China emerges as significant supplier

After a sharp dip in US output after the 1990 closure of Montana's Libby mine, world vermiculite production has recovered over the past decade and stood at around 590,000t in 2002. In the mid 1990s production averaged 500,000tpy and much of the increase since then has occurred in China, which accounted for at least 90,000t in 2002. In the same year South Africa accounted for around 38% of world production. The main South African producer is Palabora Mining Company, which operates a mine in Northern Province. This mine has been operating since 1946, with Palabora taking control in 1962. Production reached a peak of 224,000t in 2002 but declined to 173,000t in 2003. US production declined from an estimated 150,000t in 2000 to 100,000t in 2003. This decline is almost certainly related to the concerns in the market place over allegations that asbestos was contained in some vermiculite-based products. Other leading producing companies include Samrec in Zimbabwe, Uniao Brasiliera de Mineracao in Brazil, JSC Kovdorslyuda in Russia and Australian Vermiculite Industries in Australia. A number of new or reopened vermiculite operations are scheduled to come onstream in 2004, adding a potential 150,000tpy to global vermiculite capacity. If there is little or negative growth in demand as forecast, it seems unlikely that all these developments will come onstream at their predicted capacities. Alternatively, if they have low production costs, they may succeed at the expense of higher-cost producers elsewhere.

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