Description
BULK Bentonite Exporter, Supplier & Manufacturer
Thank you for choosing Vornaco for your bentonite purchase. Every bentonite order starts with the same question: which grade, and from whom؟ Sodium, calcium, and activated bentonite behave very differently in a drilling mud, a foundry sand, or a pond liner — and the supplier you choose determines whether the lot matches the specification on paper. Vornaco is an Iranian manufacturer and exporter of bentonite powder, supplying sodium and calcium grades from mine to port with full COA documentation. Our website covers everything a buyer checks before ordering: grades and their test values, processing and packaging, 2026 FOB pricing, and export logistics.
Executive Summary
Vornaco is a bentonite supplier, manufacturer and exporter of sodium and calcium bentonite powder in API 13A drilling grade, OCMA grade, foundry grade, and civil/geotechnical grades. Products are milled to 200–325 mesh, packed in 25/50 kg bags and 1–1.5 ton jumbo bags, and shipped FOB/CIF worldwide with full COA, TDS and MSDS documentation. For specifications, pricing, or a free sample, contact vornaco.com.
Global Bentonite Market & Sodium Bentonite Supply in 2026
The global bentonite market keeps expanding, and sodium bentonite — the premium segment used in drilling-grade, civil, and cat litter applications — holds roughly 64% of it, with Asia-Pacific and the Middle East growing fastest. Iranian sodium grades compete with Wyoming-type material at a lower delivered cost, which is why importers in the Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia increasingly source from Iran.
Bentonite at a Glance
Bentonite is a clay rock formed by the in-situ alteration of volcanic ash, dominated by the clay mineral montmorillonite .Its layered structure lets it absorb water, swell, and form thixotropic gels — which is exactly what makes it valuable across drilling, construction, foundry, and environmental applications. For the full guide to its composition, types, properties, and uses, read our article What is Bentonite Clay?
Vornaco Export Bentonite Grades & Custom Solutions
Sodium Bentonite
Vornaco exports high-purity sodium bentonite clay, recognized for its superior swelling capacity and impermeable barrier properties. If you are looking for premium sodium bentonite for sale, we provide reliable bulk supply with certified quality, competitive pricing, and full export documentation for global projects.
Calcium Bentonite
Our natural calcium bentonite clay offers excellent adsorption, high cation exchange capacity, and strong binding properties. Ideal for foundry sand casting, edible oil refining, wastewater filtration, and agricultural uses, Vornaco supplies consistent bulk calcium bentonite shipments tailored to your industrial specifications.
Granular Bentonite Clay
Engineered for easy handling and dust-free application, Vornaco’s granular bentonite clay features uniform particle sizing for controlled hydration. Specially processed as high-yield granular sodium bentonite, it is the preferred choice for water well grouting, environmental barriers, and large-scale soil sealing projects. We supply consistent bulk granular bentonite in customized packaging to meet large infrastructure and drilling requirements worldwide.
Bentonite Lump
For manufacturing facilities with their own processing lines, we supply raw bentonite lumps directly from our mines. Sourcing raw lump ore maintains natural mineral properties and moisture, making it a cost-effective choice for custom milling, activation, ceramics, and industrial manufacturing.
Tailored Bentonite Formulations (Custom Solutions)
Vornaco engineers customized bentonite formulations to meet exact project and industry specifications. Based on certified laboratory analyses, we can tailor:
- OCMA & Drilling Grades: Optimized viscosity (dial 30–66 at 600 rpm) and low water loss (13–15 ml).
- Ceramic & Industrial Grades: High mechanical strength (Dry MOR > 48 kg/cm², Fired MOR 430 kg/cm²) with controlled plasticity and firing shrinkage.
- Custom Sizing & Activation: Tailored particle distribution (ASTM #100/#200 residue < 2.5%), specific oxide ratios (SiO2\text{SiO}_2SiO2/Al2O3\text{Al}_2\text{O}_3Al2O3), and activation levels.
Send us your required TDS or target specifications for custom batch processing.
Sodium Bentonite Technical Specifications
The table below shows the typical export-grade parameters for our industrial range that buyers check before ordering. Your final acceptance test should always be the batch Certificate of Analysis (COA), not the brochure. Drilling-grade values (API 13A Section 9 / OCMA Section 11) are published on the Drilling Bentonite page.
| Parameter | Foundry (AFS) | Civil / GCL | Industrial / General |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montmorillonite (min) | ≥ 70% | ≥ 70% | 60 – 70% |
| Free swelling index (min) | — | ≥ 24 ml/2 g | — |
| Moisture (max) | ≤ 10% | ≤ 12% | ≤ 10 – 13% |
| Sand / residue >75 µm (max) | ≤ 3.0% | ≤ 4.0% | ≤ 4.0% |
| pH (2% suspension) | 8.0 – 10.0 | 8.0 – 10.5 | 8.0 – 11.0 |
| Particle size | 100 – 200 mesh | 60 – 200 mesh | 200 – 325 mesh |
Test Methods Used
- Swelling index and viscosity: API RP 13B / API 13A
- Moisture: oven drying at 105 °C
- Fluid loss: API filter press, 100 psi, 30 min
- Sand content: wet sieve, 75 µm
- Methylene blue adsorption: for montmorillonite estimation
If your application needs whiteness and low iron (ceramics, paper) — choose kaolin; if it needs swelling and sealing — bentonite. Vornaco exports all clays, so, instead of managing multiple suppliers, you can consolidate them.
Industrial Applications of Bentonite Powder
- Drilling (Oil, Gas, Water Well, HDD)
For drilling applications — oil & gas, water well, and HDD — Vornaco supplies API 13A and OCMA drilling grades with full viscosity and fluid-loss documentation.
- Civil Engineering and Construction
Sodium bentonite slurry is used to support excavation walls, seal ponds and landfills, and backfill boreholes.
- Foundry
Calcium (and sometimes sodium) bentonite is the binder in green sand molding. It provides green compression strength, durability, and easy shake-out. Key checks for foundry buyers: AFS clay content, methylene blue value, and green strength.
- Iron Ore Pelletizing
Sodium or activated bentonite binds iron ore concentrate into green pellets before induration. Typical dosage is 0.5–1.0% by weight; consistent montmorillonite content and mesh are what keep pellet quality stable.
- Cat Litter and Pet Care
High-absorption sodium bentonite clumps on contact with moisture. Buyers in this segment check absorption capacity, dust content, and granule size distribution more than viscosity numbers.
- Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care
Calcium bentonite powder (100–200 mesh, food/pharma grade) is used in face masks, detox formulations, and as a suspending agent. Heavy-metal limits, microbial purity, and montmorillonite content are the deciding parameters.
- Animal Feed and Agriculture
Bentonite is used as an anti-caking agent in feed, a binder in feed pellets, and a soil conditioner. Aflatoxin-binding grades are a growing segment in poultry and dairy nutrition.
- Water Treatment and Environmental Remediation
Bentonite flocculates suspended solids, adsorbs organic contaminants, and seals waste containment cells. It is also used in oil-water separation and as a carrier in remediation products.
- Paper
In papermaking, bentonite works as a retention aid, pitch-control agent, and filler to improve sheet formation and runnability. For application details and recommended grades, see our Paper Bentonite page.
Bentonite processing method prior to export IN VORNACO
Quality is decided in the plant, not at the mine gate. The Vornaco processing line follows these stages:
- Mining and selection — run-of-mine blocks are graded by field tests and moisture.
- Drying — moisture reduced to target (≤ 10% for API grade).
- Crushing and grinding — milled to the required mesh (200, 250, or 325).
- Classification and sieving — rejects oversized particles and sand.
- Soda activation (for activated grades) — calcium clay treated with sodium carbonate.
- Quality control — every batch tested for swelling, viscosity, fluid loss, moisture, and mesh.
- Packing and loading — 25/50 kg bags or 1–1.5 ton jumbo bags, palletized, containerized.
Packaging Options for Bentonite Supply
Effective packaging is critical to maintaining bentonite quality — especially moisture content and mesh integrity — during transit. Vornaco offers flexible packaging solutions, carefully adapted to your specific shipment volume and destination logistics:
- Jumbo bags (1,000 – 1,500 kg, with inner liner): ideal for efficient lifting and containerized handling; the standard choice for FCL export orders.
- Bulk cargo format: the standard for large-volume maritime shipments where the buyer receives into silo storage.
Each method is selected to ensure safe transit, practical unloading, and optimized export operations.
Bentonite Export Logistics and Shipping Process
At Vornaco, we provide a streamlined export process designed for international bentonite buyers who prioritize efficiency, transparency, and reliable delivery. We manage the logistics workflow from cargo preparation and documentation to port coordination and shipping execution, ensuring every order is handled in line with international trade requirements.
We support both FOB or FOT and CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) arrangements, with shipping options tailored to your destination, cargo requirements, and preferred trade terms.
Our logistics services include:
- Flexible FOB Shipping Ports: FOB shipments can be arranged through Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, Bandar Khamir, and Chabahar.
- FOT from Zahedan: For suitable orders and destinations, FOT Zahedan is also available.
- Seamless Documentation: Accurate preparation of export documents, including COA, TDS, MSDS, packing list, commercial invoice, and certificate of origin, helping minimize customs delays.
- Strategic Coordination: Direct oversight of the export chain, from cargo preparation and processing to port coordination and shipment execution.
- Reliable Delivery: Proactive logistics coordination designed to minimize lead times and ensure the smooth delivery of bulk bentonite orders.
Our export team works with each buyer to determine the most suitable shipping route and trade arrangement based on the destination, product specifications, order volume, and delivery requirements.
Bentonite Price Per Ton
Price is the second most-asked question in bentonite procurement—after “Which grade do I need?” Unlike suppliers who hide pricing, we are transparent about the cost of bentonite per ton. For Vornaco’s standard export grades, you can expect an FOB price ranging from 50 to 60$ per ton.
About this guide
This reference was prepared by the Vornaco export team under the supervision of Mr. Faramarz Amirmohammadi, who manages Vornaco’s export operations. Vornaco operates with established commercial and quality credentials, including its trading license and ISO certifications, as well as registered companies in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, supporting our international trade and customer relationships.
For a specification-matched quotation, a batch COA, or a technical discussion of your application, contact the team directly at Email or +98 912 293 9278.
Contact Us
Getting in touch with us is easy:
📞 Phone: +98 912 293 9278 or WhatsApp
📧 Email: info@vornaco.com
Arthit Srisawat –
We’ve been buying bentonite from Vorna for about two years now. Quality has been consistent every shipment, which honestly is the most important thing for us. Our clients in the construction and waterproofing industry here in Thailand have had no complaints.
Communication with their team is also straightforward — no delays, no confusion. Documents are always in order.
web-admin-2020 –
Hi Arthit, thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for being a long-term partner. We’re pleased to know the bentonite quality has remained consistent and that communication and documentation have been smooth throughout the process. It’s great to hear your clients in Thailand have had no complaints. We appreciate your trust and look forward to working with you for many more shipments.
Rajesh Menon –
Been sourcing bentonite from Vorna for a while now and so far no issues. Quality is stable and matches what was agreed on. Our drilling and foundry clients here in India have been satisfied with the material.
Shipping and paperwork have always been handled properly on their end, which saves us a lot of headache. Team is easy to reach when needed.
Good supplier, would recommend to others in the industry.
web-admin-2020 –
Hi Rajesh, thank you for your kind words and continued trust in Vorna. We’re glad to hear the bentonite quality, shipping, and paperwork have been meeting your expectations, and that your clients in India are satisfied with the material. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve you.