Diatomaceous Earth Market Intelligence Report (Recent Commodity Market Dynamics)

I. Price Dynamics
1. Benchmark Price: As of May 21, 2026, the Business Society’s benchmark price for diatomaceous earth stands at RMB 2,900.00 per ton—unchanged from the beginning of the month and at the lowest level within the annual statistical range.
2. Regional Quotations:
- Henan Province:
Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co., Ltd.: Domestic diatomaceous earth (86% purity) quoted at RMB 3,650/ton;
Henan Baoxin Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.: Domestic diatomaceous earth quoted at RMB 2,400/ton;
Henan Senti Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.: Domestic diatomaceous earth quoted at RMB 1,530/ton.
- Shandong Province:
Shandong Jinshengrun Chemical Co., Ltd.: Linjiang diatomaceous earth quoted at RMB 2,800/ton;
Jinan Jinhao Chemical Co., Ltd.: Linjiang diatomaceous earth quoted at RMB 3,000/ton.
- Quotations by Specification:
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (200 mesh): RMB 3,300–3,650/ton;
Industrial-grade diatomaceous earth (200 mesh): RMB 1,350–1,900/ton;
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (300#): RMB 2,700/ton;
Diatomaceous earth (90% purity): RMB 1,400/ton.

II. Market Supply and Demand
1. Supply Side:
- Resource Distribution: China’s diatomaceous earth resources are primarily concentrated in Changbai (Jilin Province), Tengchong (Yunnan Province), and Shengzhou (Zhejiang Province). The Fuquan Mountain Range in Shengzhou, Zhejiang, holds proven reserves of 45 million tons, with prospective reserves reaching up to 200 million tons.
- Production Capacity Layout: Upstream resource concentration has intensified. Jilin Yuantong Mining Co., Ltd. has completed an intelligent mining system upgrade at its Changbai Mountain mine, reducing unit extraction costs by 13.7%. Coupled with three newly approved Class-A mining rights granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the industry’s CR3 (market share held by the top three enterprises) increased from 38.2% in 2023 to 46.5% in 2025.
- Midstream Processing: Zhejiang Mingwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. has launched China’s first production line for directional nano-pore modification of diatomaceous earth. Its DS-708 eco-friendly filter aid has successfully replaced imported products in the beer brewing sector, capturing a 27.4% market share in 2025.
2. Demand Side:
- Environmental Policy Impetus: Tightening environmental regulations have driven the penetration rate of diatomaceous earth in industrial wastewater advanced treatment from 18.3% in 2025 to 22.6% in 2026, generating approximately 14,200 tons of incremental demand for filtration aids.
- Green Building Materials Demand: The nationwide implementation of the green building materials certification system has elevated the application share of diatomaceous earth-based wall coatings (e.g., diatomite plaster) in premium residential fit-outs—from 9.1% in 2025 to 11.8% in 2026—boosting consumption of high-end raw diatomaceous earth by approximately RMB 85 million.
- Breakthrough in New Energy Applications: Domestic high-purity diatomaceous earth for lithium-ion battery separator coatings (SiO? ≥ 89.5%, specific surface area ≥ 62 m2/g) has achieved import substitution. This segment is projected to contribute RMB 126 million in incremental output value in 2026.

III. Competitive Landscape
1. Industry Concentration: Upstream resource consolidation has significantly strengthened, while midstream processing faces heightened technological barriers; downstream applications are trending toward scenario-specific segmentation.
2. Corporate Developments:
- Zhejiang Mingwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. has secured high-end market orders through technical cooperation agreements.
- Yunnan Dianfeng Diatomaceous Earth Technology Co., Ltd. has partnered with Oriental Yuhong and Libon Paints on joint R&D of inorganic coatings based on diatomaceous earth. In 2026, its initial engineering contracts cover the Xiong’an New Area resettlement housing project and the Qianhai green building cluster in Shenzhen.

Analysis & Assessment
1. Price Trend: Overall diatomaceous earth prices remain stable recently; however, significant price differentials exist across specifications, regions, and enterprises. Premium products (e.g., food-grade, ultra-high-purity grades) command higher prices, whereas industrial-grade products face intense price competition.
2. Supply-Demand Relationship: Upstream consolidation and diversified downstream demand jointly drive growth. Environmental policy enforcement, green building materials adoption, and new energy applications constitute the primary growth engines.
3. Competitive Dynamics: Technological and resource-related barriers now define competitive advantage. Vertically integrated enterprises—capable of resource extraction, deep processing, and application-oriented R&D—are positioned to lead the market.

Forecast
1. Price Outlook: In the short term (1–3 months), diatomaceous earth prices are expected to remain stable overall; however, premium product prices may rise modestly due to surging demand. Over the medium term (6–12 months), prices may fluctuate depending on the intensity of environmental policy implementation, the pace of demand realization in new energy sectors, and changes in resource extraction costs.
2. Market Size: China’s diatomaceous earth industry is projected to reach RMB 4.52 billion in 2026, representing a 6.9% year-on-year growth—slightly outpacing the 2025 growth rate—reflecting a structural shift from scale-driven to optimization-driven development.
3. Investment Hotspots: Key investment opportunities include high-purity raw material refining, green modification process development, and customized application solutions. Concurrently, investors should monitor risks arising from increasingly stringent regulation of diatomaceous earth mining resources, rising environmental compliance costs, and potential price wars triggered by excess low-end production capacity.