints that can slow expansions. Stronger demand for ultrafine and calcined grades is a realistic upside case, while the main risk is energy driven margin volatility.

Established

Ashapura Group

India focused scale matters here, since Ashapura describes a large kaolin processing complex in Gujarat with stated processing capability and both hydrous and calcined grades. The group, a major player in multi mineral exports, can keep plants utilized by shifting volumes across end uses when any single sector softens. The 2024 to 2025 annual reporting highlights operational efficiency work and capacity expansion initiatives, which can strengthen delivery reliability. The downside case is that stricter mine approvals or coastal logistics disruption slow exports, which would raise unit costs quickly.

Performers

Gebrder Dorfner GmbH & Co.

A 2025 acquisition in the USA shows active portfolio expansion, since Dorfner announced it took over strategic business units of R. J. Marshall and integrated them into its North American subsidiary. The company, a leading vendor in refined fillers, can translate that channel expansion into stronger pull through for calcined kaolin solutions. Dorfner also emphasizes in house extraction and refinement of kaolin for applications such as paints and paper, which supports differentiation through process know how. Execution complexity across cross border logistics and customer transition timelines is the biggest risk.

Performers

Kaolin AD

Corporate actions suggest consolidation, since Bulgarian business press reported a EUR 4.0 million acquisition of a mineral processing firm by Kaolin in 2025. As a regional producer with multiple processing sites, the company can strengthen ceramics and construction customer coverage by integrating nearby assets and reducing internal transport miles. Policy risk includes tighter European permitting for quarries and tailings, which can delay expansions and raise restoration bonding needs. If tile production stays firm in nearby export hubs, a practical what if, debottlenecking would be rewarded. The main operational risk is integration of inherited receivables and legacy plant maintenance backlogs.

Performers

Keramost a.s.

Energy security investments stand out, with Keramost listing 2024 LPG storage construction and 2025 photovoltaic installations on buildings. The company, a Central European kaolin operator, can use those upgrades to reduce outage exposure and improve cost predictability under volatile gas pricing. The 2023 merger with KERAKAOLIN also suggests a push for scale and simpler governance. The downside case is that stricter water discharge limits raise treatment costs and slow throughput. Demand cyclicality tied to ceramics and building activity remains the key risk.

Performers

LB MINERALS, Ltd.

Operational breadth is concentrated in the Czech Republic, where the company describes management of many mining areas and supplies kaolin into ceramics, paper, and other applications. The firm, a key participant in Central Europe, can benefit from shorter delivery routes into tile clusters, yet it remains exposed to electricity and drying costs. Mine site approvals and recultivation obligations are the policy pressure points, which can tighten with EU enforcement. Stronger pull from glass fiber grades is a realistic upside case, while the main operational risk is quality drift if ore variability rises faster than blending capability.

Performers

20 Microns

Recent public disclosures show steady top line growth through mid 2025, which supports continued investment capacity for mineral processing lines in India. As a regional specialist in performance minerals, the company can still face margin pressure when power and freight costs rise faster than selling prices. Faster adoption of higher purity white mineral grades in coatings and plastics is a practical upside case, while permitting delays would slow any capacity add. The key operating risk is working capital strain if customers extend payment terms during construction slowdowns.

Aspirants

BASF SE

Exit dynamics still shape today's footprint, because BASF's 2023 financial notes describe the kaolin minerals business as already derecognized, with a disposal loss adjustment recorded in 2023. As a diversified chemical group, BASF can remain relevant to kaolin buyers only indirectly, mainly through adjacent additives and formulation know how rather than direct clay supply. Higher scrutiny on lifecycle emissions across coatings and paper value chains is the most plausible what if scenario, which could shift procurement toward lower carbon mineral inputs. Buyer confusion is the key risk if legacy references persist while supply capability is no longer active.

Aspirants

Burgess Pigment Company

Product positioning is centered on kaolin based pigments for paints, rubber, plastics, and related uses, with an established quality posture on its own site. The business, a niche focused firm, can win on technical support and grade consistency, yet it has less buffer against energy and freight shocks than larger multi site operators. The 2024 to 2025 SDS update cycle signals ongoing compliance upkeep, which matters as hazard communication rules tighten. Higher titanium dioxide replacement demand is a realistic upside case, while a plant outage remains the critical operational risk.

Aspirants

EICL

Financial resilience appears mixed but improving, since the FY 2024 to 2025 directors report references its kaolin focused subsidiary in Bhuj with higher net sales and improved profit versus the prior year. The firm, a smaller producer, can still defend customer relationships through tailored grades and local service in India. Tighter mine rehabilitation rules are the likely regulatory pressure point, which can raise sustaining capex and delay new pits. If ceramic demand stays strong while paper grades weaken, a practical what if, it may force faster product requalification work. The main risk is cash stress if receivables stretch during demand swings.

Aspirants

I-Minerals Inc.

Capital constraints define near term optionality, since the company's updates emphasize project development and a 2023 closing tied to its US operating structure. The firm, a small developer, can still matter to buyers if it proves consistent pilot output quality for specialty kaolin and related minerals. Permitting and water management are policy exposures, which can extend timelines and raise pre production spend. If battery and construction additive customers request local North American sources, a realistic what if, financing prospects could improve. The main operational risk is schedule slippage that triggers repeated re engineering cycles.

Aspirants

Tokai Clay Industry Co., Ltd.

Channel evidence suggests a limited but real footprint in specialty processing, since a Japanese agent describes Tokai Clay within ISO 9001 scope and references crushing and processing services tied to Tokai Clay. The company, a smaller specialist, can succeed by serving high consistency customers who value particle control and low contamination handling. Tightening dust and workplace safety expectations are the policy exposure, which can require incremental investment in enclosed milling systems. Higher demand for fine milled grades in plastics and electronics adjacent applications is a realistic what if. The key risk is constrained transparency for global buyers seeking audited ESG and capacity data.

Aspirants

Kaolin Companies: Leaders, Top & Emerging Players and Strategic Moves

Top 5 Kaolin Companies

Kaolin Companies Matrix by Mordor Intelligence

MI Competitive Matrix for Kaolin

Analysis of Kaolin Companies and Quadrants in the MI Competitive Matrix

Imerys

KaMin LLC. / CADAM

Quarzwerke GmbH

Sibelco

Active Minerals International LLC (J.M. Huber Corporation)

LASSELSBERGER Group GmbH

Thiele Kaolin Company

Ashapura Group

Gebrder Dorfner GmbH & Co.

Kaolin AD

Keramost a.s.

LB MINERALS, Ltd.

20 Microns

BASF SE

Burgess Pigment Company

EICL

I-Minerals Inc.

Tokai Clay Industry Co., Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology

Analysis of Leading Kaolin Companies