Refractories

As Quoted In Ceramic Industry

Decelerating demand will result from slowing US iron and steel production and durable goods manufacturing, and from a shift toward better performing refractories that lengthen replacement cycles.

US demand to rise 3.3% annually through 2019

Demand for refractories in the US is forecast to increase 3.3 percent per year through 2019 to $3.1 billion. This will represent a deceleration from robust 2009-2014 gains, as iron and steel production in the US slows. Sales will also be limited by moderating output in a number of other durable goods manufacturing industries, many of which utilize refractories to at least some extent. Furthermore, a shift in demand toward better performing refractories, while providing an initial boost to sales due to their premium prices, will cause market growth to slow in the long run as replacement cycles are lengthened. On the positive side, rising raw refractory material prices will support value gains. Additionally, the nonmetallic minerals industry segment, which is expected to record the fastest market advances, utilizes some of the highest cost refractories, boosting overall dollar growth.

When measured in volume terms, demand increases will be much more sluggish, averaging under one percent per year through 2019, when sales will total 2.3 million tons. Improvements in refractory designs have enabled end users to utilize less material per ton of output. Among specific markets, non-metallic minerals will record the fastest demand gains, supported by an acceleration in output of cement and mineral products. Overall refractory market advances will be limited by only modest increases in iron and steel production in the US. The health of the iron and steel industry, which accounts for the largest share of refractory demand by volume, has a major impact on the total market.

Nonclay refractories to outpace clay types

Demand for nonclay refractories will increase at a faster rate than clay refractories through 2019, a reversal from the 2009-2014 period. Nonclay refractories typically offer a number of performance advantages that boost their use in more demanding applications, and nonclay refractory prices will rise faster than those for clay products, boosting value gains. However, the lower cost of clay refractories ensures that their continued use, especially where the performance advantages of nonclay refractories are not required.

Technological advantage of US producers to remain

As is the case with demand, refractory production increases will be limited by the modest gains anticipated for iron and steel production in the US. Domestic manufacturers of refractories will also continue to face competition from low cost foreign suppliers. Despite this, the technological advantage that US refractory producers have will continue to offer opportunities for growth, based on the global trend toward use of better performing refractories.

Study coverage

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $2.6 billion US refractory industry. It presents historical demand data (2004, 2009 and 2014) with forecasts (2019 and 2024) by refractory form (e.g., bricks and shapes, monolithic), material (nonclay, clay) and market (e.g., metals industries, nonmetallic mineral processing, engineering contractors, nonmanufacturing industries, petroleum and chemicals). The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 25 industry competitors, including HarbisonWalker International, Minerals Technologies, and Magnesita.

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  1. Refractories

    $5,300.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $323.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $323.00

      1. Table | US REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $2,920.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 3.2 Macroeconomic Trends

