Thailand is known as the second largest economy in The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Based on data released by the International Trade Administration, Thailand’s gross domestic product in 2021 reached up to USD513 billion. With a large market size, of course, many industrial sectors will be evolving in the country. Therefore, it is not surprising that the demand for kaolin in Thailand is very high to meet its large industry’s needs.

Furthermore, kaolin is a mineral widely used in various industries, especially rubber, plastics, cosmetics, paints and coatings, paper, ceramics, and many more. To get more in-depth insights into the kaolin industry in Thailand, consider the following review.

Market Size and Trend for Kaolin in Thailand

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Ceramics is the industry that uses the most kaolin in Thailand. Whether impure or pure, kaolin is the common raw material in this country. Aside from being widely used in the ceramic industry, kaolin is utilized in the paper, rubber, insecticide, and refractory industries. Indeed, this mineral’s market size is massive if you examine how many Thai industries utilize kaolin as their precious material.

Kaolin Sources in Thailand

Kaolin and Thai-related clay deposits can be found in these provinces: Uttaradit and Lampang in the north, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, and Narathiwat in the south, and Prachinburi in the center. Thai kaolin deposits are classified into 3 categories: hydrothermal, sedimentary, and residual deposits. But in practice, the hydrothermal one is the most important type of kaolin deposit in the country.

According to the type of deposit, hydrothermal kaolin deposits are mostly found in Pangka, Huai-pan, Haad Sompan, Bangrin, and Khao Changok. As for the sedimentary one, it can be found in Maethan, Ban Kuan Diak, and Khu Dindam. Meanwhile, the locations of residual kaolin deposits are in Todeng, Wangyang, and Khokmaitai. 

What’s more, ball clay kaolin is still at the top when it comes to the industrial-grade kaolin provided by Thailand. However, raw or washed kaolin is one of the industrial products offered in Thailand as well. 

Industries with The Highest Demand for Kaolin in Thailand 

The Thai industry’s demand for kaolin is enormous. However, the ceramic sector carries out the most significant use of kaolin. In fact, most of the imported kaolin in this country is widely used for fine ceramics. However, other industries, such as chemicals, paints and coatings, paper, and rubber, also use kaolin as their essential raw material.

Trade Activities of Kaolin Industry in Thailand 

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The progress of the kaolin trade in Thailand is rapid. In 2020, the country gained income of up to USD3.57 million from kaolin exports, making Thailand the 27th biggest kaolin exporter in the world. Thailand’s major export destinations for kaolin are China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Yemen.

Related: The Process of Kaolin Export and How Much It’s Worth

Regarding the import market, Thailand bought a lot of kaolin from Brazil, Belgium, and Egypt, from 2019 to 2020. It was recorded that in 2020, this country imported kaolin of up to USD27.4 million, making Thailand the 19th largest importer in the world. The country imports kaolin mainly from the United States, China, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Thailand even imported kaolin up to USD593,000 from Brazil to fulfill its industrial demands.

Related: Tips for Importers: What to Consider When Buying Kaolin Import

The Potentiality of The Kaolin Industry in Thailand 

This can be a promising business opportunity to consider, regarding the advancement of Thailand’s export and import market, especially for the kaolin industry. Above all, it should be noted that the Thai government has committed to focusing on economic development by promoting exports to major markets and expanding to unexplored markets. This policy will undoubtedly make more industries compete to create high-quality products in order to win the competition. In the end, it makes the industry’s need for essential raw materials such as kaolin continue to increase.

To ensure everything goes as planned, the Thai industry needs a high-quality kaolin supply to provide a better product. Of course, a great solution for that is to get an extra supply from a trusted Indonesian kaolin supplier. YUKAMI has more than 3 decades of experience in supplying kaolin to local and international customers. Ordering the best kaolin is no longer difficult because YUKAMI ensures its professional service can get you there.