Industrial minerals
Bentonite Price, Bulk & Supplier
Price quote on request · Bulk from 1,000 MT FOB/CFR/CIF
Key parameters — Bentonite Clay
Full specification — Bentonite Clay
| Montmorillonite content | 75% min (methylene blue index method) |
| Swelling index | 24 ml/2g min (ASTM D5890) |
| Moisture | 12% max |
| Particle size | 200 mesh (74 μm), 90% min passing |
| pH (5% aqueous slurry) | 8.0–10.0 |
| Bulk density (loose) | 0.85–1.05 t/m³ |
| Wet sieve residue (+200 mesh) | 10% max |
| Exchangeable sodium | Sodium bentonite (Na⁺ form) |
| Appearance | Grey to cream fine powder |
| HS code | 2508.10 |
Product overview — Bentonite Clay
Request bentonite price for bulk supply from 1,000 MT — sodium-exchanged bentonite from Black Sea and MENA clay pits is the standard export grade for oilfield drilling mud, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), foundry green-sand bonding, iron-ore pelletizing binders, and civil-engineering slurry walls where low permeability barriers are required.
Our export grade carries montmorillonite at 75% minimum with a swelling index of 24 ml per 2 g (ASTM D5890) — the sodium bentonite specification API-style drilling-fluid blenders use for yield without excessive gel strength that blocks pump suction lines. Unlike barite, which adds density to weighted mud, bentonite builds viscosity and fluid-loss control in freshwater and brine systems. Moisture is capped at 12% to prevent caking in bulk holds and bag stacks during humid ocean transit. Milled to 200 mesh (74 μm) with 90% passing, the powder disperses rapidly in freshwater or brine systems and meets the fineness that foundry sand mixers and pelletizing discs expect.
Typical buyers include drilling-fluid service companies building seasonal mud inventory ahead of rig campaigns, foundries on long-term clay supply contracts for green-sand casting lines, mining concentrators using bentonite as a pellet binder, and civil contractors sourcing slurry for diaphragm-wall and pipe-jacking projects. HS code 2508.10. MOQ from 1,000 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full product details
Loading ports & logistics — Bentonite Clay
Bentonite is a fine, low-density powder that demands dust control and moisture management at every handling stage. Contract MOQ is 1,000 MT — fulfilled by bulk vessel holds at clay-pit terminals or 1-ton jumbo bags on pallets in containers assembled into parcels from 1,000 MT.
Bulk vessel holds suit FOB parcels from 1,000 MT upward at clay-pit terminals on the Black Sea and in the Eastern Mediterranean. Loading rates of 3,000–5,000 MT per day via pneumatic or grab systems; hold ventilation instructions are mandatory to prevent moisture condensation during voyage. Handysize and supramax tonnage aligned with draft limits at your discharge berth.
1-ton jumbo bags on pallets load into 20-foot and 40-foot containers for parcels of 1,000–2,000 MT where the receiver lacks bulk-unloading equipment. Each bag is polyethylene-lined to block moisture ingress; container stuffing at origin bagging lines avoids open-air exposure.
25 kg paper sacks serve foundry and drilling-service buyers needing warehouse-friendly units. Twenty-foot containers hold approximately 20–22 MT net. CFR and CIF quotations add ocean or container freight and marine insurance to the FOB clay price. Typical lead time 10–20 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation — Bentonite Clay
Cargo ships as unbagged bulk in vessel holds, 1-ton jumbo bags, or 25 kg multi-wall paper sacks — presentation quoted separately from the FOB bentonite price. Each lot is accompanied by a mill certificate of analysis showing montmorillonite content, swelling index, moisture, particle size distribution and pH, plus a safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. Hold cleanliness survey and moisture certification are included in the shipping instructions package for bulk parcels. For bagged cargo, pallet strapping and fumigation certificate are issued where destination phytosanitary rules require treatment of wood packaging.
FAQ — Bentonite Clay
What is the difference between sodium and calcium bentonite for export?
Sodium bentonite swells in fresh water and builds high-yield drilling mud with low fluid loss — the standard grade for oilfield and HDD contractors. Calcium bentonite has lower swelling but stronger dry bonding strength, preferred in foundry green-sand and pelletizing circuits. We quote sodium grade unless your specification calls for calcium-rich ore.
How is bulk bentonite shipped on international trade routes?
Bentonite moves as fine powder in bulk vessel holds, 1-ton jumbo bags on pallets, or 25 kg paper sacks stacked in containers. Hold ventilation and moisture control are critical — cargo above 12% moisture can cake during ocean transit. FOB parcels from 1,000 MT suit handysize bulk carriers; smaller lots load in 20-foot containers at bagging terminals.
Related products — Bentonite Clay
- Iron Ore Fines — pelletizing feedstock that uses bentonite as a binder
- Gypsum / Anhydrite — companion industrial mineral for cement and plasterboard
- Rock Phosphate — companion bulk mineral for fertilizer and industrial circuits
- Soil Conditioners — organo-mineral blends incorporating bentonite fines
