Diatomite Industry

Diatomite Market Analysis

The Diatomite Market size is estimated at 2.12 million tons in 2025, and is expected to reach 2.73 million tons by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.23% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The Diatomite market was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as there was a slowdown in production and mobility. Lockdowns caused the halt of manufacturing additives, absorbents, etc. Currently, the market has recovered from the pandemic and is growing at a significant rate.

The increasing demand for water treatment applications is expected to fuel market growth.

However, the availability of substitutes for diatomite, such as expanded perlite and silica sand, is anticipated to hamper market expansion.

The growing demand for diatomite in the manufacturing of insecticides is likely to act as an opportunity for the market studied in the coming years.

North America region is expected to dominate the market with the largest consumption from countries such as the United States and Canada.

Diatomite Market Trends

Growing Demand of Diatomite as Filter Media

• Diatomite, also known as diatomaceous earth, is naturally occurring fossilized remains of diatoms. It is a very porous rock with a fine particle size and a low specific gravity. These properties make it useful as a filter media, an absorbent, and a lightweight filler for rubber, paint, and plastics.
• The high degree of porosity, combined with its low density and inertness, makes diatomite an excellent filtration medium, providing the ability to economically remove microscopically small suspended solids from large volumes of liquid.
• With the ever-increasing requirement for power across the world, the demand for diatomite is likely to increase in the future.
• Increasing health concerns over the consumption of freshwater have driven the market for membrane water systems in household water treatment for drinking purposes. Thus, increasing water treatment application is likely to boost the consumption of diatomite.
• According to the UN-Water, about 86.5 % of household wastewater flow is treated safely in North America and Europe. Still, less than 25 % is treated safely in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.
• In June 2022, China Everbright Water, an environmental protection company that focuses on water environment management, secured the expansion and upgrading project of the ZhangdianEast Chemical Industry Park Industrial Wastewater Treatment in Zibo City, Shandong Province. This project will be operated on a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, with a designed daily industrial wastewater treatment capacity of around 5,000 m3. Thus supporting the market growth.
• Hence, owing to the factors mentioned above, the application of diatomite in surfactants is likely to dominate during the forecast period.

North America Region to Dominate the Market

• North America region is expected to dominate the market for diatomite during the forecast period. The rising demand for water filter media with the growing population and technologies in developed countries like the United States and Canada is expected to drive the demand for diatomite in this region.
• The largest producers of diatomite are located in the North American region. Some of the leading companies in the production of diatomite are Imerys S.A, EP Minerals, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Showa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Diatomit CJSC, among others.
• According to the US Geological Survey, in 2022, the reserves of diatomite in the United States amounted to around 250 million metric tons. The presence of large deposits of diatomite in California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon makes North America the major producer of diatomite.
• Furthermore, according to the International Development Association, approximately 17% of the global desalination capacity was located in the North American region. This is expected to boost the consumption of diatomite in North America during the forecast period.
• Additionally, diatomite is being used very frequently as a pozzolanic additive in cement mortar and concrete; thereby, increasing investment in the construction sector will drive the demand in the region.
• Owing to the factors mentioned above, the market for diatomite in the North American region is projected to grow significantly during the study period.

Diatomite Industry Overview

The diatomite market is partially fragmented in nature. The major players (not in any particular order) include EP Minerals, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Showa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, Imerys, and Dicalite Management Group, LLC, among others.

Diatomite Market Leaders

Diatomite Market News

• August 2023: Dicalite Management Group announced price increases across its Diatomaceous Earth line. This is for all products produced in its Burney, CA, and Basalt, NV facilities.