Supply Situtaion Report: Chinese talc: domestic development drive

• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 543, 2012
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • 2 Encourage ground talc export and control crude talc export. Currently, crude talc and ground talc export policies share no essential difference with both subject to export duties and export quotas. Export duty for ground talc include 5% and 10% ad valorem duties, resulting in a situation where products with high added value have a higher export duty. This has not reflected the national basic policy of encouraging the export of finished products and controlling the export of raw materials. Export is the most important market for Chinese talc. The Go Out policy, which encourages Chinese companies to invest overseas, must be carried out in the future, and products with high added value and deep processing need a broad international market. Chinese talc products have a position in the international market, but by fully utilising its advantageous resources and processing techniques, China can do better. A healthy and steady export market is important to the sustainable development of the industry. Current export policy should encourage enterprises taking part in global markets to seek more development opportunities. If the export duty for ground talc was cancelled and retained only on the export duty for crude talc, completion of finished goods worldwide would be improved and simultaneously protect domestic resources.

    4 Promote the comprehensive utilisation of resources, especially low-quality talc and chlorite. According to the Announcement on Export of Talc Mixtures in the customs announcement (Tax Regulation No. 38249091), mixtures containing more than 50% talc are regarded as talc. Even if the talc content in the mixture is lower than 50%, but occupies the largest proportion, these mixtures will still be regarded as equal to mixtures containing 50% talc and will therefore still be subject to export quotas. However, there is no tax number for talc mixtures containing less than 50% talc, so exports are not possible. There seem to be no advantages in restricting low-grade product exports. There are only limited domestic uses for low-grade talc and chlorite, while steady demand exists in the international market. Restricting exports will only result in large-scale overstocks, waste and environmental pollution. A new tax number for the mixtures containing less than 50% talc should be established to define clearly that no matter whether the talc content in the mixture is at the upper range, the mixture should be labelled under the new tax number.

    China is the world's largest talc exporter, although it is notable that talc imports have increased significantly in recent years. In 2011, the import volume was up to 50,000 tonnes, with 19,000 tonnes of ground talc. The main import countries include the US, South Korea and Italy, with consumption mainly in the Yangtze River delta and the Pearl River delta. By 2011, import prices had reached $955/tonne, compared with an export price of just $188/tonne. In 2011, 30,000 tonnes of crude talc were imported, mainly from Pakistan, North Korea, Egypt and India. The reason that ground talc needs to be imported is because Chinese product quality fails to satisfy production requirements, while crude talc is imported as its price is the same or lower than prices in China.