United Kingdom - Clays - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
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View PricingUK Exports of Clay Plummet to $256M in 2023
United Kingdom Clay Exports
In 2023, shipments abroad of clays decreased by -27.8% to 1.2M tons for the first time since 2020, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Over the period under review, exports showed a pronounced contraction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 25% against the previous year. The exports peaked at 1.7M tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2023, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.
In value terms, clay exports fell remarkably to $256M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Overall, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 38% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at $313M in 2022, and then fell dramatically in the following year.
| COUNTRY | Export Value of Clay in United Kingdom (million USD) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Turkey | 11.6 | 9.4 | 13.4 | 12.0 | 13.8 | 16.4 | 13.8 | 13.7 | 24.7 | 32.4 | 30.1 |
| Italy | 19.0 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 19.2 | 19.2 | 18.9 | 17.4 | 13.1 | 19.8 | 21.3 | 21.6 |
| Germany | 28.2 | 25.4 | 26.8 | 25.2 | 26.2 | 28.9 | 23.0 | 19.6 | 23.7 | 19.1 | 16.9 |
| Spain | 13.1 | 13.0 | 12.8 | 11.5 | 13.1 | 14.4 | 12.1 | 11.3 | 17.1 | 22.5 | 16.8 |
| Egypt | 12.2 | 12.7 | 9.4 | 10.7 | 12.3 | 16.5 | 13.0 | 10.4 | 14.4 | 19.2 | 16.5 |
| India | 4.1 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 8.3 | 12.8 | 15.4 | 17.1 | 15.2 | 12.6 | 12.1 |
| Portugal | 11.1 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 6.9 | 10.2 | 11.3 | 10.1 |
| Finland | 28.0 | 25.7 | 14.1 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 13.8 | 10.8 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Sweden | 20.5 | 21.5 | 16.8 | 14.8 | 12.7 | 13.2 | 12.4 | 9.6 | 7.5 | 5.9 | 4.6 |
| Others | 130 | 155 | 126 | 114 | 125 | 135 | 116 | 112 | 168 | 165 | 122 |
| Total | 278 | 297 | 254 | 235 | 253 | 281 | 244 | 220 | 304 | 313 | 256 |
Exports by Country
Spain (136K tons), Turkey (132K tons) and Egypt (123K tons) were the main destinations of clay exports from the UK, together comprising 33% of total exports.
From 2013 to 2023, the biggest increases were recorded for Turkey (with a CAGR of +4.7%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, the largest markets for clay exported from the UK were Turkey ($30M), Italy ($22M) and Germany ($17M), together accounting for 27% of total exports. Spain, Egypt, India, Portugal, Sweden and Finland lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 25%.
India, with a CAGR of +11.5%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Exports by Type
Kaolin and kaolinic clays (1M tons) was the largest type of clays exported from the UK, accounting for a 87% share of total exports. Moreover, kaolin and kaolinic clays exceeded the volume of the second product type, clays for construction and industrial use (145K tons), sevenfold. The third position in this ranking was taken by bentonite (9.7K tons), with a 0.8% share.
From 2013 to 2023, the average annual rate of growth in terms of the volume of kaolin and kaolinic clays exports amounted to -4.3%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average annual rates of growth were recorded: clays for construction and industrial use (+3.1% per year) and bentonite (-12.1% per year).
In value terms, kaolin and kaolinic clays ($230M) remains the largest type of clays exported from the UK, comprising 90% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by clays for construction and industrial use ($16M), with a 6.4% share of total exports. It was followed by bentonite, with a 3.3% share.
From 2013 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of the value of kaolin and kaolinic clays exports was relatively modest. With regard to the other exported products, the following average annual rates of growth were recorded: clays for construction and industrial use (-0.4% per year) and bentonite (-7.6% per year).
Export Prices by Country
In 2023, the clay price amounted to $219 per ton (FOB, United Kingdom), growing by 13% against the previous year. Over the period from 2013 to 2023, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.0%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.
There were significant differences in the average prices for the major foreign markets. In 2023, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($524 per ton), while the average price for exports to Bangladesh ($86 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Germany (+8.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the clay market in the UK. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.
Product coverage:
- Prodcom 08122140 - Kaolin
- Prodcom 08122160 - Kaolinitic clays (ball and plastic clays)
- Prodcom 08122210 - Bentonite
- Prodcom 08122230 - Fireclay
- Prodcom 08122250 - Common clays and shales for construction use (excluding bentonite, fireclay, expanded clays, kaolin and kaolinic clays), a ndalusite, kyanite and sillimanite, mullite, chamotte or dinas earths
Country coverage:
- United Kingdom
Data coverage:
- Market volume and value
- Per Capita consumption
- Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
- Trade (exports and imports) in the UK
- Export and import prices
- Market trends, drivers and restraints
- Key market players and their profiles
Reasons to buy this report:
- Take advantage of the latest data
- Find deeper insights into current market developments
- Discover vital success factors affecting the market
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.
In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:
- How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
- How to load your idle production capacity
- How to boost your sales on overseas markets
- How to increase your profit margins
- How to make your supply chain more sustainable
- How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
- How to outsource production to other countries
- How to prepare your business for global expansion
While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
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3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE
- MARKET STRUCTURE
- TRADE BALANCE
- PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
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4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
- MOST TRADED PRODUCT
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
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5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
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6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
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10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO -
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Market Value, 2012–2024
- Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
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LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Market Value, 2012–2024
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
- Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
- Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
- Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
- Market Volume Forecast to 2030
- Market Value Forecast to 2030
- Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
- Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
- Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
- Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
- Production Volume And Growth
- Exports And Growth
- Export Prices And Growth
- Market Size And Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports And Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