        $418.00

        1. Table | MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS

      3. 3.3 Fixed Investment Trends

        $323.00

        1. Table | NONRESIDENTIAL FIXED INVESTMENT

      4. 3.4 Manufacturing Outlook

        $390.00

        1. Table | MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS

      5. 3.5 Refractory Technology

        $712.00

        1. 3.5.1 Basic Refractory Properties

          $323.00

          1. CHART II-1 MELTING POINTS OF INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS & REFRACTORIES

        2. 3.5.2 Refractory Shapes & Forms

          $323.00

        3. 3.5.3 Refractory Materials

          $323.00

        4. 3.5.4 Other Technological Developments

          $323.00

      6. 3.6 Pricing Trends

        $323.00

        1. Table | SELECTED US MANUFACTURER REFRACTORY PRICING

        2. CHART II-2 SELECTED US MANUFACTURER REFRACTORY PRICING, 2004-2024

      7. 3.7 Historical Market Trends

        $323.00

        1. Table | REFRACTORY DEMAND, 2004-2014

        2. CHART II-3 REFRACTORY DEMAND, 2005-2014

      8. 3.8 International Environment

        $683.00

        1. 3.8.1 World Supply & Demand

          $323.00

          1. CHART II-4 WORLD REFRACTORY DEMAND BY REGION, 2014

        2. 3.8.2 Foreign Trade

          $374.00

          1. Table | US FOREIGN TRADE IN REFRACTORIES

          2. Table | US REFRACTORY IMPORTS BY SOURCE, 2004-2014

          3. CHART II-5 US REFRACTORY IMPORTS BY SOURCE, 2014

          4. Table | US REFRACTORY EXPORTS BY DESTINATION, 2004-2014

          5. CHART II-6 US REFRACTORY EXPORTS BY DESTINATION, 2014

    4. 4 FORMS

      $2,115.00

      1. 4.1 General

        $392.00

        1. 4.1.1 Refractory Supply & Demand by Value

          $323.00

          1. Table | REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND BY FORM IN VALUE TERMS

          2. CHART III-1 REFRACTORY DEMAND BY FORM IN VALUE TERMS, 2004-2024

        2. 4.1.2 Refractory Supply & Demand by Volume

          $323.00

          1. Table | REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND BY FORM IN VOLUME TERMS

          2. CHART III-2 REFRACTORY DEMAND BY FORM IN VOLUME TERMS, 2004-2024

      2. 4.2 Refractory Bricks & Shapes

        $656.00

        1. Table | REFRACTORY BRICK & SHAPE SUPPLY & DEMAND

        2. 4.2.1 Standard Bricks

          $323.00

          1. Table | STANDARD BRICK REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        3. 4.2.2 Preformed Shapes

          $323.00

          1. Table | PREFORMED SHAPE REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

      3. 4.3 Monolithic Refractories

        $855.00

        1. Table | MONOLITHIC REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND

        2. 4.3.1 Castables

          $323.00

          1. Table | CASTABLE REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        3. 4.3.2 Plastic & Ramming Mixes

          $323.00

          1. Table | PLASTIC & RAMMING MIX REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        4. 4.3.3 Gunning Mixes

          $323.00

          1. Table | GUNNING MIX REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        5. 4.3.4 Bonding & Other Mortars

          $323.00

          1. Table | BONDING & OTHER MORTAR REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

      4. 4.4 Other Refractory Forms

        $323.00

        1. Table | OTHER REFRACTORY FORM SUPPLY & DEMAND

    5. 5 MATERIALS

      $3,143.00

      1. 5.1 General

        $360.00

        1. 5.1.1 Refractory Supply & Demand by Value

          $323.00

          1. Table | REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND BY MATERIAL IN VALUE TERMS

          2. CHART IV-1 REFRACTORY DEMAND BY MATERIAL IN VALUE TERMS, 2004-2024

        2. 5.1.2 Refractory Supply & Demand by Volume

          $323.00

          1. Table | REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND BY MATERIAL IN VOLUME TERMS

          2. CHART IV-2 REFRACTORY DEMAND BY MATERIAL IN VOLUME TERMS, 2004-2024

      2. 5.2 Nonclay Refractory Products

        $2,098.00

        1. Table | NONCLAY REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND

        2. CHART IV-3 NONCLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS BY MATERIAL, 2014

        3. 5.2.1 Magnesite & Chrome

          $339.00

          1. Table | MAGNESITE & CHROME REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        4. 5.2.2 Zircon & Zirconia

          $323.00

          1. Table | ZIRCON & ZIRCONIA REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        5. 5.2.3 Extra-High Alumina

          $323.00

          1. Table | EXTRA-HIGH ALUMINA REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        6. 5.2.4 Ceramic Fibers

          $323.00

          1. Table | CERAMIC FIBER REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        7. 5.2.5 Silicon Carbide

          $323.00

          1. Table | SILICON CARBIDE REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        8. 5.2.6 Graphite & Carbon

          $323.00

          1. Table | GRAPHITE & CARBON REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        9. 5.2.7 Mullite

          $323.00

          1. Table | MULLITE REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        10. 5.2.8 Silica

          $323.00

          1. Table | SILICA REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        11. 5.2.9 Dolomite & Other Nonclay Refractories

