Middle East: Expanded Clays Market 2024

Expanded Clays Market Size in the Middle East

In 2021, the Middle Eastern expanded clays market increased by 14% to $X for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Over the period under review, consumption, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the market attained the peak level at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Expanded Clays Production in the Middle East

In value terms, expanded clays production soared to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production, however, showed a slight downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when the production volume increased by 37%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Expanded Clays Exports

Exports in the Middle East

After two years of decline, overseas shipments of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag increased by 20% to X tons in 2021. Over the period under review, exports continue to indicate a buoyant expansion. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when exports increased by 74%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, expanded clays exports surged to $X in 2021. In general, exports showed tangible growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when exports increased by 75%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2019 to 2021, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Turkey (X tons) and the United Arab Emirates (X tons) dominates exports structure, together mixing up 89% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Iran (X tons), constituting a 9% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for the United Arab Emirates (with a CAGR of +19.5%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

In value terms, Turkey ($X), the United Arab Emirates ($X) and Iran ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, with a combined 96% share of total exports.

Turkey, with a CAGR of +13.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, picking up by 3.4% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, saw a slight slump. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2015 an increase of 46%. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was Turkey ($X per ton), while Iran ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Iran (+4.0%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Expanded Clays Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, purchases abroad of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag decreased by -36% to X tons, falling for the second year in a row after four years of growth. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a strong expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 107%. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, expanded clays imports declined to $X in 2021. In general, imports, however, recorded a perceptible expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when imports increased by 39% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

The United Arab Emirates represented the key importer of exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays and foamed slag in the Middle East, with the volume of imports finishing at X tons, which was approx. 32% of total imports in 2021. Kuwait (X tons) held the second position in the ranking, followed by Oman (X tons), Syrian Arab Republic (X tons), Turkey (X tons), Israel (X tons), Bahrain (X tons), Qatar (X tons) and Iraq (X tons). All these countries together took near 66% share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to expanded clays imports into the United Arab Emirates stood at +9.0%. At the same time, Syrian Arab Republic (+65.7%), Oman (+45.4%), Kuwait (+25.4%), Iraq (+14.9%), Israel (+8.0%) and Turkey (+2.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Syrian Arab Republic emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +65.7% from 2012-2021. Bahrain experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Qatar (-6.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Kuwait (+11 p.p.), Oman (+9.6 p.p.), Syrian Arab Republic (+9 p.p.), the United Arab Emirates (+4.8 p.p.) and Iraq (+2.4 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Turkey (-3.3 p.p.), Bahrain (-5.3 p.p.) and Qatar (-14 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X), Turkey ($X) and Oman ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 56% share of total imports.

Oman, with a CAGR of +35.0%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, surging by 37% against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, continues to indicate a noticeable decline. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 an increase of 45%. Over the period under review, import prices reached the maximum at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, import prices failed to regain momentum.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Bahrain (+9.2%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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