Kaolin Price & Market Intelligence
Assessment last updated 2025-11 ยท reassessed against supplier offers and lane data
Reference FOB, CIF and delivered market prices for Kaolin imported into the GCC. Grade-level specifications, HS codes, producing origins and typical packaging โ sourced from Tradloc's verified market database.
| Grade | FOB USD/MT | HS code | 12-month change | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Coating | $180โ320 | 250700 | +1.8% | 2025-11 |
| Ceramic Grade | $120โ220 | 250700 | +1.5% | 2025-11 |
Paper Coating
- Purity / Spec:
- Brightness โฅ88
- Form:
- Fine powder
- Packaging:
- 25 kg Bag, Jumbo Bag
- MOQ:
- 20 MT
- Producing countries:
- China, India, USA, Brazil
- Applications:
- Paper coating, Paints, Ceramics
Ceramic Grade
- Purity / Spec:
- Al2O3 โฅ35%
- Form:
- Lump / powder
- Packaging:
- Jumbo Bag
- MOQ:
- 25 MT
- Producing countries:
- India, China, Ukraine
- Applications:
- Sanitaryware, Tiles, Porcelain
- CAS Number:
- 1332-58-7
- Also known as:
- china clay
- Category:
- Mineral
- Common applications:
- Paper coating, Paints, Ceramics, Sanitaryware, Tiles, Porcelain
Kaolin currently trades in a reference FOB band of USD 180โ320 per metric tonne, a spread of roughly 44% between the lowest and highest quoted origins. The width of that band is driven mainly by grade (Paper Coating, Ceramic Grade), loading origin, packaging format and order size. On a CIF basis into GCC ports, ocean freight, bunker surcharges and destination terminal handling typically add a further layer on top of FOB, and duty plus VAT are applied at the port of entry. Tradloc refreshes these reference ranges from supplier offers and lane data, so use them as a negotiation baseline rather than a settled contract price.
Commercial cargoes of Kaolin reaching the GCC are sourced primarily from China, India, USA, Brazil, Ukraine. Saudi Arabia and the UAE take the bulk of GCC volumes for cement, glass, ceramics and drilling applications, with Oman and Iraq importing for industrial and oilfield use. Origin choice materially changes delivered cost: shorter lanes from India, Iran and the wider Middle East usually land cheaper on freight but can carry tighter grade availability, while Far East and European origins often offer wider specification choice at higher freight and longer transit.
Kaolin is normally classified under HS 250700. GCC members apply the Unified Customs Tariff, so the same heading generally applies across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, with Iraq operating its own tariff schedule. Confirm the final code with your customs broker against the exact specification, purity and packaging on the commercial invoice, because a change of grade can shift the subheading and the duty rate that applies.
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