Expanded Clays Market

The article discusses the declining demand for expanded clays worldwide, with forecasts indicating a contraction in market volume and an increase in market value from 2022 to 2030. It provides insights on global consumption, production, imports, exports, and prices of expanded clays, highlighting key players such as China, United States, India, and Portugal. The data reveals trends in consumption, production, imports, and exports over the period from 2012 to 2022, including fluctuations in prices and growth rates among major importing and exporting countries.

Market Forecast

Depressed by shrinking demand for expanded clays worldwide, the market is expected to continue its downward consumption trend over the next eight-year period. The performance of the market is forecast to contract with an anticipated CAGR of -0.2% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to depress the market volume to 14M tons by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to contract with an anticipated CAGR of +2.5% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $15.1B (in nominal prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Exfoliated Vermiculite, Expanded Clays And Foamed Slag

Global expanded clays consumption dropped slightly to 14M tons in 2022, with a decrease of -1.8% compared with the previous year. Overall, consumption saw a pronounced decline. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 6.6% against the previous year. Global consumption peaked at 18M tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

The global expanded clays market size expanded modestly to $12.4B in 2022, surging by 1.6% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption showed a slight reduction. Global consumption peaked at $13.8B in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Consumption By Country

China (3.9M tons) remains the largest expanded clays consuming country worldwide, comprising approx. 27% of total volume. Moreover, expanded clays consumption in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the United States (1.6M tons), twofold. India (1.5M tons) ranked third in terms of total consumption with a 10% share.

In China, expanded clays consumption remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United States (-0.4% per year) and India (-0.7% per year).

In value terms, the largest expanded clays markets worldwide were China ($2.5B), South Korea ($2.1B) and the United States ($1.8B), with a combined 51% share of the global market. India, Mexico, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia, Germany, Iran and Portugal lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 23%.

Among the main consuming countries, Portugal, with a CAGR of +7.3%, saw the highest growth rate of market size over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2022, the highest levels of expanded clays per capita consumption was registered in Portugal (36 kg per person), followed by Canada (6.6 kg per person), South Korea (6.3 kg per person) and the United States (4.8 kg per person), while the world average per capita consumption of expanded clays was estimated at 1.8 kg per person.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of the expanded clays per capita consumption in Portugal totaled +7.9%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Canada (-2.6% per year) and South Korea (-2.5% per year).

Production

World Production of Exfoliated Vermiculite, Expanded Clays And Foamed Slag

Global expanded clays production reduced modestly to 15M tons in 2022, remaining constant against the year before. Overall, production recorded a pronounced contraction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 6.3%. Global production peaked at 19M tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, expanded clays production amounted to $12.7B in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the production volume increased by 18% against the previous year. Global production peaked at $13.3B in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

Production By Country

The country with the largest volume of expanded clays production was China (4M tons), accounting for 27% of total volume. Moreover, expanded clays production in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, the United States (1.6M tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by India (1.5M tons), with a 10% share.

In China, expanded clays production remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United States (-0.6% per year) and India (-0.7% per year).

Imports

World Imports of Exfoliated Vermiculite, Expanded Clays And Foamed Slag

After six years of growth, supplies from abroad of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag decreased by -11.3% to 872K tons in 2022. Over the period under review, total imports indicated a notable expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the last decade. 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 15%. Over the period under review, global imports reached the peak figure at 983K tons in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

In value terms, expanded clays imports expanded modestly to $447M in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when imports increased by 18% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global imports reached the maximum in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

Imports By Country

The purchases of the three major importers of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag, namely Germany, Sweden and the UK, represented more than third of total import. France (50K tons) took a 5.8% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by the Netherlands (4.5%). The United States (38K tons), Canada (33K tons), Latvia (30K tons), Estonia (30K tons), Portugal (25K tons), Switzerland (25K tons), Russia (23K tons) and Lithuania (18K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Sweden (with a CAGR of +33.6%), while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($41M), Germany ($38M) and the United States ($37M) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 26% share of global imports. Canada, Sweden, the UK, France, Russia, Switzerland, Portugal, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 28%.

Sweden, with a CAGR of +12.0%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

The average expanded clays import price stood at $512 per ton in 2022, increasing by 15% against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, average import prices attained the peak figure at $560 per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($1,035 per ton), while Estonia ($95 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+9.8%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Exfoliated Vermiculite, Expanded Clays And Foamed Slag

In 2022, global exports of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag reached 1.4M tons, growing by 2.2% against the previous year's figure. Overall, total exports indicated a resilient expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +70.0% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 18%. Over the period under review, the global exports reached the peak figure in 2022 and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, expanded clays exports amounted to $497M in 2022. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when exports increased by 20%. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Exports By Country

Belgium represented the major exporter of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag in the world, with the volume of exports accounting for 440K tons, which was near 33% of total exports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Denmark (156K tons), Germany (107K tons), the Czech Republic (78K tons) and Portugal (67K tons), together creating a 30% share of total exports. Belarus (54K tons), the United States (45K tons), China (44K tons), the Netherlands (44K tons), Finland (44K tons), Norway (36K tons), Austria (32K tons) and Italy (29K tons) took a little share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to expanded clays exports from Belgium stood at +12.6%. At the same time, Finland (+89.2%), Norway (+21.1%), Portugal (+13.5%), the Netherlands (+8.5%), the Czech Republic (+5.3%), Italy (+3.2%), Austria (+2.7%), China (+2.6%) and Germany (+2.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Finland emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +89.2% from 2012-2022. Denmark experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the United States (-1.0%) and Belarus (-2.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Belgium, Finland, Portugal and Norway increased by +15, +3.2, +2.5 and +2 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($83M), the United States ($58M) and China ($57M) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2022, together comprising 40% of global exports. Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Norway, Portugal, Belarus and Finland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 27%.

Among the main exporting countries, Finland, with a CAGR of +37.0%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

The average expanded clays export price stood at $367 per ton in 2022, with an increase of 5.1% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a pronounced descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 an increase of 6.5%. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $486 per ton. From 2014 to 2022, the average export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the Netherlands ($1,890 per ton), while Belgium ($48 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+14.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform