Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Pharmaceutical Grade and Industrial Grade), By Application (Plastics, Paper, Rubber, Paints & Coatings, Pharmaceuticals, Adhesives & Sealants, Inks, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global precipitated calcium carbonate market size was valued at USD 11.71 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 11.82 billion in 2024 to USD 17.31 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.9% during the 2024-2032 period. Asia Pacific dominated the precipitated calcium carbonate market with a market share of 54.82% in 2023.

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is a versatile chemical compound produced by reacting calcium hydroxide with carbon dioxide. It is a high-purity form of calcium carbonate manufactured under strict quality standards. PCC’s fine particle size and high purity make it suitable for various industrial applications. It finds a major application in papermaking, acting as a filler and coating pigment, improving paper brightness and smoothness. In addition, PCC is used in manufacturing plastics, rubber, paints, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals to enhance product properties and performance. It is typically used in pharmaceuticals as an excipient in tablet formulations, serving as a binder, filler, and disintegrate. The product ensures uniformity and stability in drug formulations due to its controlled particle size and excellent binding properties. Rising product demand from various applications is expected to drive market growth.

The market faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily in its supply chain. Lockdown measures and restrictions on movement disrupted the supply of raw materials essential for PCC production, such as limestone and chemicals. In addition, quarantine measures in mining areas and transportation constraints delayed or halted the procurement of these materials, impacting production.

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market Trends

Shift Toward Green Production Methods to Encourage Market Growth

The market is increasingly embracing green production methods to minimize environmental impact throughout the manufacturing process. This shift involves adopting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to power production facilities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and lowering carbon emissions. In addition, companies are implementing closed-loop water systems to minimize water consumption and wastewater discharge, promoting efficient resource utilization and environmental sustainability. This trend underscores the industry's commitment to sustainability and its recognition of the importance of minimizing environmental footprints. As technology evolves, further innovations in green production methods are expected to drive positive environmental outcomes in the market.

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market Growth Factors

Growing Product Demand from the Paper Industry is Driving the Market Growth

The paper industry relies on precipitated calcium carbonate as a critical additive, given its ability to enhance paper quality, product efficiency, and sustainability. These factors contribute to the consistent product demand in the paper manufacturing processes. PCC serves as a filler and coating pigment in paper production, improving paper properties such as opacity, brightness, smoothness, and printability. By incorporating PCC into paper formulations, manufacturers can achieve higher quality standards, resulting in papers that meet the diverse needs of consumers and various end-use applications. In addition, PCC contributes to process efficiency and productivity in paper manufacturing. Its fine particle size and controlled particle distribution facilitate smooth dispersion and uniform coverage during the papermaking process. This results in improved paper machine functionality, reduced downtime, and enhanced overall efficiency, leading to higher production yields.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Volatility in Raw Material Prices May Hamper Market Growth

Product adoption is influenced by volatility in raw material prices. These prices influence the manufacturing costs, price strategies, and profit margins of manufacturers and suppliers. The factors contributing to the price volatility are supply and demand changes, currency variations, geopolitical actions, and regulatory scenarios. Moreover, the calcium hydroxide produced by lime hydration is another raw material for precipitated calcium carbonate production. The lime production cost depends on factors such as labor costs, energy prices, and regulatory compliance. The price variations in energy or fossil fuels used in the lime kilns influence the production costs and profits. Hence, raw material price volatility is responsible for the decline in the precipitated calcium carbonate market growth.

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type Analysis

Industrial Grade Segment Held a Dominant Share Owing to Suitability for Various Applications

Based on type, the market is segmented into pharmaceutical grade and industrial grade. The industrial grade segment accounted for the largest precipitated calcium carbonate market share in 2023. Industrial grade type is used in various industrial applications that cannot contain impurities. This product type is subjected to quality control measures; however, it does not necessarily meet the same stringent purity and quality standards as pharmaceutical grade. It is commonly used in industries such as paper manufacturing, paints & coatings, plastics, rubber, adhesives, and construction materials. Industrial grade type has different purities, particle sizes, and other characteristics based on the requirements of industrial applications.

Furthermore, pharmaceutical grade is a high-purity form of precipitated calcium carbonate manufactured to meet standards set by regulatory bodies for food, drug, or medicinal applications. It undergoes extensive purification and quality control processes to ensure its suitability in pharmaceutical formulations, such as tablets, capsules, and suspensions. Pharmaceutical grade typically adhere to strict guidelines regarding impurity levels and particle size distribution to ensure safety, efficacy, and compliance with pharmaceutical regulations. Hence, the pharmaceutical grade is anticipated to grow significantly during the review period.

