Roskill - Expanding The World's Knowledge of Metals and Minerals Markets
Table of Contents
- 1. Summary
- 2. Occurrence
- 3. Mining and processing of perlite
- 4. World production of perlite
- 5. Producers and processors of perlite by country
- 6. International trade in perlite
- 7. Consumption of perlite
- 8. End uses for perlite
- 9. Prices of perlite
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Perlite
Demand for perlite in horticulture continues to grow
Annual world production of unexpanded perlite has increased by some 20% since 1997, principally driven by higher production in Greece, Turkey and China. Estimated world production of around 3.1Mtpy is believed to represent just 60% of installed production capacity. World consumption of unexpanded perlite was estimated at 2.7Mt in 2003, and is expected to increase at an average annualised rate of 1% over the next five years. There will, however, be major differences in regional rates of growth; overall demand in Asia is expected to grow by at least 3%pa while in China demand, largely based on use in building materials is expected to grow at 10%pa. The decline in construction activity in western Europe is forecast to have bottomed out and overall demand for perlite to 2010 will now increase at a rate of 2% per year. This forecast growth in Asia and Western Europe will be offset by a likely 0.5%pa decline in demand in the Americas, which currently account for 35% of world total consumption. While some perlite markets have been static or declining in the west there have been two areas where growth has been much stronger, particularly in North America. The use of perlite in horticulture continues to grow and there is an increasing demand for high value perlite microspheres as functional fillers in wallboard jointing compounds. Both World Minerals and Dicaperl, the major US producers, have acquired companies with microsphere production capacity and the number of plants producing perlite microspheres in China has grown from zero to over 20 between 2002 and 2005.
The key trends, issues and developments in the market are now analysed in this major new report from Roskill. It provides a clear insight into all areas of the industry and an authoritative analysis of the prospects for the future.
- Independent, in-depth research and analysis
- Essential market intelligence for successful business planning
- Detailed survey of production in 58 countries
- Up-to-date profiles of over 50 producing and processing companies and their activities, including S and B Industrial Minerals SA, Dicaperl Minerals, Perlit-92, Eti Mine Works General Management and World Minerals
- Forecasts for end-use consumption and world supply and demand
Report highlights
The world's leading producer of unexpanded perlite is Greece, with 2003 production estimated at 840,000t, 28% of the world total. The leading producing company is S and B Industrial Minerals, which operates mines in Greece, as well as China, Italy, Bulgaria and Turkey. S and B mines are estimated to have produced just over 800,000t of perlite in 2003.
Greece is the major exporter of unexpanded perlite with markets around the world, supplying over 600,000t in 2004. US domestic production has fallen from 706,000t in 1997 to 510,000t in 2004, partly in response to declining demand from the construction sector, but also due to competition from imports of Greek perlite at up to US$4/t less than domestic material.
Most US production takes place in New Mexico from Dicaperl and World Minerals mines. There has been some consolidation in ownership in the USA in 2004 and 2005 but the main change took place in 2005, when the French company Imerys, a major producer of minerals used in ceramics, paper and plastics, acquired World Minerals, the world's second largest producer of perlite.
China is now the second largest producer of unexpanded perlite, with 20% of the world total. The major centre of perlite production is in Shangtianti mining district in southern Henan. In contrast to Greece, where production is concentrated in the hands of just three producers, there are scores of companies producing perlite raw materials in China, many of them small family enterprises with integrated expansion plants.
After several years of modest increases, the average price of unexpanded perlite produced in the USA declined in 2004 by around US$3/t to $35.22/t. A similar decline can be seen in the unit value of US imports of Greek perlite, which fell to US$31.16/t in 2004. These falling prices are mainly due to a decline in demand for perlite used in building materials. Prices for unexpanded perlite are expected to remain at current levels for the foreseeable future due to pressure from processors, who are incurring higher fuel prices.
Buy This Report Now
The Economics of Perlite published 01/07/2005
131 pages, 94 tables and 31 figures.
ISBN 0 86214 899 5
Complete report price:
GBP 2100
EUR 3675
USD 4200
plus postage/packing.