Bleaching Clay Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Edible Oils & Fats, Mineral Oils and Lubricants, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global bleaching clay market size was valued at USD 335.10 million in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 359.18 million in 2024 to USD 620.72 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominated the bleaching clay market with a market share of 52.55% in 2023. Moreover, the bleaching clay market in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD 102.66 billion by 2032, driven by the expansion of the refined and industrial edible oils industry.

Oils are bleached using a powdered substance containing surfactants. The powder is mixed with water and then added to the oil where unnecessary impurities are dissolved until they are extracted from the oil again, bringing with them the impurities. Up to three types of clay minerals are typically composed of bleaching earth: bentonite, attapulgite, and sepiolite. Natural and activated bleaching clays are capable of softly extracting the pigments, gums, and other compounds that can adversely affect the flavor, odor, and shelf life of edible oils.

The COVID-19 pandemic hampered industrial activities, affecting sectors, such as edible oil refining, petrochemicals, and cosmetics, all of which rely heavily on bleaching clay. However, as economic activity gradually resumed, the market recovered, owing to the resumption of manufacturing operations and increased demand for refined goods across a wide range of industries.

Bleaching Clay Market Trends

Dry Bleaching to be the Most Preferred Refining Process in the Market

Dry bleaching and wet bleaching are two common ways to use bleaching clays in the refining process. Dry bleaching, according to Alfa Laval, a world leader within the key technology areas of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling, is the conventional approach for bleaching oils and other liquids fatty acids. It is the most widespread in Europe and Asia.

Compared to wet bleaching, dry bleaching demands a significantly smaller initial expenditure. Owing to the usage of plate heat exchangers, which needless utility consumption, the maintenance costs are also considerably lower. The procedure is both simple and straightforward, requiring only a small amount of setup space.

Wet bleaching, on the other hand, introduces water into the process. Water improves the efficiency of bleaching earth, allowing for the use of less chlorine and a reduction of oil losses. Wet bleaching is appealing because of the reduced process costs, even though the start-up costs are higher.

Booming Food Industry to Drive Market Growth

The food and beverages industry is a significant driver of the market. As the global population grows and dietary patterns shift toward more processed meals, demand for vegetable oils and refined products such as sugar and syrups increases. This produces a significant and regular demand for bleaching clay in food production processes around the world.

Bleaching clay is an essential component of these purification methods. It serves as a natural magnet, attracting and removing impurities such as color pigments, off flavors, and undesired pollutants from oils and other food. This improves the quality, stability, and visual attractiveness of these products, making them more desirable to consumers. As a result, the ongoing expansion of the food and beverage industry is expected to drive bleaching clay market growth.

Bleaching Clay Market Growth Factors

Increasing Demand from Oil & Fats Industry to Drive the Market Growth

For food applications, fats and oils are used around the globe. They are used in honey, shortening oils, margarine, salad oils, cooking oils, and animal feed.

Food applications accounted for the largest share of the global intake of fats and oils. There is a large demand for refined vegetable oils globally. They have to be refined in order to eliminate impurities, both for commercial and health reasons, before refined vegetable oils can be safely eaten. A procedure known as bleaching includes the use of soil or clay bleaching. Vegetable oils contain pollutants that have a negative effect on the oil's performance, appearance, and taste. The oil must follow high-quality standards which require the removal of various impurities in order for it to be used in edible applications.

Asia dominates in terms of the global production of fats and oils. Indonesia is the top producer in the world and accounts for more than half of the world's palm oil supply. In 2020, China had a large share in the world's overall production of fats and oils. Because of its position as the world's second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia ranks third in world production. India also grows canola and butter in large quantities. Overall, Asia accounts for over half of the world's 2020 production of fats and oils.

According to OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2019-2028, in 2019-20, the per capita consumption of vegetable oil is projected to grow by 0.9% every year. This is substantially less than 2.0% p.a. during 2009-18. The per capita level of vegetable oil food availability in China and Brazil is expected to hit levels comparable to those in developed countries.

India, the world's second-largest customer and number one importer of vegetable oil, is expected to sustain a fast rise of 3.1 percent p.a. in per capita consumption, to reach 15 kg in 2028 per capita.

India is the largest importer and second-largest consumer of vegetable oil in the world. This significant growth would be the result of both an increase in domestic demand, resulting from the intensification of oilseed cultivation, and a further increase in imports of palm oil, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Thus, the above factors would boost the demand for edible oil & fats, which, in turn, is likely to accelerate the demand for this type of clay during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

EHS Guidelines for Vegetable Oil Production and Processing to Hamper Growth

The EHS Guidelines for the extraction and refinement of oils and fats apply to facilities that extract and refine oils and fats from a variety of plants, grains, and nuts. Canola, castor, cottonseed, mustard, olive, palm, palm kernel, groundnut, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, soya bean, and sunflower are among the vegetable oils covered by the EHS guidelines for cultivation and processing.

Activities in the production of vegetable oil contain large volumes of organic solid waste, contaminants, and by-products. The amount of waste produced depends on the nature of raw materials and on the efficiency of the processes. Waste, residues, and by-products can be used in the processing of economically viable by-products or in the generation of electricity. Other solid waste from the processing phase of vegetable oil contains soap stock and spent acids from the chemical processing of palm oil; spent bleaching earth containing gums, metals, and pigments; and deodorizer distillate from the steam distillation of processed edible oils. Thus, the environmental regulation governing vegetable oil processing would hamper the fuller’s earth market growth.

Bleaching Clay Market Segmentation Analysis

By Application Analysis

Edible Oils & Fats Segment to Lead Stoked by Increasing Usage in Production of Chemicals

On the basis of the application, the market is segmented into edible oils & fats, mineral oils and lubricants, and others. Natural and activated bleaching clays are used in a wide range of sectors, such as edible oils, biofuels, and paraffin wax. Brands such as ZAKURO® have impressive potency and are very effective in the purification of oils and fats prior to their final use. Palm, sunflower, rapeseed, and soya bean oils are the main vegetable oils used.

The other important application of bleaching clay is mineral oils and lubricants. Because of the reduction of friction by optimizing the operation of bearing surfaces, mineral oil-based lubricants are increasingly used in automotive applications. During the forecast period, this rising demand from the automobile industry will affect the market for mineral oil-based lubricants and propel growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Asia Pacific market size was estimated at USD 176.14 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2024 to 2032. The growth in the region is attributable to the rising consumption of vegetable oils. In addition, growing crop yields in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are pushing the production of vegetable oil in these areas, thereby leading to the augmented product demand for purification and refining purposes.

North America is projected to be the second-largest regional market. This rise is mainly due to the expansion of the refined and industrial edible oils industry. It is also anticipated that large-scale production of raw materials would boost the market. Also, the strong presence of well-established domestic and foreign market players such as Oil-Dri Company of America and EP Minerals, would fuel the market growth over the forecast period. North America is one of the main producers and exporters of both crude and processed edible oils. Refined edible oil processing requires the use of bleaching soil to eliminate toxins and other materials, thereby propelling the growth of the regional market over the forecast period.

Countries in Europe such as Germany, France, Spain, and the U.K. are also major contributors to the market growth. The main factors driving the demand are the increasing number of manufacturing bases, rising consumer disposable incomes, and substantial development in the automotive industry. Clariant is the major company operating in this region.

In Latin American countries, the production of oilseeds & rising living standards is expected to drive & to boost a growth in the region. MEA, on the other hand, is expected to account for a lower market share in the worldwide market for bleached clay, due to a lesser number of manufacturing bases coupled with lesser consumption of edible oils.

List of Key Companies in Bleaching Clay Market

Rising Adoption of Acquisition Strategies by Companies to Strengthen Their Market Shares

With the involvement of multiple large players and some global and regional small and medium-sized players worldwide, the industry is competitive in nature. These primary vendor-manufacturing facilities are fully integrated across the supply chain and carry out industrial operations ranging from mining to this type of clay production. With the growing acceptance of acquisition strategies by key vendors, the competitive environment in this sector is expected to increase.

One of the major producers, Clariant AG based in Switzerland has 25 production sites and 43 mines globally. The company’s bleaching earth production plants are in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Turkey, and Indonesia.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED

• AMCOL Minerals Europe (U.K.)


• Ashapura Group (India)


• EP Minerals (U.S.)


• Clariant (Switzerland)


• Musim Mas Holdings (Singapore)


• Oil-Dri Corporation of America (U.S.)


• Taiko Group of Companies (Malaysia)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• February 2020– Clariant supplies high-quality activated bleaching earth to the edible oil and biofuel markets in Europe and the Middle East and Africa. The company has an additional capacity on stream in Yuncos, Spain, that has extended its portfolio of advanced purification products for local customers.


• April 2019 – EP Minerals, LLC, announced that on June 1, 2019, it would launch a 3-6 percent price rise across all grades of diatomaceous earth powder, perlite, bleaching clay, adsorbent, and cellulose products, or will do so as per the current contracts permit.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global bleaching clay market research report provides a detailed industry analysis and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, products, and applications. The market includes insights into trends, competitive landscape, and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the growth rate of the market over recent years. It includes historical data & forecasts revenue growth at global, regional and country levels, and analyzes the latest market dynamics, and opportunities in the industry.

Report Scope & Segmentation