India Clay Market Overview, 2030

India’s clay market operates across a vast geography and mineral spectrum, marked by a diverse portfolio of deposits that support multiple industries. The country is among the world’s leading producers of bentonite and holds considerable reserves of kaolin, ball clay, fire clay, and fuller's earth. Gujarat accounts for a large share of bentonite extraction, particularly in Kutch, where swelling-grade bentonite is processed for drilling fluids, foundry applications, and export. Rajasthan, especially Bikaner and Alwar, remains a key source of white-firing ball clay used in tile manufacturing and sanitaryware. In eastern India, districts of West Bengal such as Birbhum and Purulia yield significant volumes of kaolin for paper coating, paints, and pharmaceuticals. Tamil Nadu also contributes to kaolin production, with state-level initiatives supporting ceramic-grade beneficiation units. Fire clay occurs naturally near coal belts in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, where it's used in brick kilns and refractory linings. Fuller’s earth, widely used in cosmetics and absorbents, is extracted in pockets of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Ministry of Mines (MoM) oversee policy, exploration, and extraction standards, promoting sustainable practices and data reporting. Leading companies such as Ashapura Group, 20 Microns, and Neelkanth Minerals dominate processing and export activity, particularly in high-grade bentonite and specialty kaolin. Industrial clusters across Morbi, Thangadh, and Khurja drive localized consumption linked to ceramic tiles, pottery, and sanitary fittings. The country’s growing export profile includes shipments to Gulf nations, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Trade fairs like the Indian Ceramics Asia Expo and government-backed mineral exploration programs further bolster market participation and technological adoption.

According to the research report ""India Clay Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the India Clay market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 1.67 Billion by 2030. The market growth is fueled by the expanding demand across ceramics, paper, pharmaceuticals, and oilfield services. According to trade data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India exported more than 1.2 million metric tons of bentonite in 2023, primarily to countries in the Gulf region, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, where Indian swelling-grade varieties are preferred for drilling and sealant uses. Meanwhile, ceramic-grade ball clay and kaolin also form part of export consignments, with major destinations including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Kenya. On the import side, India brings in high-whiteness kaolin and specialty clays from the U.S. and Brazil for use in coated paper and precision ceramics, especially in industrial hubs in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Rising construction activities and urban housing schemes have pushed domestic consumption of fire clay and fuller's earth for low-cost bricks, plaster additives, and tile adhesives. The pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors are increasing usage of refined kaolin and absorbent-grade fuller's earth, with demand further accelerated by growth in natural skincare products. Additionally, the oil and gas sector, led by ONGC and private drillers, continues to rely heavily on bentonite slurry in wellbore stability operations, particularly in onshore basins across Rajasthan and Assam. Government programs under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission are supporting mineral beneficiation and value addition, boosting downstream capacity. Ceramic manufacturers in Morbi and paper mills in West Bengal remain dominant consumption hubs. Regulatory updates from the Ministry of Commerce have eased customs duties on some imported clay types, further balancing trade.

Kaolin is mainly mined in West Bengal and Kerala, where reserves are processed for use in ceramics, paints, and as fillers in rubber and plastics. The white-firing grade extracted in these zones supports tile glazing, sanitaryware production, and paper surface coating, especially in plants located in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Bentonite, particularly swelling-type sodium bentonite, is found in abundance in Gujarat’s Kutch and Barmer regions. This clay is vital in drilling fluids, iron ore pelletization, and sealing barriers for waste containment. India ranks among the world’s top exporters of bentonite, shipping large volumes to Gulf and African countries. Ball clay, sourced predominantly from Bikaner in Rajasthan and Neyveli in Tamil Nadu, caters to ceramic tile, insulator, and sanitaryware units, thanks to its plasticity and strength. These deposits are particularly valuable for producing whiteware and wall tiles in Morbi and Khurja clusters. Fire clay, often recovered near coal seams in Jharkhand, is used in refractory bricks and linings for steel and glass furnaces, while fuller’s earth is obtained from central and western states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The latter is commonly processed for use in decolorizing oils, cosmetics, and as an absorbent in hygiene products. Additional mixed clay varieties are used in brick kilns, paint fillers, and agricultural amendments. India also imports processed kaolin for high-end paper coating and bentonite with specific gel strengths for niche oilfield uses. Domestic suppliers such as Ashapura Group and 20 Microns operate blending units to meet varying industrial specifications. Continuous investment in refining and classification plants has improved product quality, enabling exports to strict-regulation markets.

The ceramic tile sector stands as one of the most intensive consumers, especially in Gujarat’s Morbi belt, where ball clay and kaolin are blended to create tiles, sanitary fittings, and vitrified slabs. The cement industry relies on fire clay as a pozzolanic additive, improving durability and performance of blended cement grades, particularly in low-cost housing projects across eastern and central India. Drilling activities in states like Assam and Rajasthan employ bentonite for its lubricating and sealing properties, supporting both oil and water well operations. In the paper sector, kaolin is used as a coating and filler material to enhance brightness and printability, with paper mills in West Bengal and Maharashtra depending on both domestic supply and imported grades. Personal care manufacturers utilize fuller’s earth and purified bentonite in facial masks, cleansers, and exfoliators, with small-scale processors in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh supplying natural cosmetic formulations to Ayurvedic and wellness brands. In animal nutrition, clay serves as a feed binder and detoxifier bentonite and fuller's earth being key components in poultry and dairy feed mixes distributed across Punjab, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Clay is also incorporated into pesticide carriers and seed coatings in agrarian belts. Glass molding shops in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh use refractory-grade fire clay in annealing and furnace applications. Across infrastructure development, blended clay minerals contribute to geosynthetic liners, landfill sealing, and slope stabilization. The expanding industrial clay value chain in India is supported by diverse application sectors, each with distinct quality requirements and end-product performance metrics.

Construction companies use fire clay and blended kaolin as essential ingredients in fly ash bricks, cement formulations, and waterproofing compounds, with strong uptake in states implementing mass housing schemes and public infrastructure works. Tile and sanitaryware manufacturers such as Kajaria Ceramics, Somany, and Orient Bell operate expansive plants in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, relying on locally mined ball clay and processed kaolin to produce floor and wall tiles with varying porosity and finish. In the energy sector, oil and gas companies like ONGC and Cairn Energy use bentonite for drilling mud preparation, casing stabilization, and waste management in upstream operations across the northeast and Rajasthan. The paper and pulp industry uses hydrous kaolin in high-brightness printing and packaging grades, especially among mills in West Bengal and Kerala, often importing ultra-fine grades from the U.S. and Brazil to supplement local production. FMCG and cosmetics brands such as Himalaya, Patanjali, and Biotique integrate fuller’s earth into their skincare ranges for detoxification and exfoliation products, sourced from Rajasthan-based processors. Fertilizer firms and animal feed producers also rely on clay-based inputs like bentonite as pelletizing agents and nutrient carriers, particularly in agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Haryana. Refractory manufacturers and kiln builders use fire clay from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to line furnaces, crucibles, and incinerators serving metallurgical, glass, and ceramic plants. Artisanal potters in Khurja and Molela continue traditional uses of red and grey clay blends for decorative and utilitarian items.

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