IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Slag Wool, Rock Wool And Similar Mineral Wools And Mixtures – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

For the fifth consecutive year, the global mineral wool market recorded growth in sales value, which increased by 0.3% to $30.9B in 2019. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. Over the period under review, the global market attained the maximum level in 2019 and is likely to continue growing in years to come.

Consumption by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of mineral wool consumption in 2019 were China (4.9M tonnes), the U.S. (3.9M tonnes) and India (2M tonnes), together comprising 56% of global consumption. Japan, Russia, Mexico, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Canada and Saudi Arabia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 25%.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mineral wool consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Saudi Arabia, while mineral wool consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, China ($6.8B), the U.S. ($6.2B) and Japan ($5.1B) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2019, together comprising 58% of the global market. India, Mexico, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Russia, Thailand and Canada lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 28%.

The countries with the highest levels of mineral wool per capita consumption in 2019 were the U.S. (12 kg per person), Japan (9.63 kg per person) and Saudi Arabia (8.70 kg per person).

Production

In 2019, global mineral wool production expanded to 19M tonnes, increasing by 4.3% compared with the year before. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period.

Production by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of mineral wool production in 2019 were China (5M tonnes), the U.S. (3.8M tonnes) and India (2M tonnes), with a combined 56% share of global production. These countries were followed by Japan, Russia, Mexico, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Poland, which together accounted for a further 28%.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mineral wool production, amongst the leading producing countries, was attained by Saudi Arabia, while mineral wool production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports

After three years of growth, purchases abroad of slag wool, rock wool and similar mineral wools and mixtures decreased by -3.3% to 2.3M tonnes in 2019. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the period from 2013 to 2019. Global imports peaked at 2.3M tonnes in 2018, and then declined modestly in the following year.

In value terms, mineral wool imports shrank slightly to $2.6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% from 2013 to 2019; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period.

Imports by Country

France (183K tonnes), Italy (156K tonnes), the U.S. (137K tonnes), Germany (132K tonnes), Austria (113K tonnes), Romania (85K tonnes), Kazakhstan (81K tonnes), Sweden (81K tonnes), Poland (72K tonnes), the Czech Republic (67K tonnes), Belgium (63K tonnes) and Belarus (59K tonnes) represented roughly 54% of total imports of slag wool, rock wool and similar mineral wools and mixtures in 2019.

From 2013 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Romania, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest mineral wool importing markets worldwide were Germany ($203M), the U.S. ($186M) and France ($180M), with a combined 22% share of global imports. Italy, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Romania, Kazakhstan and Belarus lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 26%.

Import Prices by Country

The average mineral wool import price stood at $1,155 per tonne in 2019, flattening at the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price recorded a slight shrinkage. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the average import price increased by 4.8% y-o-y. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the maximum at $1,295 per tonne in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2019, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was Germany ($1,535 per tonne), while Kazakhstan ($485 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform