China Clay Market Overview, 2030

China dominates the global clay market as one of its most prolific producers and exporters, leveraging vast mineral reserves and diversified provincial zones. Major clay types including kaolin, bentonite, fire clay, and ball clay are mined and processed across Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Inner Mongolia, each region contributing specialized grades tailored to industrial needs. Guangxi’s bentonite supports drilling and environmental applications, while Jiangxi and Fujian are world-renowned for high-quality kaolin that feeds both ceramics and paper-coating industries. Historic centers like Jingdezhen in Jiangxi continue an unbroken tradition of porcelain excellence dating back centuries, combining artisanal techniques with modern production systems. Regulatory oversight by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) ensures responsible land access, reclamation, and resource mapping, while provincial bureaus manage local licensing and environmental protection protocols. Major producers include Maoming Petrochemical, which integrates bentonite into drilling muds and catalysts, Longyan Kaolin Group, a key supplier for ceramic and filler applications, and numerous state-owned mining firms that dominate large-scale extraction in Inner Mongolia’s yellow clay zones. China maintains a robust export profile, shipping clay products globally to markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa through major ports such as Shanghai, Xiamen, and Tianjin. Its position is reinforced by domestic demand from tile, sanitaryware, paper, building materials, and oilfield industries, all of which rely on a ready supply of mineral grades tailored to specific technical characteristics. Efforts by the MNR to upgrade processing technologies and improve environmental compliance reflect China’s goal to enhance product quality while managing geopolitical supply chains.

According to the research report ""China Clay Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the China Clay market is anticipated to grow at more than 3.11% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. China remains a leading force in the global clay industry, producing over 3.5 million tons of kaolin and approximately 6 million tons of bentonite annually, according to USGS and Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources data. This substantial output supports strong domestic demand and a wide-reaching export network. Trade records from UN Comtrade and China Customs indicate that the country exported over 850,000 tons of kaolin in 2023, primarily to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and South Korea, serving regional ceramic and filler markets. Conversely, despite large reserves, China imports high-purity refined kaolin and sodium bentonite from Australia and the United States, particularly for specialized paper, paint, and drilling applications that require tight technical specifications. Within its domestic economy, the clay market is driven by expanding urban infrastructure projects, a resurging real estate sector, and growing sanitaryware production hubs in Guangdong, Shandong, and Fujian. The ceramic industry continues to consume vast volumes of kaolin and ball clay, with kiln operations in Jingdezhen, Foshan, and Zibo driving demand for consistently graded raw material. In parallel, bentonite consumption is high in the oilfield and environmental engineering sectors, including landfill sealing and wastewater treatment. The pulp and paper industry in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces accounts for sustained use of kaolin as a coating agent to enhance surface smoothness and print performance. Additionally, state-led industrial clusters focusing on construction materials and eco-friendly manufacturing practices are promoting the expansion of blended clay use in tile backfills and advanced composites. These trends underline China’s dual role as both an export powerhouse and a massive internal consumer of industrial clay.

Kaolin remains the most widely produced, with key extraction hubs in Fujian, Guangxi, and Jiangxi, where deposits feature high alumina content and whiteness critical for ceramic bodies and paper coatings. The mineral’s brightness and particle size are tailored through advanced beneficiation plants, and select grades are exported as slurry or powder to regional markets. Bentonite, sourced in large quantities from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Gansu, plays an integral role in geosynthetic liners, drilling fluids, and iron ore pelletization. Sodium bentonite with high swelling capacity is preferred for oilfield applications, while calcium variants are common in foundries and civil engineering. Ball clay, though lesser in total volume, is heavily concentrated in Jiangxi and processed to meet strict plasticity and viscosity requirements in tile and sanitaryware manufacturing. The country’s industrial clusters prioritize low-carbon tile production using blended ball clay and kaolin. Fire clay, extracted from coal-bearing strata in Shanxi and Sichuan, is vital for shaping heat-resistant bricks and kiln furniture required in metallurgy and ceramics. Fuller’s earth, while not widely commercialized, is tapped from limited zones in Henan and Yunnan and refined for use in bleaching oils, cosmetics, and absorbent materials. The others category includes mixed sedimentary clays used in regional construction materials and agriculture, particularly in central and southwestern provinces. Importantly, not all clay types are self-sufficient domestically, China supplements certain high-spec grades through imports for refining and export blending. Product certification for industrial use often follows provincial guidelines and standards aligned with China National Light Industry Council.

