Andromeda Metals has struck a deal with IberoClays SLU to supply the Mediterranean region with kaolin products from its Great White project in South Australia.

The company will supply 8000 wet metric tonnes (wmt) of kaolin, an ore composed of hydrated aluminum silicates such as kaolinite and halloysite, for the first year and 10,000–20,000 wmt every year after for an initial five years.

Destined for the Port of Castellón in Spain, the products will then be distributed across Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey for use in ceramics and construction.

“The emergence of the Great White project as a new source of supply comes at a crucial time in global kaolin markets,” IberoClays chief executive officer Alberto Piquer González said.

“Ongoing geopolitical supply disruptions, in addition to the depletion of traditional high-quality sources of supply, is seeing elevated pricing for high-quality kaolin that can be used in ceramics.

“The Great White project’s products not only complete our portfolio of advanced formulations for high quality porcelain tiles, slabs and ceramic glazes, but opens up the potential for a new market for kaolin as a high-performance additive that can decarbonise concrete.”

Andromeda has focused its efforts on fully realising the Great White project through a string of deals enabling the supply of its kaolin products across the globe, most recently in India and China.

The company has also sold off its non-kaolin projects, including its Drummond gold project in Queensland and the Moonta and Alford copper-gold projects in SA, in order to support Great White.

“Partnering with IberoClays, a recognised world leader in ceramic tile formulations, is a major coup that validates the high-quality nature of our kaolin products from the Great White project,” Andromeda managing director and chief executive officer Bob Katsiouleris said.

“Andromeda aims to open up further opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.”