United States Clay Market Overview, 2030

The United States clay market plays a pivotal role in supporting the country’s industrial, construction, and energy sectors through its abundant reserves of kaolin, bentonite, ball clay, fire clay, and fuller’s earth. The country is one of the world’s largest producers of clay minerals, with Georgia leading in kaolin mining, responsible for nearly 90% of domestic kaolin production, mainly concentrated around the Fall Line region. Wyoming dominates bentonite output, particularly in the Big Horn Basin and Black Hills districts, accounting for over 5 million tons annually, much of which supports oil drilling and foundry applications. Tennessee and Kentucky remain critical for ball clay extraction, supplying ceramic and sanitaryware manufacturers, while Missouri and Pennsylvania host extensive fire clay deposits used in refractory products. Fuller’s earth, largely sourced from Florida and Texas, serves the personal care, absorbent, and filtration industries. Oversight and data collection for these operations fall under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which monitor land use, environmental restoration, and output volumes from federal and private lands. Industry regulation also involves partnerships with state mining departments and environmental agencies. Prominent industry players include Imerys USA, BASF Corporation, U.S. Silica Holdings, KaMin LLC, and Ashapura USA, who operate beneficiation plants, integrated supply chains, and distribution hubs across the country. Historical benchmarks include the boom of the Georgia kaolin belt in the early 20th century and the rise of bentonite as a key component in the mid-century U.S. oil boom. According to the USGS 2024 report, total clay production in the U.S. exceeded 25 million metric tons, positioning the country as a leading global exporter. Technical support and academic collaboration are fostered by institutions like the Clay Minerals Society, headquartered in Illinois.

According to the research report ""United States Clay Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the United States Clay market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 8.49 Billion by 2030. According to industry forecasts and USGS data, the United States clay market continues to demonstrate strong performance, supported by robust exports and diverse regional output. In 2023, the country exported approximately 1.6 million tons of kaolin valued at USD 527 million, with top destinations including China, Mexico, Japan, Canada, and India, reinforcing the scale of Kaolin Exports US. Bentonite exports reached around 800,000 tons, primarily shipped to Canada, Japan, and Mexico, while ball clay, fire clay, and fuller’s earth contributed smaller but strategic volumes, supporting niche industrial and absorbent applications. At the same time, imports of specialty ball clay and processed kaolin continue to support ceramics, sanitaryware, and paper industries in Ohio, Tennessee, and New York, while Texas and Louisiana drive demand from infrastructure and energy. The major drivers include federal infrastructure funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, active shale drilling requiring bentonite mud, and stable demand for ceramic tiles and packaging-grade clays. Environmental regulations such as updated BLM reclamation rules, EPA stormwater standards, and state-level silica dust controls have influenced clay mining operations and processing costs. Regionally, the Southeast, especially Georgia, remains the epicenter of kaolin mining mainly across the Macon–Augusta corridor. Companies like Imerys USA, KaMin LLC, and Thiele Kaolin operate large-scale beneficiation and export facilities. In the West, Wyoming dominates bentonite production, with over 5 million tons annually sourced from Campbell and Big Horn counties, supported by firms like Black Hills Bentonite and Halliburton. The Midwest, particularly Missouri and Illinois, supplies fire clay and ball clay, while Texas and Florida lead in fuller’s earth used for absorbents and cosmetics.

Kaolin clay is the most commercially significant, with over 6 million tons annually mined primarily in Georgia, concentrated in the Fall Line region across Wilkinson, Washington, and Twiggs counties. This white-firing clay is extensively used in paper coating, ceramics, plastics, rubber, and paint industries, with key producers including Imerys, KaMin LLC, and Thiele Kaolin. As Kaolin Suppliers USA, these firms maintain beneficiation plants and export networks serving both domestic converters and overseas buyers. Bentonite clay, extracted mostly from Wyoming, especially the Big Horn and Campbell counties, supplies more than 5 million tons annually, serving as a core component in drilling muds, geosynthetic liners, sealants, and iron ore pelletizing. Leading exporters like Bentonite Performance Minerals and Black Hills Bentonite drive the Wyoming Bentonite Export market, supporting shale drilling and infrastructure sealing projects. Ball clay, sourced primarily from Tennessee and Kentucky, is valued for its plasticity and whiteness, used widely in ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, and dinnerware. Companies like Old Hickory Clay Company and Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co. serve key customers in the Ball Clay in Ceramics USA supply chain. Fire clay, found near coal seams in Missouri and Pennsylvania, is ideal for refractory bricks and kiln furniture, with Missouri being a historical leader in high-alumina fire clay extraction. Fuller’s earth, abundant in Florida and Texas, is processed for oil absorbents, cosmetics, cat litter, and filtration media, supported by producers like EP Minerals and Oil-Dri Corporation. The others category includes mixed clays and specialty processed clays tailored for advanced composites, agriculture, and construction fillers.

In ceramics and sanitaryware, ball clay and kaolin are integral to the production of tableware, wall and floor tiles, toilets, sinks, and ceramic fixtures. Major ceramic clusters in Ohio, Tennessee, and New Jersey rely on domestic ball clay and imported blends for quality output, supplying brands in the Ceramic Clay Application US ecosystem. In the construction materials sector, clays play a foundational role in clay bricks, roof tiles, lightweight aggregates, and cement fillers, especially in growing urban zones and federally funded infrastructure projects. States like Texas, Georgia, and California drive large-scale demand for construction-grade clays in roads, housing, and public utilities. Oil and gas drilling, particularly in Texas, New Mexico, and the Gulf Coast, consumes vast amounts of sodium bentonite, which is essential for drilling muds, wellbore stability, and fluid loss control. U.S. producers in Wyoming export and distribute millions of tons annually for Clay for Oil Drilling USA, supporting both shale and offshore energy development. In the paper and pulp industry, high-brightness kaolin from Georgia is a key ingredient in paper coating, improving gloss, opacity, and print quality, particularly for packaging, label stock, and fine paper production. The Paper Coating Kaolin USA market remains one of the largest consumers of refined clay in the country. Beyond core sectors, clay is also used in rubber manufacturing as filler, in agriculture as pellet binding and soil conditioning, foundry sand as molding, sealants, cat litter, and cosmetic face masks. These diversified uses ensure steady demand across both high-volume industries and niche specialty markets.

In the construction sector, companies such as Glen-Gery, General Shale, and Acme Brick use fire clay, ball clay, and fuller’s earth to produce structural bricks, cement blends, wall panels, and precast building materials. With continued federal and state infrastructure funding, the Construction Clay Market USA remains a key growth driver. In ceramics and glass manufacturing, end users like Kohler Co., American Standard, and Dal-Tile Corporation depend on ball clay and kaolin for sanitaryware, tiles, and glass mold linings. Studio potteries, craft tile producers, and refractory fabricators across California, New York, and Oregon also form a thriving artisanal ecosystem within the Ceramic End Use Clay US segment. The oil and gas industry, especially across Texas, North Dakota, and the Gulf Coast, relies heavily on bentonite clay to formulate drilling muds that ensure wellbore stability, manage pressure, and control fluid loss. Leading energy firms like Halliburton, Schlumberger, and Baker Hughes use Wyoming-sourced sodium bentonite extensively, reinforcing the strength of the Drilling Industry Bentonite USA market. In the paper and pulp industry, major players such as WestRock, International Paper, and Georgia-Pacific incorporate high-brightness kaolin sourced from Georgia to manufacture coated print paper, folding cartons, and tissue packaging. Beyond these dominant sectors, personal care brands like L’Oréal USA and Neutrogena use cosmetic-grade kaolin and fuller’s earth in facial masks and skin treatments. Additionally, bentonite and fuller’s earth are used by firms like Oil-Dri Corporation for absorbents, cat litter, and agricultural pellet binding. This cross-sector consumption illustrates how U.S.-sourced clay supports a diverse range of downstream industries, from heavy infrastructure to consumer beauty products, reinforcing national demand resilience and production scale.

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