In ceramic manufacturing, high-grade kaolin and ball clay is core to producing floor tiles, tableware, and porcelain, especially in hubs like Foshan, Jingdezhen, and Zibo, where large-scale kilns rely on precise clay formulations for glazing and body strength. In the construction segment, blended fire clay and sedimentary clays are molded into bricks, cement additives, and wall blocks, with widespread use in urban development projects across inland and coastal provinces. For drilling operations, bentonite serves as a crucial additive in oil and gas exploration fluids, enabling wellbore stability, debris suspension, and cooling particularly in inland fields managed by CNPC and Sinopec in Xinjiang and Heilongjiang. In the pulp and paper sector, ultrafine kaolin enhances surface smoothness and printability, with consumption centered around large-scale mills in Zhejiang and Jiangsu that manufacture packaging, coated sheets, and commercial print paper. Beyond mainstream sectors, specialty clay forms support applications in agricultural soil conditioning, animal feed binders, and controlled-release fertilizer coatings, especially in provinces like Hunan and Hubei where agrochemical producers operate. In cosmetics and personal care, refined fuller’s earth and light kaolin grades are used in facial masks, scrubs, and powder-based formulations, manufactured by local brands targeting domestic beauty consumers. The chemical and rubber industries also rely on treated clays as fillers and processing aids, particularly in manufacturing zones near Guangzhou and Qingdao. This multi-channel utilization of clay reflects China’s vertically integrated model, where mined resources are refined and allocated directly into domestic production pipelines with little waste.

The construction sector absorbs substantial quantities of fire clay and blended clays in the production of bricks, wall panels, and concrete modifiers used in both commercial and residential expansion projects, particularly in high-growth regions like Sichuan and Guangdong. Tile producers represent a key group of industrial users, with companies based in Foshan and other Pearl River Delta clusters consuming vast volumes of kaolin and ball clay to produce polished tiles, floor ceramics, and facade panels that serve both domestic markets and exports across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Oilfield service firms, including subsidiaries of Sinopec and CNPC, utilize processed bentonite in deep-well drilling operations and enhanced oil recovery setups especially in Xinjiang and offshore basins. In the pulp and paper segment, major manufacturers in Shandong and Zhejiang use ultrafine kaolin to enhance brightness, opacity, and print performance of packaging, coated board, and publication-grade papers. Cosmetic brands targeting the growing personal care market deploy fuller’s earth and cosmetic-grade kaolin in face packs, scrubbing creams, and dry shampoo powders, a trend bolstered by the rise of domestic beauty labels and wellness startups in cities like Hangzhou and Shanghai. Additionally, clay minerals are used in fertilizer formulations and feed additives by agricultural cooperatives and agrochemical processors in Hubei and Henan, helping to improve soil properties and feed stability. Specialized applications include fire-resistant coatings, filler material for insulation panels, and waste treatment absorbents, with a growing shift toward value-added clay modifications in Zhejiang’s industrial parks.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Clay Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• Kaolin Clay
• Bentonite Clay
• Ball Clay
• Fire Clay
• Fuller’s earth
• Others

By Application
• Ceramics & Sanitaryware
• Construction Materials
• Oil & Gas Drilling
• Paper & Pulp
• Others

By End User
• Construction
• Ceramics & Glass
• Oil & Gas
• Paper & Pulp
• Others Show more