By Application Analysis

Growing Product Demand from Paper Industry to Augment Segment Growth

Based on application, the market is segmented into plastics, paper, rubber, paints & coatings, pharmaceuticals, adhesives & sealants, inks, and others. The paper segment dominated the market in 2023. Precipitated calcium carbonate is used as a filler and coating pigment in the paper industry. As a filler, the product enhances paper properties by increasing opacity, brightness, and bulkiness, improving printing quality and uniformity. It also contributes to paper strength and stiffness while maintaining dimensional stability. In addition, the product serves as a coating pigment, providing a smooth surface for better ink-holding capacity and sharper image reproduction. The product is critical in paper manufacturing, optimizing paper quality, appearance, and performance.  This, in turn, benefits the paper manufacturing industry and drives product consumption in the paper industry.

Precipitated calcium carbonate is a versatile additive in the plastic industry, driven by different factors. Its ability to act as a filler and reinforcement agent allows manufacturers to reduce material costs while maintaining or improving mechanical properties such as stiffness and impact resistance. This cost-effectiveness is due to the abundance of raw materials and its potential to replace more expensive polymer resins. The product’s role in enhancing performance, reducing costs, and promoting sustainability makes it a valuable additive in the plastic industry, driving segment growth substantially.

In paints & coatings, PPC is used as a filler and pigment to improve the opacity of color, ensuring uniform coverage on painted surfaces, particularly in applications such as architectural and automotive. Its role as a rheology modifier allows manufacturers to customize the flow and viscosity of coatings, ensuring proper application and film formation.

PCC is vital in adhesive and sealant formulations, driven by the increasing demand for high-performance bonding solutions across different industries. It acts as a versatile additive, serving as a cost-effective filler and performance enhancer in adhesives and sealants, boosting the product demand in the adhesive segment.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Regionally, the market is segregated into the Middle East & Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Latin America.

Asia Pacific is the leading region due to the high demand from paper and plastic industries. The region is home to a thriving manufacturing sector, particularly in China, which drives significant product demand. In industries such as plastics, rubber, and paints, precipitated calcium carbonate is used as a filler and reinforcing agent to improve mechanical properties and reduce costs. The growing production of consumer goods, automotive components, and industrial products is anticipated to fuel the product demand in manufacturing processes, driving market growth. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry in the region is expanding rapidly, driven by factors such as rising healthcare expenditure, a growing middle-class population, and an increasing focus on research and development. The product finds applications in pharmaceutical formulations as a versatile excipient, contributing to its demand in this sector and driving market growth.

North America is also expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. The pharmaceutical industry in the region is expanding due to aging population and increasing healthcare expenditure. Precipitated calcium carbonate plays a crucial role in pharmaceutical formulations as an excipient, contributing to drug delivery systems and tablet manufacturing. The demand for high-quality pharmaceutical products drives product adoption as an essential raw material in the pharmaceutical industry, thereby boosting the market growth in the region.

Europe is an automotive manufacturing hub, with major OEM companies operating in the region. These companies prioritize high-quality materials in various applications. The regions' focus on innovation and sustainability further fuels the adoption of advanced materials such as PCC in the automotive industry, consequently driving market growth in tandem.

The market growth in Latin America can be attributed to the rising demand from the construction industry. Brazil, Mexico, and Columbia are witnessing significant infrastructure investments, including roads, bridges, and buildings. The product is extensively used in construction materials such as paints & coatings and adhesives & sealants, boosting the demand in this sector.

The Middle East & Africa is characterized by significant infrastructure development and construction projects, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The product is incorporated into coatings, sealants, and adhesives used in building materials to improve performance and longevity. Therefore, the market in this region is expected to witness growth during the forecast period.

List of Key Companies in Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market

Companies Invest Heavily in Creating Better Technologies to Enhance Product Output

The competitive landscape depicts a consolidated market. Global players in the market have heavily invested in developing better technologies to improve product output. Superior operational efficiency achievement and novel technology development are the strategies used by market leaders for their growth. In addition, major players focus on acquisition and expansion activities to increase their market share.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Mineral Technologies (U.S.)


• Imerys S.A. (France)


• Mississippi Lime (U.S.)


• J.M. Huber Corporation (U.S.)


• ILC Resources (U.S.)


• Omya International AG (Switzerland)


• CANADA Chemical (Canada)


• GLC Minerals (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2023 – Minerals Technologies Inc. formed an agreement with the global paper company to upgrade the company’s precipitated calcium carbonate plant in Brazil by incorporating MTI’s NewYield LO PCC technology.


• April 2021 – Minerals Technologies Inc. signed an agreement with Zhumadianshi Baiyun Paper Co., LTD to construct a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate plant with 50 kiloton per annum capacity at its paper mill in Henan Province, China. This expansion helped the company serve its customers efficiently in China.


• April 2021 – J.M. Huber Micropowders Inc., a subsidiary of Huber Engineered Materials, acquired the Nutri Granulations business assets of IMCD US, LLC in California, U.S.


• August 2019 – Mississippi Lime Company Inc. acquired the Calera, Alabama, lime business of Covia. The business has operated for more than 60 years and increased Mississippi Lime’s operations to nine locations.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as prominent companies, product types, and leading end-use industries. Besides this, it offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation