Asia-Pacific: Expanded Clays Market 2024

Expanded Clays Market Size in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific expanded clays market declined to $X in 2021, dropping by -8.6% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X, and then contracted in the following year.

Expanded Clays Production in Asia-Pacific

In value terms, expanded clays production contracted to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. The total production indicated a notable increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, production increased by +67.1% against 2014 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 when the production volume increased by 34%. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X, and then declined in the following year.

Expanded Clays Exports

Exports in Asia-Pacific

In 2021, shipments abroad of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag increased by 1.8% to X tons, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. In general, exports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 when exports increased by 27%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, expanded clays exports soared to $X in 2021. Overall, exports enjoyed a buoyant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when exports increased by 108%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure in 2021 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

China prevails in exports structure, recording X tons, which was approx. 81% of total exports in 2021. It was distantly followed by India (X tons), mixing up a 5.5% share of total exports. The following exporters - South Korea (X tons), Australia (X tons) and Japan (X tons) - each reached a 9.1% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to expanded clays exports from China stood at +1.6%. At the same time, Japan (+21.6%), India (+14.3%) and Australia (+2.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Japan emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Asia-Pacific, with a CAGR of +21.6% from 2012-2021. By contrast, South Korea (-11.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. China (+7.2 p.p.), India (+3.8 p.p.) and Japan (+2.2 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while South Korea saw its share reduced by -7.3% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X) remains the largest expanded clays supplier in Asia-Pacific, comprising 67% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by South Korea ($X), with a 21% share of total exports. It was followed by India, with a 3.5% share.

In China, expanded clays exports increased at an average annual rate of +15.1% over the period from 2012-2021. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: South Korea (+2.1% per year) and India (+14.9% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Asia-Pacific stood at $X per ton in 2021, with an increase of 42% against the previous year. Overall, the export price saw prominent growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when the export price increased by 63%. Over the period under review, the export prices reached the peak figure in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was South Korea ($X per ton), while India ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Korea (+15.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Expanded Clays Imports

Imports in Asia-Pacific

In 2021, supplies from abroad of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag increased by 26% to X tons, rising for the second year in a row after four years of decline. Total imports indicated a notable expansion from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports increased by +32.9% against 2019 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when imports increased by 30% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2016 to 2021, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, expanded clays imports surged to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated a strong increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +7.1% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports increased by +16.3% against 2018 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when imports increased by 40%. The level of import peaked in 2021 and is likely to see steady growth in the near future.

Imports by Country

Japan represented the largest importer of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag in Asia-Pacific, with the volume of imports accounting for X tons, which was approx. 36% of total imports in 2021. Australia (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 14% share, followed by South Korea (10%), Singapore (7.7%) and Thailand (6.8%). New Zealand (X tons), India (X tons), Indonesia (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons), Malaysia (X tons) and Vietnam (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into Japan increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Thailand (+19.5%), India (+19.2%), Malaysia (+18.1%), New Zealand (+17.4%), Australia (+9.1%), Indonesia (+8.7%), South Korea (+3.4%) and Singapore (+2.9%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Thailand emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Asia-Pacific, with a CAGR of +19.5% from 2012-2021. Vietnam experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Taiwan (Chinese) (-15.5%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, India and Malaysia increased by +6.6, +5.2, +2.9, +2.8 and +2.4 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Japan ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag in Asia-Pacific, comprising 35% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by India ($X), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by Australia, with a 12% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in Japan totaled +10.5%. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: India (+20.2% per year) and Australia (+11.7% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in Asia-Pacific amounted to $X per ton, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. Import price indicated a buoyant increase from 2012 to 2021: its price increased at an average annual rate of +5.0% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, expanded clays import price decreased by -4.8% against 2019 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the import price increased by 24%. Over the period under review, import prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was India ($X per ton), while Taiwan (Chinese) ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Japan (+8.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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