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 North America zircon sand market. In addition, complete analysis of changes on the North America 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. A sudden rise in the COVID-19 cases led to several countries resorting to lockdowns, which significantly impacted the North American economy. The industrial and economic activities came to a temporary halt, which led the zircon sand market to witness impacts in terms of both production and the demand from end-user industries such as ceramics, building and construction, medical and healthcare and many others. However, increasing building and construction projects across the countries like the US and Canada is likely to boost the market growth.
Increasing demand for zircon sand from ceramic industry is propelling the growth of the market. Zircon sand is used in specialty castings, ceramics, and numerous refractory applications, where its resistance to abrasion and high temperature make it extremely valuable in the manufacturing procedures as well as ceramics such as glazes for tiles and sanitary wear. In industry, it is primarily used as a raw material in making furnace linings, refractory bricks, and manufacturing pigments in the ceramic industry; where its hardness and opacity gives a durability and whiteness to sanitary ware, tiles, and tableware. It is also utilized in a variety of other high-tech chemical and industrial applications.
Increasing significance if zircon flour in various end use industries is further expected to improve the market growth in the coming years. Zircon sand is also available as a zircon flour which is milled by jet mill producing a narrow size distribution and contaminant free flour. Zircon flour has numerous applications and finds its way into the manufacture of Frit and refractory and foundry applications. Zircon flour is used mainly in foundry coatings for the metal casting industry. Zircon flour can also be used as a refractory wash for glost kilns, as a fine material in pressed zircon refractory shapes and, as filler for epoxy resins.
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 North America zircon sand market, market size, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period of 2022-2028, considering 2021 as the base year. With increasing demand for zircon sand in various applications the growth of market is expected to improve at a specific CAGR from 2021-2028.
The North America zircon sand market is bifurcated into product, end-use industry and country.
The North America 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 major 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 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 North America regions such as the United States, Canada and Mexico. The market in the United States is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The presence of well-established end use industries across the countries like the US and Canada is boosting the demand for zircon sand in the region. For instance, construction industry is the largest contributor to the United States economy. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, a construction association, the US construction industry has approximately 733,000 employers with more than 7 million employees and generates approximately USD 1.4 trillion worth of structures each year. On the other side, according to Canadian Construction Association, construction sector employs more than 1.4 million individuals in Canada and creates approximately USD 141 billion to the economy yearly, accounting for 7.5% of country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Construction industry is the backbone of the Canadian economy responsible for maintaining and creating the built infrastructure for cities, towns and communities.
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 Allegheny Technologies Inc, Neo Materials Technologies Inc, E.I. DuPont de Nemours, Luxfer Group, Molycorp Inc, Refractory Engineers, Inc, Reade International Corp, and Tronox Limited among other.
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, North America 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 the US, Canada and Mexico.
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?
The United States is expected to gain major market share during the forecast period (2021-2028).
