Japan Calcium Carbonate Market Size & Share, by Type (Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC), Others); Pattern (Natural (Heavy) Limestone, Artificial (Light) - Conventional Type, Artificial (Light) - CCU Type); Purity Level (High Purity (For Food and Pharmaceutical Applications), Standard Purity (For Industrial Uses)); Distribution Channel (Direct Sales, Online Sales); Application - Global Supply & Demand Analysis, Growth Forecasts, Statistics Report 2019-2050

Growth Drivers

• Growth in the construction industry: Japan construction industry has expanded further, with investments of 68.8 trillion yen (USD 530 billion) in 2022. Calcium carbonate is also used in cement, coatings, and construction materials, hence, it is witnessing rapid adoption. In August 2022, ITOCHU Corporation, Taisei Corporation, and MCi worked together to implement MCi’s mineral carbonation into concrete production, thus cutting emissions whilst enhancing the properties of the material. The shift towards green construction solutions is the reason why more people are using sustainable materials such as calcium carbonate. Also, the increasing concern of the government towards energy efficiency of buildings, especially through policy implementation, is anticipated to drive the growth of its consumption through 2037.
• Increased paper consumption: According to the Japan Paper Association, paper production in Japan reached 21.9 million tons in 2023, emphasizing the importance of calcium carbonate as a filler component in paper manufacturing. Since many manufacturers are looking toward sustainable paper solutions, the demand for high-purity calcium carbonate is expected to remain high. In January 2023, Koushi Chemical Industry launched Shellstic, a bioplastic containing scallop shell-derived calcium carbonate, which cuts CO₂ emissions by as much as 36%. This innovation underlines the increased attention to the use of environmentally friendly products in the Japan packaging and printing market. Also, the growth of new technologies in recyclable and biodegradable packaging materials is likely to drive the japan calcium carbonate market.
• Adoption of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies: Japan focuses on carbon-neutral industrial processes, so there is a growing use of calcium carbonate-based CCU. In January 2023, TAKECITE, Mitsubishi Shoji Kenzai Corporation, and Obayashi Corporation started the Shizuoka DAC Project to capture CO₂ from the air and convert it to calcium carbonate through Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. They are in line with Japan’s plan to reach net zero by 2050 and are suitable for the construction, plastics, and paint industries. The government incentives for low-carbon manufacturing are expected to drive the industries to step up their CCU-based innovations. Therefore, Japan is fast becoming the leading country in the use of sustainable calcium carbonate.

Challenges

• Increasing use of imported limestone: Japan has small deposits of limestone and thus has to import most of it from other countries for use in the production of calcium carbonate. This dependency exposes the market to supply chain risks of volatility and trade barriers, which are always detrimental to the market. Furthermore, there is a trend of increasing the cost of mining operations in Japan, and thus, the raw materials are imported mainly from China, Vietnam, and Malaysia. For this reason, Japan manufacturers are looking for other sources of the compound, including recycled calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide-based formulations, to avoid supply chain risks.
• Environmental constraints on industrial emissions: Increased government regulation on carbon emissions and industrial waste add constraints to traditional calcium carbonate manufacture. The Ministry of the Environment of Japan has set new rules for industries to lower carbon emissions during production. Furthermore, there are legal requirements concerning the emission of chemicals in the production of calcium carbonate and energy conservation. To meet such regulations, the manufacturers are adopting closed-loop production systems and incorporating carbon capture systems. However, to implement these new standards, it is necessary to invest significantly in the improvement of existing facilities which is a limiting factor for industries to adopt it at large scale.