Diatomite
Diatomite, also called diatomaceous earth or kieselguhr, is a soft, light sedimentary rock made almost entirely of the fossilised silica skeletons of diatoms. Those skeletons are riddled with pores, which gives the rock an extremely low density, a very high void volume and a rigid open structure that liquid can pass through while solids are held back. That structure is the product. Most of world output is used as a filter aid, clarifying beer, wine, juice, edible oil, sugar syrup, swimming pool water and industrial chemicals. The rest works as a functional filler in paint, plastics and rubber, as an absorbent carrier, as a mild abrasive and polish, as insulation brick and refractory, as a soil conditioner and anti caking agent, and as a mechanical insecticide.
Listed diatomite markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
A diatomite contract turns on how the rock was processed, on how fast it will filter, and on how much solid it will hold before the cycle ends. Filter grades are named by permeability, and the assay sits alongside as a purity term.
Physical properties
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| PermeabilityDarcies, determined on a standard filter cake | The governing grade term for a filter aid. It fixes the flow rate and it is what the grade name in this trade denotes. |
| Wet cake densityKilograms per cubic metre | Determined on a formed cake under the named method. It sets the dosage and the volume of the filter. |
| Dry bulk densityKilograms per cubic metre | Loose and tapped. It sets the bag, the silo and the freight cube, and diatomite freights out on volume rather than weight. |
| Clarity and turbidity performanceReported as the residual turbidity of a standard suspension after filtration | The other half of the filtration trade off. High permeability grades run fast and hold back less. |
| Solids holding capacityReported against the named method | How much solid the cake will take before the differential pressure ends the cycle. It sets the operating cost per unit of throughput. |
| Water absorptionPercentage by mass | For carrier, absorbent and soil grades. |
| Oil absorptionGrams of oil per hundred grams | Determined under ISO 787. The functional filler and carrier term. |
| BrightnessReflectance percentage, against the ISO brightness scale | Measured under ISO 2470. Natural grades are grey to buff, calcined grades pink and flux calcined grades white. |
| AbrasivenessReported against the named method | It governs pump and valve wear at the filtration plant, and it matters in polishing applications. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying. Diatomite is hygroscopic and moisture is both a weight and a handling term. |
| pH of the aqueous suspensionpH units | Measured under ISO 787. Flux calcined grades run alkaline from the soda ash flux. |
Chemical assay
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Processing routeDeclared, as natural, calcined or flux calcined | The primary commercial distinction. Calcination raises permeability and hardness, and the flux calcined route adds soda ash and produces the fastest and whitest grades. |
| Silica as silicon dioxidePercentage by mass | Determined by X-ray fluorescence on a fused bead under ISO 12677. The purity term. |
| Alumina and iron oxidePercentage by mass | Clay and iron carried with the deposit. Iron is the term that governs metal pickup in a filtered beverage. |
| Soluble ironMilligrams per kilogram | Determined by the acid or beer soluble leach named in the contract. It is a rejection term for brewing, because dissolved iron ruins flavour stability. |
| Calcium, magnesium and alkali oxidesPercentage by mass | Reported because they carry into the filtrate and because the alkali figure reflects the flux addition. |
| Loss on ignitionPercentage by mass | Determined at the stated temperature. On natural grades it captures organic matter and bound water, and it is near zero after calcination. |
| Acid soluble matterPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by the leach named in the contract. It governs what the filter aid will give up into an acidic product. |
Particle size and sizing
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Median particle sizeMicrometres, as the fiftieth percentile by volume | Determined by laser diffraction under ISO 13320. It tracks with permeability and it is reported alongside the grade name. |
| Sieve residuePercentage by mass, maximum, at the stated aperture | Determined by wet sieving on a sieve conforming to ISO 3310. Grit is the defect. |
| Fines fractionPercentage by mass below the stated size | It governs how quickly the cake blinds and how much passes the septum. |
| FormDeclared | Milled powder, calcined powder, granular or crushed insulation aggregate. |
Contaminants and regulated substances
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Crystalline silica, quartz and cristobalitePercentage by mass | Calcination converts amorphous silica to cristobalite, so the crystalline figure rises with the processing route. It is declared on the safety data sheet and it governs the handling controls at the plant. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum, by element | Arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, determined on a digest against the food, beverage or pharmacopoeial limit at the destination. |
| Food additive and processing aid compliancePass or fail, against the named specification | Where the diatomite contacts food or beverage, the food chemicals specification in force at the destination governs. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, maximum | Where the destination specification requires them, for beverage and pharmaceutical filtration. |
| Beer soluble ironMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | A dedicated brewing test, run on the grade actually shipped and certified per lot. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Form and packingDeclared | Bulk, big bags of a stated net weight, paper or polywoven bags palletised and shrink wrapped, or containerised bulk in liners. The pack is a price term because it drives the handling cost at both ends. |
| Moisture at loadingPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying on a loading sample. Moisture is paid for as mineral unless the contract sets a dry weight basis, so it is always specified. |
| Weight basisDeclared | Wet or dry metric tonnes, on shipped weight or landed weight, with the survey house named and the draft survey or weighbridge method stated. |
| Sampling and assay protocolDeclared | Who samples, at which point, to what standard, how the sample is split and sealed, and which laboratory umpires a dispute. It is agreed before loading, not after. |
| Transportable moisture limitPercentage by mass | Where the cargo is a group A material under the maritime bulk cargoes code, the flow moisture point and the transportable moisture limit are certified before loading. |
| Safety data sheetDocument, to the globally harmonised system format | Classification, handling and respirable crystalline silica statement, supplied with every consignment. |
| Certificate of analysisDocument, per lot | Issued by the named laboratory against the contract specification, referencing the lot and the sampling record. |
| Regulatory registrationDeclared | Chemical registration at the destination where the mineral requires one, named on the contract. |
| Origin and due diligenceDeclared, with the mine or plant named | Country of origin, the mine or processing plant, and where required the responsible sourcing statement. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Western Europe | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Europe and Anatolia | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Korea, Republic of | East Asia | Destination |
| Russian Federation | Eurasia | Origin and destination |
| Czechia | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Greece | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Western Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Northern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Northwest Europe | Destination and trading hub |
| Belgium | Northwest Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Eastern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Kazakhstan | Central Asia | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Destination and trading hub |
| Egypt | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Algeria | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tunisia | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania, United Republic of | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| South Africa | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Viet Nam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Trading and finance |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | Trading and finance |
| Israel | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Portugal | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Production is when the mineral is mined and processed at origin, which follows the mine plan and the weather at the pit rather than a crop season. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is drying, grading, bagging and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecNevada, California and Oregon produce the benchmark filter aid grades, with calcining and flux calcining plants at the mine. |
| China | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecJilin and Zhejiang production supplying domestic filtration and filler demand with an export programme in calcined grades. |
| Peru | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecCoastal deposits producing filter and filler grades for the Americas and for export across the Pacific. |
| Spain | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAlmeria and Murcia production, calcined at origin and shipped into the European beverage and edible oil trade. |
| France | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecLong established processing supplying the European wine, beer and pharmaceutical filtration markets. |
| Turkiye | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAnatolian deposits with calcining capacity serving the regional beverage and oil refining industry. |
| Mexico | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecJalisco production supplying the North American filtration market. |
| Japan | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecDomestic production and processing of high purity grades for beverage and precision filtration. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and tonnage already sitting in a destination warehouse or terminal.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for diatomite. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading2512.00 Siliceous fossil meals and similar siliceous earths
- PackingBulk in a lined container, 1 t big bags, or 25 kg to 50 kg paper or PP bags on pallets. Moisture and particle size distribution stated on the certificate of analysis at load.
- Container loading20ft: 26 t to 28 t bulk or big bag. Weight limited well before volume. Check the road weight limit at the destination before fixing the box size.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on typical analysis with a certificate of analysis at load port and an umpire clause. ASTM and API specifications where they exist, including API 13A for drilling grade barite and bentonite. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsEU REACH registration above one tonne per importer per year, respirable crystalline silica exposure controls under Directive 2017/2398, asbestos screening for talc and vermiculite, NORM screening on heavy mineral products, and food, pharmacopoeia or cosmetic grade certification where the end use requires it.
Common questions
What grades of diatomite does SIP Global trade?
We quote 36 published grades of diatomite, including Permeability - Darcies, determined on a standard filter cake, Wet cake density - Kilograms per cubic metre, Dry bulk density - Kilograms per cubic metre, Clarity and turbidity performance - Reported as the residual turbidity of a standard suspension after filtration, Solids holding capacity - Reported against the named method and Water absorption - Percentage by mass. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is diatomite graded?
A diatomite contract turns on how the rock was processed, on how fast it will filter, and on how much solid it will hold before the cycle ends. Filter grades are named by permeability, and the assay sits alongside as a purity term. Grading runs on 5 systems: Physical properties, Chemical assay, Particle size and sizing, Contaminants and regulated substances and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade diatomite?
We trade diatomite in United States, China, Peru, Spain, France, Turkiye, Mexico and Japan and 43 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is diatomite harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are United States: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; China: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Peru: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Spain: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; France: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for diatomite?
Diatomite is normally classified under HS 2512.00 (siliceous fossil meals and similar siliceous earths). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for diatomite?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed diatomite market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.