South-Eastern Asia: Alkali Metals Market 2025

Alkali Metals Market Size in South-Eastern Asia

The Southeast Asian alkali metals market reduced to $X in 2021, falling by -9.3% against the previous year. The total consumption indicated pronounced growth from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.8% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, consumption increased by +33.2% against 2019 indices. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Alkali Metals Production in South-Eastern Asia

In value terms, alkali metals production shrank modestly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +2.3% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2019 when the production volume increased by 19%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2020, and then dropped modestly in the following year.

Alkali Metals Exports

Exports in South-Eastern Asia

In 2021, the amount of alkali or alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, mercury exported in South-Eastern Asia skyrocketed to X tons, surging by 34% compared with the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, alkali metals exports surged to $X in 2021. Total exports indicated a perceptible expansion 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. As a result, the exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Vietnam (X tons) represented the key exporter of alkali or alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, mercury, committing 47% of total exports. Thailand (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total exports with a 27% share, followed by the Philippines (11%) and Singapore (8.7%). The following exporters - Indonesia (X tons) and Malaysia (X tons) - each resulted at a 6% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by the Philippines (with a CAGR of +105.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Vietnam ($X) remains the largest alkali metals supplier in South-Eastern Asia, comprising 69% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Thailand ($X), with a 26% share of total exports. It was followed by Malaysia, with a 3.7% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in Vietnam totaled +5.5%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Thailand (+33.5% per year) and Malaysia (+17.8% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in South-Eastern Asia stood at $X per ton in 2021, increasing by 22% against the previous year. Export price indicated noticeable growth from 2012 to 2021: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.4% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, alkali metals export price increased by +74.3% against 2019 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 when the export price increased by 47% against the previous year. 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 by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Vietnam ($X per ton), while Singapore ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Malaysia (+31.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Alkali Metals Imports

Imports in South-Eastern Asia

In 2021, overseas purchases of alkali or alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, mercury increased by 38% to X tons, rising for the second consecutive year after four years of decline. In general, imports enjoyed a prominent increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when imports increased by 108% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, alkali metals imports amounted to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.9% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports decreased by -6.5% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 with an increase of 43%. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X. From 2017 to 2021, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

Malaysia represented the key importing country with an import of about X tons, which resulted at 65% of total imports. Thailand (X tons) took the second position in the ranking, distantly followed by Indonesia (X tons) and Vietnam (X tons). All these countries together held approx. 30% share of total imports. The following importers - Lao People's Democratic Republic (X tons) and Singapore (X tons) - each reached a 4% share of total imports.

Imports into Malaysia increased at an average annual rate of +13.3% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Lao People's Democratic Republic (+27.4%), Thailand (+12.9%) and Vietnam (+10.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Lao People's Democratic Republic emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in South-Eastern Asia, with a CAGR of +27.4% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Indonesia (-12.6%) and Singapore (-14.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Malaysia (+32 p.p.), Thailand (+9.1 p.p.), Lao People's Democratic Republic (+1.7 p.p.) and Vietnam (+1.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Singapore (-9.8 p.p.) and Indonesia (-26 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, Malaysia ($X), Thailand ($X) and Vietnam ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 80% share of total imports.

In terms of the main importing countries, Vietnam, with a CAGR of +28.4%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in South-Eastern Asia amounted to $X per ton, dropping by -17.5% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the import price increased by 116% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Singapore ($X per ton), while Lao People's Democratic Republic ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Indonesia (+18.0%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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