Pakistan is the world's second-largest exporter of talc (soapstone), with exports valued at approximately $121 million in 2024. The country exported 471,000 tons of talc and steatite in 2024, accounting for 27% of total global talc exports. Pakistan's talc deposits are concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in the districts of Abbottabad, Kohat, Kurram Agency, and Swat, where mineral purity levels range from 92% to 98%. This page provides a comprehensive directory of Pakistan's leading talc exporters and an overview of the country's talc export industry.
Product : Talc (Soapstone / Steatite)
HS Code : 2526 (Natural Steatite, Whether or Not Roughly Trimmed or Merely Cut)
Pakistan Export Value (2024) : Approximately $121 Million USD
Pakistan Export Volume (2024) : 471,000 Tons (27% of Global Exports)
Global Market Size (2024) : $1.50 Billion (Soapstone)
Key Mining Regions : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Abbottabad, Kohat, Kurram, Swat)
Pakistan occupies a prominent position in the global talc and soapstone trade, ranking as the second-largest exporter worldwide after China. In 2024, Pakistan exported 471,000 tons of talc and steatite valued at approximately $121 million, capturing 27% of total global talc exports. China leads with 649,000 tons (37% share), while France follows in third position with $111 million in export value. The global soapstone market was valued at $1.50 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.13 billion by 2032, growing at a steady CAGR that reflects increasing demand from industrial applications across the ceramics, cosmetics, paints, plastics, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Pakistan's talc deposits are primarily located in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where geological conditions have created high-purity talc deposits with purity levels ranging from 92% to 98%. The main mining areas include Abbottabad, Kohat, Kurram Agency, Swat, and the Khyber Agency region. These deposits are hosted in ultramafic rock formations that extend across the province, providing Pakistan with a significant natural advantage in talc production. The Pakistan mineral development sector, including the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), has identified talc as a priority export commodity due to the country's abundant reserves and the strong international demand for high-quality soapstone products.
The talc export industry in Pakistan supports thousands of jobs in mining, processing, and logistics, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Pakistani talc exporters serve a diverse range of international markets, with major importers including Italy, Spain, Japan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, South Korea, India, and Afghanistan. The country's talc products range from raw lumps and crushed stone to micronized powder used in high-value applications such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and specialty coatings. Pakistan's competitive advantage lies in its high-purity deposits, competitive labor costs, and strategic geographic location providing access to both Asian and European markets.
Pakistan Talc Export at a Glance
World's 2nd largest talc exporter | $121 million export value (2024) | 471,000 tons exported annually | 27% of global talc exports | Purity levels 92-98% | Key markets: Italy, Spain, Japan, USA, Saudi Arabia
Pakistan's talc export industry is served by a network of established mining and trading companies, many of which have been operating for decades. These companies range from large, vertically integrated operations with their own mining leases and processing facilities to smaller trading firms that source talc from local mines and export to international buyers. The following profiles cover the major talc exporters in Pakistan, based on data from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and industry directories.
Omar Associates (Pvt.) Ltd.
Karachi | Italy, Spain, Japan, USA, Saudi Arabia
North West Trading & Services
Peshawar | Netherlands, South Korea, India
Spring Rose Int. Gem Stones
Kohat | Spain
Zarwali Khan & Co.
Torkham, Khyber Agency | Afghanistan
Omar Associates (Pvt.) Limited is Pakistan's most prominent talc and industrial minerals exporter, recognized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) as a leading exporter of soapstone and talc products. The company is headquartered at 714-C, Block-2, Central Commercial Area, PECHS, Tariq Road, Karachi, and is led by Mr. Nadeem Omar. Omar Associates specializes in the mining, grading, processing, and export of micronized talc with controlled median particle sizes, catering to high-value industrial applications including cosmetics, paints, plastics, and pharmaceutical industries. The company has over 30 years of industrial experience in the mining and export of minerals.
The company's talc operations are centered on the rich deposits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the Abbottabad region, which is known for hosting some of Pakistan's highest-purity soapstone and talc deposits. Omar Associates operates its own mining leases and processing facilities, enabling the company to maintain strict quality control from mine to shipment. The company's product range includes soapstone blocks, talc lumps, crushed talc, and micronized talc powder with precise particle size specifications. Omar Associates exports to major international markets including Italy, Spain, Japan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, making it one of the most diversified Pakistani talc exporters in terms of geographic reach. The company's official website (omargroup.com) provides detailed product specifications and certifications for international buyers.
