Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder
Industry PositionFood Additive (Anti-caking agent)
Market
Aluminium silicate used in foods is commonly referenced as kaolin and is traded globally as an industrial mineral that also has food-additive applications as an anti-caking agent (INS 559 / E 559). Global mine supply for kaolin is geographically diversified, with production reported across major industrial-mineral producers including China, the United States, India, Turkey, Brazil and others. In merchandise trade statistics for kaolin (HS 250700), leading exporters by value in 2024 included the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Brazil and Germany, while major importing markets included China, Italy, Germany, Japan and Mexico. Market access is strongly conditioned by jurisdiction-specific additive permissions and purity/specification requirements, and by buyer scrutiny around aluminium-containing additives and contaminant controls.
Major Producing Countries- 중국Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin (clays summary with world mine production table including a kaolin column).
- 미국Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin; also a leading exporter in 2024 HS 250700 trade statistics.
- 인도Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin.
- 터키Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin; also present among exporters in 2024 HS 250700 trade statistics.
- 브라질Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin; also a leading exporter in 2024 HS 250700 trade statistics.
- 우즈베키스탄Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin; also present among exporters in 2024 HS 250700 trade statistics.
- 이란Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin.
- 러시아Reported by USGS among countries producing kaolin.
Major Exporting Countries- 미국Top exporter by value in 2024 for HS 250700 (kaolin and other kaolinic clays) in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 영국Among top exporters by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 중국Among top exporters by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 브라질Among top exporters by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 독일Among top exporters by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
Major Importing Countries- 중국Among top importers by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 이탈리아Among top importers by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 독일Among top importers by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 일본Among top importers by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
- 멕시코Among top importers by value in 2024 for HS 250700 in WITS/UN Comtrade view.
Specification
Major VarietiesKaolin, light (synonym for aluminium silicate; INS 559 / E 559 context), Kaolin, heavy (synonym for aluminium silicate; INS 559 / E 559 context)
Physical Attributes- Odorless white to yellowish or grayish powder (kaolin description).
- Practically insoluble in water (kaolin description).
Compositional Metrics- Kaolin contains mainly the clay mineral kaolinite (a hydrous aluminosilicate).
- Food-additive compliance typically relies on meeting applicable identity/purity specifications and metals limits referenced in international/national standards (e.g., JECFA compendium/specifications and regional additive rules).
Grades- Codex INS: Aluminium silicate (INS 559)
- EU additive listing: E 559 Aluminium silicate (Kaolin)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Kaolin/aluminium silicate: mining/extraction → beneficiation (washing/classification) → drying & milling → food-grade quality control (identity/purity/metals) → packaging → distribution to ingredient blenders and food manufacturers.
Demand Drivers- Regulatory-permitted use as an anti-caking agent (functional class) in food manufacturing, supporting flowability and handling of dry powders.
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighGlobal market access is highly sensitive to additive authorization status and evolving safety/specification expectations for aluminium-containing additives. Codex GSFA lists aluminium silicate (INS 559) as an anti-caking agent but notes no Codex provisions, and JECFA documentation indicates specification status can change when data are not available; in parallel, authorities such as EFSA have set health-based guidance for aluminium intake and have assessed aluminium-related additive exposure in dietary context, increasing scrutiny for aluminium-containing additives in some jurisdictions.Use jurisdiction-specific additive compliance checks (e.g., EU E-number rules, Codex/INS references) and maintain robust technical dossiers, specifications, and COAs aligned to applicable purity/metals limits and usage conditions.
Food Safety MediumNatural mineral inputs and processing variability can create non-conformance risk versus purity and contaminant (metals) limits expected for food-additive grade material, potentially leading to shipment rejection or product recalls.Implement supplier qualification, lot-level testing (including metals), and traceable quality systems; specify food-grade requirements contractually.
Trade Classification MediumAluminium silicate used as a food additive may be sourced via broader industrial-mineral/kaolin supply chains and traded under mineral HS codes; mismatches between industrial-grade and food-additive-grade specifications can create compliance and reputational risk if material is not controlled to food standards.Segregate food-grade supply chains, ensure documentation for intended food use, and audit upstream beneficiation/milling steps relevant to contaminant control.
Sustainability- Mining and beneficiation impacts (land disturbance, tailings/waste handling, water use, dust management) for industrial minerals supplying kaolin/aluminium silicate.
Labor & Social- Worker health and safety in mining and milling (dust exposure controls) and community impacts near extraction/processing sites.
FAQ
Is aluminium silicate the same as kaolin in food-additive contexts?Yes. Codex GSFA lists aluminium silicate (INS 559) with synonyms including “kaolin, light or heavy,” and the EU food additive list references E 559 as “Aluminium silicate (Kaolin).”
What is the main technological function of aluminium silicate in foods?Codex GSFA classifies aluminium silicate (INS 559) under the functional class “anticaking agent,” meaning it is used to help keep dry powders free-flowing.
Which countries are leading exporters and importers of kaolin (a key traded form linked to aluminium silicate supply)?In 2024 HS 250700 (kaolin and other kaolinic clays) trade statistics in WITS/UN Comtrade views, leading exporters by value included the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Brazil and Germany, while major importers included China, Italy, Germany, Japan and Mexico.