----Interview with Natalia Zorina
Head of Sales for Baddeleyite Concentrate
MCC EuroChem
EuroChem is a fertilizer company with its own capacity in all three primary nutrients – nitrogen, phosphates, and potash. Currently, it is also the only baddeleyite producer in the world, traditionally exporting to Japan, China, Europe, and North America.
Asian Metal: Dear Natalia, welcome to our interview. Could you please give us a brief background or some updates about your company?
Natalia Zorina: EuroChem is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer and supplier of a full range of fertilizers. As one of the top five fertilizer producers in the world, we are proud that our products are supplied to more than 100 countries and are used to feed over 350 million people. In 2024, EuroChem’s fertilizer and feed phosphate production increased by 8% to 13.6 MMT. Our raw material base provides all the key ingredients for fertilizer production. To achieve this, we have secured significant reserves of potash and phosphate rock and benefit from access to abundant natural gas supplies. Our reserve base also includes iron ore and baddeleyite, mined from the Kovdor deposit in the Arctic Circle. EuroChem is currently the only manufacturer of baddeleyite in the world.
Asian Metal: How about the mines’ annual production capacity of baddeleyite?
Natalia Zorina: Baddeleyite – natural zirconia ore – is a by-product of the production of iron ore and apatite. Its output depends on the production levels of these main products. Production is stable, with an output of nearly 5,000 tons per year. As we expand into new markets with significant consumption potential, we are exploring opportunities to increase production.
Asian Metal: Compared with fused zirconia calcined from sedimentary sources such as zircon sand, what are the advantages or features of baddeleyite?
Natalia Zorina: Baddeleyite is a rare zirconium oxide mineral. As a natural analogue to synthetic ZrO2, it is very similar but has certain advantages in factors such as hardness and refractoriness. We continue to collaborate with research institutes to further improve the quality of our product.
Asian Metal: What are the main applications of baddeleyite? What are the prospects?
Natalia Zorina: Baddeleyite is widely used in the production of refractories, abrasives, advanced ceramics, and electronics. Demand from the high-end refractories industry accounts for over 50%. Together with our partners, we are studying the behavior of our unique product in new applications.
Asian Metal: How was your baddeleyite export performance in 2024 under the worldwide gloomy economic market? Can you give us some examples from various import countries?
Natalia Zorina: We have been exporting our product for over 20 years to destinations including Japan, China, North America, and Europe, and continue to supply these markets despite the current challenging external environment. We are also planning to expand our presence in China and India due to potential rising demand, especially from China-and-India-based plants affiliated with European companies. Our traditional customers remain loyal, appreciating both the unique qualities of our product and our team’s 24/7 commitment to solving any issues.
Asian Metal: Do you have any stocks in warehouses in China?
Natalia Zorina: Currently, we ship directly to our customers in China. Some sales are also made through our Chinese agent. We plan to organize a warehouse in Qingdao to facilitate sales to the market.
Asian Metal: What do you think the demand or price trend for baddeleyite in China will be in 2025?
Natalia Zorina: We have done extensive outreach to current and potential customers and are seeing demand gradually increase in China. Our pricing strategy reflects the demand situation in each region where we operate and aligns with overall market trends.
Asian Metal: Are there any new plans or strategies for 2025?
Natalia Zorina: We will continue to export baddeleyite while successfully selling on the domestic market. We also plan to explore new applications for our product and expand our presence in new markets.
