Kyanite: Trading

Long contracts between a few miners and furnace-lining makers

There is no exchange. Kyanite, andalusite and mullite are sold under annual or multi-year contracts between a few miners and refractory makers such as the large European refractory groups. Specifications cover alumina content, iron oxide, grain size and firing behaviour. Industrial-minerals price services publish indicative ranges by grade and origin. In January 2025 an Austrian company completed the purchase of a US refractory and minerals producer. That deal suggests vertical integration, with refractory makers buying their raw material supply.

Where it is bought (buyers)

• Refractory makers in Europe, the US, Japan, China and India buy concentrate and calcined grains
• India imported 10,419 t of andalusite (79% South Africa, 19% France) and 1,668 t of kyanite (78% US) in 2021-22 (IBM)
• US imports came from South Africa 54%, Peru 24%, France 18% in 2021-24 (USGS)

Where it is sold (sellers)

• Kyanite Mining Corp exports Virginia kyanite (US exports 37,000 t in 2025, USGS)
• Imerys sells French and South African andalusite
• Peru (Andalucita S.A.) and China sell andalusite; China exported under 7,000 t in 2025 (USGS)
• India exported 3,120 t of sillimanite in 2021-22, 83% to China (IBM)

Exchanges and benchmarks

Contract types

• Annual or multi-year supply contracts with refractory makers
• Specification by Al2O3 and Fe2O3 content and grain size; raw or calcined
• Bulk-bag container shipments

Top trading houses

• No major trading houses; producers sell direct to refractory groups

How prices are discovered

• Bilateral negotiation
• US Census export unit values reported by USGS
• Indian customs unit values (IBM)
• Trade press and conference reports such as IMFORMED