Imerys gains majority share in Vale's Kaolin Operation

Aug. 6, 2010 - On July 30, Imerys had announced that it had acquired a majority stake in one of Vale's two kaolin operations, which further consolidates the group of leading kaolin producers. Now just seven producing companies, compared with 12 in 1990 and 15 in 1980.Initially, Imerys concentrated its paper-coating kaolin supply base in Brazil by switching production from south-west UK to its Imerys Rio Capim Caulim operations in Par state with a capacity of 1.

6m. tpa. Now the group has reinforced its Brazilian kaolin portfolio with an 86.1% stake in neighbour Par Pigmentos SA, with a capacity of about 400,000 tpa. Vale is likely to divest its other kaolin asset, CADAM, producing in Amap , also in north Brazil, which may see further consolidation to perhaps just six producing kaolin companies worldwide.