North West Trading & Services Company is a Peshawar-based minerals trading and export company specializing in talc and soapstone products sourced from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Located at Office 7 & 8, Army Stadium, Peshawar, the company benefits from its proximity to the major talc mining districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Kohat, Kurram Agency, and the Khyber tribal areas. North West Trading & Services has established export relationships with buyers in the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and India, demonstrating the company's ability to serve diverse international markets with different quality requirements and regulatory standards.
The company's location in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, provides it with a strategic advantage in sourcing talc directly from mining areas. North West Trading & Services handles the complete export process, from sourcing and quality inspection at mine sites to processing, packaging, and shipping to international destinations. The company's focus on the Dutch, South Korean, and Indian markets reflects the strong demand for Pakistani talc in both European and Asian industrial sectors. The Netherlands serves as a major European distribution hub for industrial minerals, while South Korea and India are significant consumers of talc in ceramics, paint, and plastics manufacturing.
Spring Rose International Gem Stones is a Kohat-based minerals exporter that specializes in talc, gemstones, and other mineral products sourced from the rich geological deposits of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The company is located on Bannu Road, Behzadi Chakar Kot, near Faraz Motors, Kohat, and is managed by Mr. Asghar Farooq. Spring Rose has established itself as an exporter of talc and gemstones to the Spanish market, reflecting the strong demand for Pakistani talc in Europe's ceramics and industrial minerals sectors. Spain is one of the largest consumers of talc in Europe, using it extensively in ceramics, paints, and plastics manufacturing.
Kohat district is one of the most important talc-producing regions in Pakistan, with extensive deposits of high-purity soapstone that have been mined for decades. Spring Rose International Gem Stones leverages its local knowledge and
mining relationships in the Kohat region to source quality talc products for export. The company's dual focus on talc and gemstones provides it with a diversified product portfolio, allowing it to serve different segments of the international minerals market. The company's presence in Kohat also gives it access to other mineral resources found in the region, including barite, rock phosphate, and various semi-precious gemstones that are found alongside talc deposits in the area's geological formations.Zarwali Khan & Co. is a minerals trading company based in the Main Bazar, Torkham, Khyber Agency. Located at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point, the company specializes in the cross-border trade of talc and soapstone products to Afghanistan. Torkham is one of the busiest border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and minerals are among the most significant trade commodities passing through this gateway. Zarwali Khan & Co. plays an important role in supplying Afghan markets with Pakistani talc, which is used in Afghanistan's construction, ceramics, and cosmetics industries.
The company's location at Torkham gives it direct access to the Afghan market, which represents a significant and growing demand center for Pakistani minerals. Afghanistan's reconstruction and development efforts have created substantial demand for construction materials, including talc-based products used in ceramics and paints. Zarwali Khan & Co.'s presence at this strategic border location enables efficient cross-border logistics and trade facilitation, making it a key player in the Pakistan-Afghanistan minerals trade corridor. The company's operations contribute to the broader economic relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the minerals sector.
Beyond the major exporters listed above, Pakistan's talc export industry includes several other notable companies that contribute significantly to the country's talc trade. These companies operate across different regions of Pakistan and serve diverse international markets, collectively supporting Pakistan's position as the world's second-largest talc exporter. The following companies are recognized in Pakistan's minerals industry directories and by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan as active talc and soapstone exporters.
Tanoli Trading Co.
Abbotabad | Talc, Soapstone, Iron Ore, Barite
Minex Industrial Minerals
Karachi | Talc Lumps, Talc Powder
Talc Minerals
Jodia Bazar, Karachi | Talc Rock, Talc Lumps
Asr Mineral Zone
Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi | Talc, Bauxite, Iron Ore
Gohar Syndicate
PECHS, Karachi | Chromite, Soapstone, Quartz
Khyber Minerals
Khyber Pk. | Talc, Soapstone (Mine Owner)
Pakistan's talc deposits are concentrated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which hosts the country's most significant and highest-purity talc reserves. The Abbottabad district is one of the most important talc-producing areas, with extensive soapstone and talc deposits that have been mined for decades. According to the Omar Group, the most common host rock for soapstone and talc deposits in Pakistan is found in the Abbottabad region, where ultramafic rock formations have been metamorphosed to produce high-purity talc with excellent whiteness and chemical properties. The Abbottabad mines are known for producing talc with purity levels ranging from 92% to 98%, making them suitable for the most demanding industrial applications.
