Global Feldspar Market Reached $2.1B, Growing for the Second Consecutive Year

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'World - Feldspar - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The global feldspar market revenue amounted to $2.1B in 2018, growing by 7.2% 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). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. Over the period under review, the global feldspar market reached its maximum level in 2018 and is expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of feldspar consumption in 2018 were Italy (5.4M tons), China (3.6M tons) and Spain (3.2M tons), together comprising 48% of global consumption. In these countries, feldspar is consumed mainly by the well-established domestic ceramic industry. Thailand, Iran, Russia, Poland, India, Pakistan, France, Bangladesh and Taiwan, Chinese lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 29%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of feldspar consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Pakistan, while feldspar consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Italy ($231M), China ($202M) and Poland ($158M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, with a combined 28% share of the global market. These countries were followed by Spain, Pakistan, India, France, Thailand, Iran, Russia, Bangladesh and Taiwan, Chinese, which together accounted for a further 25%.

The countries with the highest levels of feldspar per capita consumption in 2018 were Italy (91 kg per person), Spain (69 kg per person) and Poland (25 kg per person).

Market Forecast 2019-2025

Driven by increasing demand for feldspar worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to retain its current trend pattern, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +2.5% for the period from 2018 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 34M tons by the end of 2030.

Production 2007-2018

In 2018, approx. 25M tons of feldspar were produced worldwide; flattening at the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period.

Production By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of feldspar production in 2018 were Turkey (6.6M tons), China (4M tons) and Italy (3M tons), with a combined 54% share of global production. These countries were followed by India, Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, France, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic and the U.S., which together accounted for a further 29%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of feldspar production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Pakistan, while feldspar production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports 2007-2018

In 2018, the global exports of feldspar stood at 10M tons, going up by 6.3% against the previous year. In general, the total exports indicated a measured expansion from 2007 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% over the last eleven-year period. The global exports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term. In value terms, feldspar exports totaled $447M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

Turkey dominates feldspar exports structure, resulting at 6.7M tons, which was approx. 66% of total exports in 2018. India (642K tons) held a 6.3% share (based on tons) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by China (4.9%) and Ukraine (4.8%). The following exporters - Thailand (412K tons), Italy (266K tons) and the Czech Republic (259K tons) - together made up 9.3% of total exports.

Exports from Turkey increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2007 to 2018. At the same time, Ukraine (+17.6%), the Czech Republic (+4.0%), Thailand (+3.9%) and India (+2.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Ukraine emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +17.6% from 2007-2018. Italy experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, China (-7.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period.

In value terms, Turkey ($206M) remains the largest feldspar supplier worldwide, comprising 46% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by India ($47M), with a 11% share of global exports. It was followed by China, with a 6.4% share.

Export Prices by Country

The average feldspar export price stood at $44 per ton in 2018, rising by 6.8% against the previous year. Overall, the feldspar export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The global export price peaked at $55 per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was India ($73 per ton), while Turkey ($31 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports 2007-2018

In 2018, approx. 10M tons of feldspar were imported worldwide; jumping by 16% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the total imports indicated a pronounced increase from 2007 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% over the last eleven-year period. In value terms, feldspar imports totaled $532M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

Spain (2,813K tons) and Italy (2,705K tons) represented roughly 53% of total imports of feldspar in 2018. Russia (664K tons) held the next position in the ranking, followed by Bangladesh (528K tons) and Taiwan, Chinese (486K tons). All these countries together occupied near 16% share of total imports. Poland (437K tons), the United Arab Emirates (386K tons), Indonesia (232K tons) and Vietnam (216K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by Bangladesh, while imports for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest feldspar importing markets worldwide were Italy ($110M), Spain ($104M) and Russia ($29M), with a combined 46% share of global imports. Poland, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Chinese, Indonesia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 23%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average feldspar import price amounted to $51 per ton, approximately mirroring the previous year. Over the period under review, the feldspar import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Indonesia ($89 per ton), while Spain ($37 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Indonesia, while the other global leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform