China Strengthens Leadership in Global Dolomite Trade

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'World - Dolomite - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

Exports

In 2021, overseas shipments of dolomite increased by 113% to 20M tons, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. Over the period under review, exports recorded a strong increase. As a result, exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, supplies skyrocketed to $542M in 2021. In general, exports showed resilient growth. As a result, exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, China (9.1M tons) represented the major exporter of dolomite, mixing up 45% of total supplies. The United Arab Emirates (2.1M tons) held an 11% share (based on tons) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Canada (9.2%), Belgium (5.6%), the Philippines (5.5%) and Slovakia (5%). Thailand (722K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

In value terms, China ($276M) remains the largest dolomite supplier worldwide, comprising 51% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by the United Arab Emirates ($39M), with a 7.3% share of global supplies. It was followed by Belgium, with a 4.2% share.

In China, dolomite exports increased at an average annual rate of +14.5% over the period from 2007-2021. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: the United Arab Emirates (+9.6% per year) and Belgium (+1.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the average dolomite export price amounted to $27 per ton, shrinking by -8.8% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was China ($30 per ton), while the Philippines ($7.7 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports

In 2021, global dolomite imports soared to 14M tons, growing by 16% against the previous year's figure. Overall, total imports indicated a pronounced expansion from 2007 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the last fourteen-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when imports increased by 30% y-o-y. Global imports peaked in 2021 and are expected to retain growth in years to come.

In value terms, dolomite imports skyrocketed to $563M in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% from 2007 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. Over the period under review, global imports hit record highs at $603M in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2021, India (4.6M tons), distantly followed by Japan (2.4M tons), the U.S. (1.9M tons) and Taiwan (Chinese) (0.7M tons) were the key importers of dolomite, together creating 67% of total purchases. China (582K tons), the Netherlands (567K tons), Ukraine (485K tons), Germany (484K tons), the Czech Republic (474K tons), Brazil (285K tons), Paraguay (264K tons) and the UK (224K tons) held a little share of total imports.

In value terms, China ($164M), India ($105M) and Japan ($89M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 64% share of global supplies.

Among the main importing countries, India saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period 2007-2021, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The average dolomite import price stood at $39 per ton in 2021, rising by 12% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was China ($282 per ton), while the U.S. ($9.9 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From 2007 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Brazil, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform