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 Asia Pacific zircon sand market. In addition, complete analysis of changes on the Asia Pacific zircon sand market expenditure, economic and international policies on supply and demand side. The report also studies the impact of pandemic on regional economies, international trade, business investments, GDP and marketing strategies of key players present in the market. The COVID-19 impacted various end use industries of the zircon sand market in the APAC region. The nationwide shutdown and the lockdowns of non-essential industries have caused a downfall in the economy. Several construction activities and projects, including government infrastructure projects, commercial and residential projects which were initially running, were completely stopped due to lockdowns regulations. The region’s construction sector witnessed some major difficulties with labor shortages, material supply chain disruption, and the city-wide lockdown or shutdown of construction sites. The region’s construction market depends heavily on national shipments of construction materials. Thus, surged supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the region’s construction industry. This is in turn hindered the growth of zircon sand market across the region.
Increasing production of zircon sand in the Asia Pacific countries such as China, Australia and India is attributed to the market growth. Zircon sand is a naturally occurring mineral, used in several strategic industries. The largest global deposits are found in Australia, S. Africa but with smaller volumes in China, S.Asia, and India. Zircon sand can be used directly in certain foundry applications or fine milled to produce zircon flour. Zircon sand is largely consumed as an opacifier, and has been acknowledged to be used in the decorative ceramics sector. Other applications include use in foundry casting and refractories and an increasing range of specialty applications as zirconium and zirconia chemicals, including in catalytic fuel converters, nuclear fuel rods, and in water and air purification products.
Booming consumer electronics industry across the region and surge in the demand of consumer electronics products as computers, TV, etc., is also likely to create more demand for zircon sand in the coming years. Zircon sand is a major raw material used in the manufacture of glazes, opacifiers, and frits, decorative tiles and floor, steel refractories and glass, specialized glass and metal castings. Consumption of zircon products in the production of faceplates for computer screens and TV monitors continues to rise, especially in developing countries. The improved use of zirconia and zirconium chemicals in numerous applications continues with China being in the forefront of new production facilities to service these industries. Thus, zircon has an exceptional collection of physical properties which make it ideal for an extensive range of demanding and high temperature applications.
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 Asia Pacific zircon sand market, market size, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period of 2022-2028, considering 2021 as the base year. Booming end use sectors across the Asia Pacific region and rising demand for zircon sand from ceramic industry is expected to contribute to the market growth.
The Asia Pacific zircon sand market is bifurcated into product, end-use industry and country.
The report analyses various end-use industries of zircon sand such as ceramics, refractory materials, medical & healthcare, building & construction and others. The building & construction and ceramic are major segments of the zircon sand market by end-use industry. 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 countries of the Asia Pacific regions such as China, India, Japan and rest of APAC. The market in China is expected to grow at the highest CAGR 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 V.V Mineral among others. A majority of the consumption of zircon sand is based in China and Australia.
The key players studied in market are Alkane Resources Limited, Allegheny Technologies Inc, Australian Zircon NL, Bemax Resources Limited, New Energy Holdings Limited, Tronox Limited, Zhejiang Jinkun Zirconium Industry Company Limited, Doral, East Minerals, V.V Mineral and Iluka Resources among others.
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 tons. 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. Likewise, Asia Pacific zircon sand market comprises of different market segment like product, end-use industry and country. Zircon sand market by product is segmented into colourless, yellow-golden, brown, others. The colourless segment is likely to be the major market over the forecast period. Major end use industries of the market are ceramics, refractory materials, medical & healthcare, building & construction, and others. The building & construction treatment segment is likely to register noteworthy growth in years to come. Country wise, the study is comprised of the key countries such as China, India, Japan and rest of APAC.
1) What are the major drivers and opportunities in the zircon sand market?
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) Which is the emerging end-use industry segment for zircon sand market?
Ceramics and building and construction are emerging end-use industry segment of the zircon sand market.
3) Which country contributes to the largest market share in zircon sand market during the forecast period?
China is expected to gain major market share during the forecast period (2021-2028).
