Kaolin's role and geographical focus have shifted significantly, and have helped to shape the market's development in recent years, and will continue to do so. But the big question is whether the global paper downturn is solely related to the struggling global economy, or a permanent contraction. THE WORLD kaolin industry is dominated by its use in paper coating, and the main kaolin production centres of the USA, Brazil, and the UK However, it is by no means stagnant - Chinese demand is expected to soar; providing more growth opportunities. Brazil is already booming and is a very important player owing to logistics and quality issues, and its influence will continue to grow rapidly. But the big question is whether the global paper downturn is solely related to the struggling global economy, or a permanent contraction. If it is the latter; then the kaolin industry has some soul searching to do. The loss of market share to carbonates in paper has now largely matured, with kaolin having assumed less of a commodity and more of a functional, added-value role, often together with carbonates in a symbiotic partnership of brightness and gloss. This so-called "co-pigment" approach is something the producers have worked hard at developing technically, and promoting to consumers.
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