Kohat district is another major talc-producing region, with deposits located along Bannu Road and in the surrounding ar
eas. The Kohat region is particularly known for its gemstone and mineral diversity, with talc deposits found alongside other economic minerals. Kurram Agency, located in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), is home to significant talc deposits that are mined and exported through companies like Spring Rose International Gem Stones. The Swat valley region also contains talc deposits, though these are less extensively developed than those in Abbottabad and Kohat. The Khyber Agency, where Zarwali Khan & Co. operates, serves primarily as a trade route for talc destined for the Afghan market, though the region also has its own talc deposits.Key Talc Mining Districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Abbottabad (highest purity, 92-98%) | Kohat (diverse minerals, gemstones) | Kurram Agency (significant reserves) | Swat Valley (developing deposits) | Khyber Agency (border trade, Afghan market access)
Pakistani talc is used in a wide range of industrial applications, reflecting the mineral's unique properties including softness, chemical inertness, thermal stability, and high purity. The ceramics industry is one of the largest consumers of Pakistani talc, using it as a raw material in the production of tiles, sanitary ware, and tableware. Talc improves the mechanical strength, thermal shock resistance, and whiteness of ceramic products. Major importers like Italy and Spain, which are among the world's largest ceramics producers, are significant buyers of Pakistani talc for their ceramics industries. The paint and coatings industry is another major consumer, where talc is used as a filler and extender pigment that improves paint durability, coverage, and weather resistance.
The cosmetics and personal care industry represents a high-value application for Pakistani talc, particularly the micronized grades produced by companies like Omar Associates. Talc is a key ingredient in cosmetic products including talcum powder, foundations, and other powder-based formulations, where its softness, oil absorption, and skin-friendly properties make it an ideal ingredient. The plastics industry uses talc as a reinforcing filler in polypropylene composites, improving stiffness, heat resistance, and dimensional stability. In the pharmaceutical industry, talc serves as an excipient in tablet formulations and as a lubricant in capsule production. The paper industry uses talc as a coating pigment and filler, while the rubber industry incorporates talc as a reinforcing agent. These diverse applications ensure strong and sustained demand for Pakistani talc across multiple industrial sectors worldwide.
Ceramics
Tiles, Sanitary Ware, Tableware
Cosmetics
Talcum Powder, Foundations, Powders
Paints & Coatings
Filler, Extender, Durability
Plastics & Pharma
PP Composites, Tablet Excipient
Pakistan's emergence as the world's second-largest talc exporter reflects the country's significant geological advantages and the growing competitiveness of its minerals sector. With exports valued at $121 million in 2024 and a 27% share of global talc export volumes, Pakistan has established itself as an indispensable supplier to the global talc market. The global soapstone market, valued at $1.50 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $2.13 billion by 2032, while the broader talc powder market is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2034. These growth projections indicate strong and sustained demand for Pakistani talc in the years ahead, driven by increasing consumption in ceramics, cosmetics, paints, plastics, and pharmaceutical industries worldwide.
China remains the dominant player in global talc exports with 649,000 tons (37% share), but Pakistan's position as the second-largest exporter gives it significant influence in the market. The competitive dynamics between Chinese and Pakistani talc are shaped by differences in product quality, pricing, and target markets. Pakistani talc is particularly competitive in the European market, where buyers valu
e its high purity and whiteness for ceramics and cosmetics applications. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) continues to promote Pakistani talc at international trade fairs and through export facilitation programs, working to expand the country's market share and diversify its customer base. As global demand for talc continues to grow, Pakistan's abundant reserves, established mining industry, and competitive cost structure position the country for continued growth in talc exports.Looking for Pakistan Talc Exporter Contact Details?
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