Feldspar Mining Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis By Type (Plagioclase feldspar and Alkali feldspar) and By Application (Glass, Ceramic, Fillers, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Feldspar refers to a cluster of rock-forming silicate minerals comprising more than 50% of the Earth's crust in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks worldwide. Ground and powdered feldspar are essential raw materials for manufacturing flat glass, container glass, ceramic products, paints, plastics, and others. Feldspar contains aluminum silicates with varying percentages of calcium, potassium, and sodium, the most profuse mineral in igneous rocks.  

The increasing demand for ceramic tiles is likely to propel the demand for feldspar mining. The growth of the ceramic tiles market depends on the rising construction expenditure, as the tile is one of the essential materials consumed in the construction industry. The construction industry is growing significantly, mainly in Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia.

• According to the International Trade Administration, China is the world's largest construction market and is anticipated to grow at an average annual rate of 8.6% from 2022 to 2030. Therefore, the demand for ceramic tiles increases with growth in the construction sector. As of 2020, China was the world's top ceramic tile manufacturer, producing about 8.47 billion square meters of ceramic tile that year.

However, the significant growth in recycling different end-use products may hinder the industry expansion due to the reduced demand for raw materials, including feldspar. The recovery of materials can lead to less expenditure on producing minerals from earth reserves. Besides, manufacturing ceramic and glass from recycled material causes a reduction in the usage of fluxing agent feldspar.

The COVID-19 pandemic witnessed a decline in feldspar mining activities and ongoing projects were also delayed due to government regulations. Furthermore, the import & export was halted due to COVID-19 outspread, resulting in supply chain disruption. The primary consumer of feldspar was China, severely affected by the pandemic. A huge demand downfall across China led to the disruption of feldspar mining during the pandemic.

IMPORTANT INSIGHTS

The report covers the following key findings:

• Recent Advances in Feldspar Mining Market


• Key Industry Trends


• Regulatory Landscape in the Feldspar Mining Market


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

SEGMENTATION

ANALYSIS BY TYPE

Based on type, the global feldspar mining can be bifurcated into plagioclase and alkali feldspar. The plagioclase-type segment is set to hold a considerable market share due to its abundant presence and low cost, which will help catalyze its demand from glass and ceramic manufacturers. The type of feldspar is also widely adapted as fluxes to form a glassy phase in tile bodies, thereby promoting vitrification and translucency. Plagioclase feldspars have two distinct cleavage planes, and their crystal surfaces contain striations. Furthermore, alkali feldspar, a significant component of various igneous rocks, is predominantly used as decorative building stones. Alkali feldspars are rich in sodium and potassium but low in calcium. Various alkali feldspars are found in nature, including orthoclase, orthoclase moonstone, microcline (amazonite), and sanidine.

ANALYSIS BY APPLICATION

Based on application, the market can be segregated into glass, ceramics, fillers, and others. The glass segment will dominate the feldspar market during the forecast period. Glass is mainly used as a fluxing agent to lower the high melting point of leading glass-forming constituents, usually silica and alumina. Fillers are added to plastics for low mining costs and to enhance performance. Ceramics have high melting points and chemical inertness due to the high strengths of their primary bonds used in construction. The others segment includes a combination of clay and minerals used in pottery and artistic revelations.

• In January 2022, USGS stated that domestic feldspar consumption gradually shifted toward glass from ceramics. The growing segment in the glass industry was solar glass, which is used to produce solar panels.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The global feldspar mining market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific is likely to hold a dominant market share due to the rising mining industry in Southeast Asia. In 2019, Thailand was one of the world’s leading producers of feldspar, fifth-ranked producer and accounting for 5.2% of the world’s output. China is the largest and fastest-growing feldspar market in this region. India, Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia are other key regional markets.

In addition, North America is also increasing feldspar mining in the region. In the U.S., the largest feldspar-producing states are Virginia, North Carolina, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Dakota, and Idaho in descending order of estimated tonnage. The U.S. feldspar production in 2021 was estimated at USD 43 million. The two leading companies extract and process around 60% of the production; five companies supply the rest.

In Europe, the growth of feldspar mining is limited by strict government regulations. In 2021, the EU received 96% of its feldspar from Turkey, 98% of its nickel oxide from Russia, and 83% of its gallium and germanium from China. Further, in the Middle East & Africa, many countries are mining feldspar, but the production is less than in Asia. Ghana is a prominent feldspar mining country in the region. In Latin America, Brazil is the leading country in felspar mining. In 2022, Brazil exported USD 9.6 million worth of feldspar, making it the 21st largest exporter of feldspar in the world. In the same year, feldspar ranked 610th among Brazilian exports, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

KEY PLAYERS COVERED

The report includes the profiles of key players such as Adolf Gottfried Tonwerke Gmbh, I-Mineral Inc, LB Minerals, The Quartz Corporation, Imerys, Reade International Group, Sibelco Group, Stark Mineral Group, Quarzwerke Group, and Gimpex Pvt. Ltd.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• In May 2022, Imerys, a world's leading supplier of specialty minerals, signed a partnership with the BUCT Beijing University. The signed academic-industrial collaboration with Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) – Paris Curie Engineer School would open doors to international careers for young talent with valuable local insight and skills.