[Ferro-Alloys.com] Global refractory demand is projected to grow at a 3.4 percent annual rate through 2016 to 46.3 million metric tons, an improvement over the 2006-2011 period.

 

Product sales will climb 5.3 percent per year in value terms to $46.5 billion in 2016, not as strong as gains registered in recent years because of a moderation in raw material costs and refractory prices.

 

There are three main factors that impact the world refractory market total: output levels in major end use markets, the manufacturing methods used in these industries, and the nature of the refractory products utilized. Increases in refractory demand through 2016 will be stimulated by an acceleration in construction and other fixed investment activity as economic conditions continue to improve, leading to stepped up output of steel, aluminum, cement, and other goods made using refractories. A pickup in personal consumption expenditures will also result in higher demand for everything from glass containers to motor vehicles, contributing to growth in refractory sales as industry production levels rise.

 

Increased use of refractories in chemicals manufacturing, incinerators, and a variety of other small volume markets will also help bolster overall product sales. However, the manufacturing methods utilized in key end use industries will continue to become more efficient, refractory technologies will improve further, and demand for longer lasting, higher end refractories will climb. This will lead to reduced intensity of usage and limit global market advances.