The combined production capacity of PCC and GCC is estimated at more than 100 million tpa, with GCC capacity representing about 80% share of the total calcium carbonate capacity. GCC production capacity is located in around 70% countries across the world, which is an indication of the widespread availability of the key raw material, limestone and marble. China has a largest GCC capacity, followed by the US, Spain, and Norway. As against widespread availability of GCC production capacity of PCC is concentrated.

Table 1: Global GCC Market 2012: Percentage share breakdown of Production Capacity by Geographic Region.

Table2: Global GCC Market 2012: Percentage Share Breakdown of Production Capacity by Coutry- China, US, Spain, Norway, Austria, France, Germany, and Others

Table 3. Global PCC Market 2012: Percentage Share Breakdown of Production Capacity by Geographic Region.

Production output: China Leads the Pack

The production of calcium carbonate (GCC and PCC) continues to grow driven primarily by the growth of the paper industry. Asia is emerging as the hotspot of paper industry, with China in particular, witnessing a slew facility establishments by some of the world’s leading producers in recent times. With the demand rising from Asian Markets, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are emerging as new source nations for the supply of raw materials. On the other hand, Europe is also witnessing a shift in production activity, with Central European countries emerging as major production centers as region’s companies look to cut down on operational expenditure.

China has been at the forefront of the rise in production output for both GCC and PCC production of GCC commenced in the 1990s. and since then the country’s production has expanded rapidly. During the period 2008-2011, China’s production of GCC and PCC increased by above 8% with most of the output registered for dry ground calcium carbonate DGCC that finds use in plastics industry. The past decade has been witness to the establishment of several large-scale paper mills in China, which have also established satellite WGCC (wet ground calcium carbonate) plants that used locally available marble deposits.

Table 4. Global Ground Calcium Carbonate GCC Market 2012: Breakdown of Production Volume by Geopraphic Region (in 000 tons)

Source: Global Industry Analysits, Inc.