Calcium Iodide Production Cost Reports

The report provides detailed analysis essential for establishing a calcium iodide production plant. It encompasses all critical aspects necessary for calcium iodide production, including the cost of calcium iodide production, calcium iodide plant cost, calcium iodide production costs, and the overall calcium iodide production plant cost. Additionally, the study covers specific expenditures associated with setting up and operating a calcium iodide production plant. These encompass production processes, raw material requirements, utility requirements, infrastructure needs, machinery and technology requirements, manpower requirements, packaging requirements, transportation requirements, and more.

Calcium Iodide Market Analysis: Demand and Supply Analysis, and Sourcing

Calcium iodide, CaI2, is the calcium salt of hydroiodic acid. It is a white, very hygroscopic solid that dissolves freely in water, alcohols, and acetone. Iodine makes up about 86% of calcium iodide by weight, so its cost depends largely on iodine prices. It is also a niche product compared with more widely used iodine compounds such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide, and calcium iodate. Buyers come from chemical synthesis, animal nutrition, photography, research, and advanced detector materials.

Demand for calcium iodide follows iodine chemistry, specialty nutrition, photography, and materials research. Chemical makers use it as a soluble iodide source and halide exchange reagent. Some pet food formulas use it as an iodine source, mainly for cats. Photographic chemistry was a classic outlet and still takes small volumes. Detector researchers grow calcium iodide crystals as high-light-yield scintillators for dark matter and double beta decay studies. Universities, national labs, and materials developers buy high-purity anhydrous grades for halide and perovskite research.

Calcium iodide is mainly supplied by iodine-based chemical manufacturers in China, the US, Japan, India, and Europe. Its key input is elemental iodine, which comes mainly from Chilean caliche ore and from natural gas brines in Japan and the US. Chile produced about 23,000 tons of iodine last year and Japan about 9,000 tons. A calcium iodide demand and supply analysis must weigh iodine prices, hydroiodic acid supply, feed rules, research spending, and freight. Buyers check assay, free iodine, water content, heavy metals, and color on every lot. Moisture-proof packaging and certificates of analysis also weigh in supplier choice.

Summary of the Product, Grades, and Uses

Calcium iodide has a molar mass of about 293.89 g/mol and the CAS number 10102-68-8. The anhydrous salt melts at about 779 degree Celsius, boils near 1,100 degree Celsius, and has a density of about 3.96 g/cm3. About 66 grams dissolve in 100 mL of water at room temperature. It also forms a tetrahydrate and other hydrates, which melt at low temperatures. In air, it slowly reacts with oxygen and carbon dioxide, forming calcium carbonate and free iodine, which turns it yellow.

Grades are determined by form, assay, water content, free iodine, and metal impurities. Calcium iodide is available as hydrates, flakes, granules, and concentrated solutions for industrial use. Reagent-grade products have a purity of 99% to 99.9%. Anhydrous grades are available at 99.5% to 99.999% purity on a metals basis and are sold as beads or dry powder. For research applications, some hydrate grades offer purity levels of up to 99.9965% on a metals basis. Product ships in sealed glass, lined drums, or foil bags with desiccant, often under nitrogen.

Calcium iodide is used in chemical synthesis, nutrition, photography, and research. In chemical production, it provides iodide for making alkyl iodides, carrying out halide exchange reactions, and iodometric analysis. It is also used as an iodine source in pet food and supplements where regulations permit. In detector applications, calcium iodide is used to make crystals that produce light when exposed to radiation. It also serves as a precursor in metal halide and perovskite research, as a laboratory reagent, and as a starting material for other calcium compounds.

Main End-Uses of Calcium Iodide

Chemical synthesis forms a main demand segment for calcium iodide. Fine chemical and pharmaceutical producers use soluble iodides to convert alkyl chlorides and bromides into more reactive iodides. Calcium iodide provides a calcium counterion, which helps when sodium or potassium is unwanted. It also dissolves in alcohol and acetone, so chemists can run reactions in organic solvents, mixed solvents, or water. Iodometric analysis, catalyst systems, analytical standards, and specialty reagent kits use small amounts, often in grams or kilograms. Laboratory suppliers sell reagents and anhydrous grades to research and quality control labs.

Animal nutrition and photography form the second major end-use segment. Iodine is an essential trace element for thyroid function in cats, dogs, poultry, cattle, and pigs. Some pet food formulas use calcium iodide as the iodine source. Most feed and premix makers, however, use calcium iodate or potassium iodide, which are more widely approved and more stable. Photographic emulsions and processing chemistry used calcium iodide in the past. That outlet is now small and declining.

Research and detector materials take a growing share of high-purity demand. Calcium iodide crystals have shown a light yield of about 107,000 photons per MeV, about 2.7 times that of thallium-doped sodium iodide. Their energy resolution reached about 3.2% at 662 keV. Physicists value calcium iodide for neutrinoless double beta decay searches using calcium-48 and for dark matter searches. Crystal growth is hard, since the material absorbs water within an hour and cleaves easily. Halide perovskite and solid electrolyte researchers also buy small amounts of ultra-pure grades.

Calcium Iodide Market Risks

Calcium iodide production costs are highly sensitive to iodine price fluctuations, as iodine accounts for most of the raw material cost. Chile accounts for a large share of iodine supply, while only a few other countries produce it. This dependence can lead to supply shortages and procurement delays. Growing demand for iodine in X-ray contrast media may make supplies tighter and push prices higher, raising production costs and putting pressure on profit margins. Prices can rise quickly when demand from contrast media and LCD film manufacturers increases. New capacity, such as a seawater pipeline and a greenfield project in Chile, may ease supply over the next few years.

Calcium iodide reacts easily with moisture, air, and light, so it needs proper packaging to maintain its quality. In the US and EU, regulations encourage using other iodine sources in animal feed, limiting demand for calcium iodide. Its use in photography has also fallen as digital cameras and imaging systems have replaced traditional film. Demand from detector manufacturing and perovskite research remains small and depends on available funding and individual project needs. Exchange rate changes, freight and energy costs, customer audits, and lower-priced Chinese products also put pressure on profit margins.

Calcium Iodide Production Process and Main Cost Drivers

The calcium iodide production process runs from iodine receipt through reduction to hydroiodic acid, neutralization with calcium carbonate or lime, filtration, purification, evaporation or crystallization, drying or dehydration, milling, packing in moisture-proof containers, and quality testing.

1. By Neutralization of Hydroiodic Acid with Calcium Carbonate or Calcium Hydroxide: The main inputs are iodine, hydrazine hydrate or hydrogen, calcium carbonate or lime, process water, activated carbon, nitrogen, steam, electricity, and packaging.

Calcium iodide production starts with hydroiodic acid. Most industrial hydroiodic acid comes from reducing iodine with hydrazine in water, which gives hydrogen iodide and nitrogen gas. The acid is then purified by distillation and can be concentrated to about 57%, its azeotrope with water. A second route reduces iodine vapor with hydrogen over a platinum-group catalyst at about 250 to 850 degree Celsius. The crude hydrogen iodide gas is scrubbed to remove free iodine and then absorbed in water or a base solution. This route gives very pure acid for high-grade iodides.

The purified acid is then neutralized with calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, or calcium oxide, depending on cost, purity, and foaming limits. Because calcium carbonate releases carbon dioxide, it is added slowly to control foaming. The pH is held in a narrow range to avoid free acid or excess lime. The solution is treated with activated carbon and filtered to remove insolubles, iron, and other metals. It is then evaporated and cooled to crystallize hydrated calcium iodide or sold as a concentrated solution.

Anhydrous calcium iodide needs careful drying under vacuum or dry inert gas. Heat must be raised slowly, since hydrates melt at low temperatures and can release iodine. Ultra-dry grades for scintillators and research are handled in dry rooms or gloveboxes. Stoichiometrically, 1 kg of calcium iodide requires about 0.86 kg of iodine and about 0.34 kg of calcium carbonate. Making hydroiodic acid with hydrazine also needs about 0.055 kg of hydrazine, or about 0.085 kg of hydrazine hydrate. Key control points are pH, temperature, free iodine, water content, light exposure, and metal impurities.

Main Factors Affecting Calcium Iodide Production Cost

According to a calcium iodide production plant report, calcium iodide production costs are highly sensitive to iodine price fluctuations, as iodine accounts for the largest share of raw material expenses. Price increases can significantly raise manufacturing costs, while losses during processing can further reduce profitability. Improving iodine recovery and reducing material wastage are therefore important for controlling costs and maintaining profit margins.

Next are energy, equipment, corrosion, and handling. Evaporation, crystallization, centrifuging, and vacuum drying use steam, electricity, and cooling water. Hydroiodic acid is very corrosive, so tanks, pumps, and lines need glass-lined steel, fluoropolymers, or special alloys. Iodine vapor and spills must be captured and recycled to protect yield and workers. Dry rooms and nitrogen blanketing add cost for anhydrous grades.

Purity requirements, packaging, batch size, and production volume all affect costs. High-purity grades need clean acid, extra filtration, recrystallization, and metal testing. Moisture-proof, light-proof packaging with desiccant adds cost to every lot. Small batches and specialty grades raise cost per kilogram. Assay, free iodine, water, heavy metals, and color testing add further cost. Working capital is high because iodine is costly. In practice, stocks of iodine, hydroiodic acid, mother liquor, and finished product tie up cash, so fast turnover, tight inventory control, and quick testing help margins.

Raw Materials for Calcium Iodide Production Plant and its Procurement

According to the calcium iodide production plant project report, raw material sourcing for calcium iodide centers on iodine. Most iodine comes from Chilean caliche ore, where it is recovered alongside nitrate salts. Japan and the US recover iodine from natural gas and oil field brines. Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia also produce iodine from brines, though in far smaller volumes. Calcium carbonate, lime, hydrazine hydrate, and activated carbon come from industrial suppliers.

Feedstock quality determines calcium iodide quality. Iodine should be at least 99.5% pure, with low chlorine, bromine, iron, and non-volatile residue. Calcium carbonate or lime must have low levels of magnesium, iron, heavy metals, and silica. Hydrazine hydrate must meet the required purity standards. Buyers also check each batch for assay, free iodine, impurities, moisture, and particle size.

Calcium iodide manufacturers usually buy iodine through contracts based on supplier prices. These contracts specify the grade, quantity, pricing method, payment terms, and delivery conditions. Manufacturers that already produce iodine derivatives often make hydroiodic acid at their own facilities and use it to produce different iodide compounds. Other plants buy hydroiodic acid from outside suppliers. This reduces the need for investment in production equipment but increases raw material costs. Incoming checks cover assay, halide impurities, metals, and moisture.

Sustainability and Regulatory Requirements

Calcium iodide production raises concerns about iodine recovery, chemical safety, effluent, and emissions. Iodine is costly and environmentally harmful, so plants scrub vents, recycle mother liquors, and recover iodine from waste streams. Hydrazine is toxic and a suspected carcinogen, which calls for closed handling, vapor monitoring, protective gear, and trained staff. Hydroiodic acid fumes need scrubbers and corrosion-resistant equipment. Caliche mining and brine extraction affect water and land, so buyers increasingly ask about responsible iodine sourcing.

Calcium iodide regulation depends on region and use. Supplier safety data sheets classify it as causing skin and eye irritation. In the EU, producers must register under REACH and follow classification and labeling rules. In the US, calcium iodide is listed under TSCA. For feed, the US trace mineral list and the EU iodine additive list name potassium iodide and calcium iodate rather than calcium iodide. Pet food and supplement use therefore depends on local approval, labeling, and feed safety rules. ISO 9001 and FAMI-QS support customer qualification.

CAPEX and OPEX for a Calcium Iodide Production Plant

A calcium iodide plant is a small specialty unit, often inside an iodine derivatives site. Plant investment starts with secure iodine storage, hydrazine storage, acid tanks, and lime handling. The main equipment includes glass-lined or fluoropolymer-lined reactors for handling hydroiodic acid and carrying out neutralization. The process includes distillation, scrubbing, filtration, carbon treatment, and mother liquor recovery units. Evaporators, crystallizers, centrifuges, vacuum dryers, dry rooms, mills, and packing stations complete the process line. A QC laboratory with titration, Karl Fischer, ICP, color, and UV testing completes the plant.

Calcium iodide operating costs are driven by iodine, followed by labor, energy, and packaging. Hydrazine, calcium carbonate, carbon, nitrogen, and testing follow. Fixed costs cover operators, maintenance staff, QC analysts, safety staff, and insurance. The calcium iodide plant setup cost depends on capacity, hydroiodic acid route, grade range, drying capability, and site integration. Cost per kilogram depends on iodine price, yield, energy use, and utilization. Iodine recovery from vents and mother liquors often decides margins.

Plant Location and Investment Factors

A suitable calcium iodide plant should be in or near an iodine derivatives facility. China, the US, Japan, India, and Europe have established production sites. The plant needs secure storage for iodine and hydrazine, corrosion-resistant equipment, scrubbers, dry rooms, and effluent treatment systems. Good road and port access is important for receiving iodine from Chile and Japan and shipping the finished product to customers. Being close to fine chemical manufacturers, pet food producers, supplement companies, and research facilities can also reduce delivery times and storage costs.

One key investment decision is whether to produce hydroiodic acid on-site. This can lower costs and allow the plant to manufacture several iodide products using the same facility. The choice of product grade also matters, as anhydrous and ultra-pure calcium iodide require dry rooms and tighter process control. Securing a reliable iodine supply is another priority. Long-term contracts with suppliers in Chile or Japan can help reduce price fluctuations and supply disruptions. Qualifying products with feed and research customers may take several months. During this period, the plant must produce trial batches, provide test data, pass customer audits, and maintain consistent quality, increasing costs before sales begin.

Major Calcium Iodide Producing Regions

China is the largest producing region for merchant calcium iodide and many other iodides. Its manufacturers in Zhejiang, Shandong, Hubei, and other provinces supply industrial, feed, and reagent buyers. The US hosts iodine producers in Oklahoma and iodine derivative producers serving chemical and research markets. Japan hosts iodine producers and converters known for high-purity, low-metal grades. India hosts iodine derivative manufacturers serving pharmaceutical and feed markets. Europe hosts finishing and laboratory chemical suppliers. Laboratory chemical suppliers in Germany, the UK, and other European countries repack, test, and distribute high-purity grades for research buyers.

Key Calcium Iodide Producers

Iofina

• Recovers iodine from oil and gas brines in Oklahoma.
• Lists calcium iodide among its inorganic iodide products.
• Makes a wide range of iodides, iodates, hydroiodic acid & organic iodides.
• Serves chemical, pharmaceutical, nutrition & industrial customers.

Nippoh Chemicals

• Makes iodine derivatives in Japan.
• Holds a patent for making high-purity hydrogen iodide and inorganic iodides from iodine and hydrogen.
• Supplies high-purity iodides and organic iodine compounds.

SQM

• Ranks as the world's largest iodine producer, with operations in northern Chile.
• Realized an average iodine price of about USD 72.3 per kg in the first quarter of this year.
• Makes iodine derivatives through its Ajay-SQM partnership, including calcium iodide.

Shandong Xiya Chemical

• Lists calcium iodide among its products.
• Operates from Shandong, China.
• Belongs to China's inorganic salt and reagent sector.

Merck

• Sells calcium iodide under the Sigma-Aldrich brand.
• Offers anhydrous beads up to 99.999% on a trace metals basis.
• Provides certificates of analysis & regulatory documents.
• Serves research, materials science & quality control labs.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Sells calcium iodide through its Thermo Scientific Chemicals range, including the former Alfa Aesar line.
• Offers anhydrous grades at 99.5% and Puratronic hydrate at 99.9965% on a metals basis.
• Supplies research packs in sealed containers.
• Competes on global distribution & documentation.