          $323.00

          1. Table | DOLOMITE & OTHER NONCLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

      3. 5.3 Clay Refractory Products

        $685.00

        1. Table | CLAY REFRACTORY SUPPLY & DEMAND

        2. CHART IV-4 CLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS BY MATERIAL, 2014

        3. 5.3.1 High-Alumina

          $323.00

          1. Table | HIGH-ALUMINA CLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        4. 5.3.2 Fireclay

          $323.00

          1. Table | FIRECLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

        5. 5.3.3 Insulating

          $323.00

          1. Table | INSULATING CLAY REFRACTORY SHIPMENTS

    6. 6 MARKETS

      $3,324.00

      1. 6.1 General

        $323.00

        1. Table | REFRACTORY DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART V-1 REFRACTORY DEMAND BY MARKET, 2014

      2. 6.2 Metals Industries

        $1,435.00

        1. 6.2.1 Outlook

          $383.00

          1. Table | METALS INDUSTRY INDICATORS

        2. 6.2.2 Refractory Market

          $969.00

          1. Table | METALS INDUSTRY REFRACTORY MARKET

          2. Table | IRON & STEEL PRODUCTION REFRACTORY MARKET

          3. Table | NONFERROUS METAL PRODUCTION REFRACTORY MARKET

          4. Table | METAL CASTING & FABRICATION REFRACTORY MARKET

      3. 6.3 Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Industries

        $855.00

        1. 6.3.1 Outlook

          $323.00

          1. Table | NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODUCT SHIPMENTS

        2. 6.3.2 Refractory Market

          $692.00

          1. Table | NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODUCT REFRACTORY MARKET

          2. Table | CERAMICS REFRACTORY MARKET

          3. Table | GLASS REFRACTORY MARKET

          4. Table | CEMENT, LIME, &OTHER MINERAL PROCESSING REFRACTORY MARKET

      4. 6.4 Engineering Contractors

        $323.00

        1. Table | ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR REFRACTORY MARKET

      5. 6.5 Nonmanufacturing Industries

        $323.00

        1. Table | NONMANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES REFRACTORY MARKET

      6. 6.6 Petroleum & Chemicals

        $323.00

        1. Table | PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL REFRACTORY MARKET

      7. 6.7 Other Manufacturing Industries

        $323.00

        1. Table | OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES REFRACTORY MARKET

    7. 7 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $5,333.00

      1. 7.1 General

        $323.00

      2. 7.2 Industry Composition & Restructuring

        $323.00

        1. Table | US REFRACTORY & RAW MATERIAL SALES BY COMPANY, 2014

      3. 7.3 Market Share

        $553.00

        1. CHART VI-1 US REFRACTORY MARKET SHARE*, 2014

        2. 7.3.1 Leading Refractory Suppliers

          $365.00

        3. 7.3.2 Significant Raw Material Suppliers

          $323.00

      4. 7.4 Product Development & Manufacturing

        $323.00

        1. Table | CAPITAL SPENDING PATTERNS: SELECTED REFRACTORY MANUFACTURERS

      5. 7.5 Marketing & Distribution

        $323.00

      6. 7.6 Company Profiles

        $5,333.00

        1. 7.6.1 Alcoa Incorporated

          $323.00

        2. 7.6.2 Allied Mineral Products Incorporated

          $323.00

        3. 7.6.3 Almatis GmbH

          $323.00

        4. 7.6.4 Alteo Holding

          $323.00

        5. 7.6.5 AluChem Incorporated

          $323.00

        6. 7.6.6 Asbury Carbons Incorporated

          $323.00

        7. 7.6.7 BNZ Materials Incorporated

          $323.00

        8. 7.6.8 CerCo LLC

          $323.00

        9. 7.6.9 Corning Incorporated

          $323.00

        10. 7.6.10 HarbisonWalker International

          $323.00

        11. 7.6.11 Imerys SA

          $616.00

        12. 7.6.12 Kerneos SA

          $323.00

        13. 7.6.13 Lhoist SA

          $323.00

        14. 7.6.14 Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB

          $323.00

        15. 7.6.15 Magneco/Metrel Incorporated

          $323.00

        16. 7.6.16 Magnesita Refratários SA

          $323.00

        17. 7.6.17 Minerals Technologies Incorporated

          $323.00

        18. 7.6.18 Morgan Advanced Materials plc

          $470.00

        19. 7.6.19 Plibrico Company LLC

          $323.00

        20. 7.6.20 Resco Products Incorporated

          $323.00

        21. 7.6.21 RHI AG

          $323.00

        22. 7.6.22 Saint-Gobain

          $382.00

        23. 7.6.23 TYK Corporation

          $323.00

        24. 7.6.24 Unifrax I LLC

          $323.00

        25. 7.6.25 Vesuvius plc

          $394.00

      7. 7.7 Other Companies Mentioned in the Study

        $323.00

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