Axiom MRC has updated all it's market research reports with the Economic Impact Analysis of COVID19 Pandemic on the market. Our team of analyst are following Comprehensive Three Dimensional (3D) Research Methodology along with large number primary interviews with key industry participants to bring insightful market reports to meet the current market requirements.
The exclusive COVID-19 impact analysis report by Axiom MRC provides a 360 degree analysis of micro and macro-economic factors on the global zircon sand market. In addition, complete analysis of changes on the global zircon sand market expenditure, economic and international policies on supply and demand side. The report also studies the impact of pandemic on global economies, international trade, business investments, GDP and marketing strategies of key players present in the market. The current COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the world of work. Its impact, which differs across sectors, has been significant in the construction, ceramic, and medical sector and thus in the zircon sand industry. For instance, since construction is sensitive to economic cycles, construction companies and workers are mostly vulnerable to the drastic decline in economic activity resulting from the pandemic. Moreover, due to COVID-19, many undergoing construction projects of the countries has witnessed sudden price increase of the construction materials. Thus several contractors of the civil, industrial and infrastructural construction have reduced the overall budget of the certain construction projects. This is ultimately impacted the zircon sand industry of the world.
The zircon sand market is likely to witness tremendous growth during the forecast period 2022-2028. The key factors contributing to the growth of global zircon sand market is increasing demand from ceramic industry and rapidly growing market for building and construction industry across the globe. Increasing urbanization and increase in consumption of ceramic tiles is propelling the zircon sand market. In addition, increasing demand for zircon sand from the foundry sector is also expected to boost the zircon sand market in coming years.
Zircon sand is a major raw material used in the production of glazes, opacifiers, and frits, decorative and floor tiles, steel and glass refractories, specialized glass and metal castings. Consumption of zircon products for the manufacturing of faceplates for computer screens and TV monitors continues to increase, particularly in developing countries such as India. The surged use of zircon sand in numerous applications continues with China being in the forefront of new production facilities to service these industries. Various upcoming construction projects of nuclear power stations across the globe will create sustained demand for zirconium metal in this very specialized market. The major driving force in zircon demand is obvious in Asia Pacific and Europe where numerous consuming industries have expanded across the board, increasing the usage to the extent that global demand exceeds global production capacity.
Factors such as gap between demand and supply is expected to hamper the zircon sand market. Moreover, high tariffs and stringent mining policies are anticipated to hinder the zircon sand market. From the past few years, there has been a global increase in regulation within the areas of the transport, environment, and health and safety. Regulations are becoming more stringent, whilst seeing a global trend in harmonization.
Increase in prices of zircon sand is likely to restrict the market growth in the coming years. For instance, there has been a steady increase in zircon sand pricing on the back of Iluka Resources raising their prices by USD 70/mt for Q2 2021 deliveries. Other key producers, such as Tronox and RBM, have followed suit and raised their prices by a similar amount. Prices now stand at about USD 1490-1520/mt CIF China port. Prices are expected to continue upwards heading into Q3 owing to a healthy demand for downstream zirconium products.
The report provides in-depth analysis of global zircon sand market, market size, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period of 2019-2028, considering 2021 as the base year.
The zircon sand market is bifurcated into Product, End-Use Industry and Geography.
The global zircon sand market is studied for various products such as colourless, yellow-golden, brown and others. The colourless segment is expected to account for the largest market share and is anticipated to grow with a significant share. The factors can be accredited to its high demand in end-use industries. Zircon sands are rounded, naturally occurring sands used in refractory, ceramic, foundry, and precision investment casting applications. They are important components in the production of ladle brick, glazes, coatings, wall tiles, shell molds and cores, and metal chills. Thus, an increasing use of zircon sand in refractory, the steel foundry industry, weld fluxes and ceramics application is accredited to the growth of the market.
The report analyses various end-use industries of zircon sand such as ceramics, refractory materials, medical & healthcare, building & construction and others. The building & construction segment is anticipated to hold a significant share of the zircon sand market during the estimated timeframe. This is primarily accredited to the surge in the investment in the building & construction industry across the globe. In addition, increasing use of zircon sand in ceramic industry is also likely to fuel the growth of the market in the coming years. Advanced ceramics is a well-known commercial application for zircon sand. Traditional ceramics, such as bricks and clays, are usually porous, hard, and brittle. Advanced ceramics refers to ceramic materials that have been specially designed to enhance those features.
In addition, during the manufacturing of ceramic tile, zircon sand is mostly used in the form of flour. Zircon sand is sometimes used to enhance abrasion resistance of glazed surfaces, particular floor tiles. The characteristics that make zircon an ideal opacifier are its high refractive index. Fine zircon grains also scatter visible light, making ceramics appear opaque and white. An additional characteristic that makes zircon sand attractive for ceramic manufacturing is its high hardness, which helps to resist mechanical damage and scratching.
The report analyses various geographical regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. APAC is likely to continue to hold the highest market share during the forecast period. Countries such as India and China are expected to dominate the market in the coming years. China is one of the fastest growing economies across the globe, and most of the end-use industries in the country are anticipated witness significant growth owing to its increasing population and enhanced standard of living. China is observing rapid growth in the nuclear power plant, which is anticipated to improve the demand for zircon. Additionally, China is one of the leading market leaders of the ceramic sector. The steel and iron industry consumes the major part of refractories. The steady growth in the manufacturing of steel and iron has been propelling the market growth. The growth of industries such as foundry, ceramic, and refractories is projected to impel the market growth during the projected timeframe.
The zircon sand market is witnessing high competition owing to presence of many major players in the market. The key companies operating in the zircon sand market are catering to the demand by collaborating, innovative, acquiring small players. Some of the major companies operating in the market are Alkane Resources Limited, Allegheny Technologies Inc, Australian Zircon NL, Bemax Resources Limited and Neo Materials Technologies Inc among others. A majority of the consumption of zircon sand is based in Asia-Pacific and Europe.
July 2018: ERAMET announced that it has acquired 100% shares of TiZir, a vertically integrated zircon and titanium company with an intention to strengthen its position in the zirconium market.
Zircon, also known as zircon silicate (ZrSiO4), is found in ancient mineral sand deposits. In the form of crystal sands, zircon is normally brown, but could also vary from colourless to pink, yellow-golden, and red to blue and green. The most of the zircon sand is mined in the African continent and Australia, with present annual global production is greater than one million tonnes. Mining of mineral sands can be done by both wet (dredge) mining and dry mining methods. The major use of zircon sand is its conversion into opacifier, flour, zirconium chemicals, fused zirconia, zirconium metal and chemical zirconia. Zircon sand is directly used in refractories and foundry applications and other minor applications. Zircon sands provides properties such as high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, high bulk density, low reactivity with most alloys, nonwetting surface to molten metals and excellent refractory properties. In addition, the ceramic sector, by far the largest user of zircon sand, is well versed in the exceptional properties of this material. The properties that make zircon important in the production of glass and ceramic tiles also ensure that zirconia plays a major role in several varied aspects of the modern world.
1) What are the major drivers and opportunities in the zircon sand market?
Ans: Increasing demand from ceramic industry and rapidly growing market for building and construction industry. In addition, surged use of zircon sand in applications such as glazes, opacifiers, and frits, decorative and floor tiles, steel and glass refractories, specialized glass and metal castings.
2) What are the major strategies adopted by the key players?
Ans: Increasing zircon production, partnerships and agreements are the major strategies adopted by the key players of zircon sand market.
3) Which region contributes to the largest market share in zircon sand market during the forecast period?
Ans: APAC is likely to contribute the largest market share in zircon sand market during the forecast period. Zircon sand is the starting raw material for the majority of zirconium chemicals, including zirconium basic carbonate, zirconium oxychloride, and zirconium oxide. Thus, surged adoption of these materials in various end use applications is boosting market growth in the region.
4) What are the segments of zircon sand market?
Ans: The zircon sand market is segmented into product, end-use industry and geography.
