Market research

Kaolin and kaolinic clays market in Belgium

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Belgian market for kaolin and kaolinic clays showed considerable volatility in volume between 2018 and 2022. Starting at 848 thousand tonnes in 2018, consumption fell sharply to 624 thousand tonnes the following year, a drop primarily linked to a steep reduction in domestic production from 728 thousand tonnes to 300 thousand tonnes. A dramatic recovery to 856 thousand tonnes occurred in 2020, driven almost entirely by a collapse in exports to just 40 thousand tonnes, which kept significantly more material within the country. The market then contracted over the next two years, reaching 701 thousand tonnes in 2022 as export flows partially recovered while imports continued their downward trend.

Belgium maintained its position as a major global importer of kaolin throughout the period to 2024, though import volumes steadily declined from 766 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 422 thousand tonnes in 2024. The market's scale is sustained by demand from key industrial sectors such as construction, paper, and ceramics, which are influenced by broader worldwide consumption trends. Export levels remained highly variable, contributing to the overall fluctuations in domestic market volume.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2022
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2022
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Belgium
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2022, K t
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2022
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2022, K t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2022
    3. 5.3.1.3. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2022
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belgium, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belgium, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belgium, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belgium, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belgium by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production kaolin and kaolinic clays in Belgium

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

On a global scale, Belgium ranked as the 15th largest producer of kaolin and kaolinic clays between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of kaolin and kaolinic clays, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of kaolin and kaolinic clays, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Belgium produced 300 K t of kaolin and kaolinic clays, showing little change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 60.9%, with an average annual decline of 26.9%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 300 K t, which also saw the sharpest yearly drop of 58.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.1%)	(58.8%)	-	(26.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports kaolin and kaolinic clays from Belgium

Exports in kind, K t

Kaolin and kaolinic clays exports from Belgium declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports stood at 39.8 K t, down 89.2% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 94.4%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 61.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.4%)	(43.0%)	(89.2%)	(61.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (43.8% of exports by volume), Sweden (11.5%), and Finland (11.5%) dominated Belgium's export structure, together accounting for 66.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports peaked in 2018 at 180.5 M $ US, then fell sharply to 13.9 M $ US in 2020, a drop of 87.6% from 2019. The span from 2018 to 2020 saw a peak-to-trough amplitude of 13 times, with the largest increase recorded in 2018 at 0.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.2%	(38.3%)	(87.6%)	(57.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Germany, Finland, and Sweden remained the top markets for Belgium's exports in value terms, together taking 66.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports kaolin and kaolinic clays to Belgium

Imports in kind, K t

Belgium's imports of kaolin and kaolinic clays fell for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 595.6 K t, down 13.9% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 24.8%, with an average annual decline of 9.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.3%)	(9.6%)	(13.9%)	(9.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil was the dominant source for Belgium's imports by volume, accounting for 76.4% of total flows, while other markets made up a fragmented share.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Imports of kaolin and kaolinic clays into Belgium declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 81.6 M $ US, a 14.1% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 33.9%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 12.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.4%)	(17.8%)	(14.1%)	(12.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over the 2017-2020 period, Brazil (67.4% of imports by value), the United States (10.5%), and Czechia (9.4%) consistently led the import structure, jointly accounting for 87.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io