Powering the industrial fires that forged a $24.8 billion global market last year, the often-overlooked refractory industry is the critical backbone of manufacturing, from steel and cement to glass and aerospace.
Key Takeaways
- The global refractories market size was valued at USD 24.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030
- Refractory materials market in North America was valued at USD 3.2 billion in 2023, expected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 2.8%
- Asia Pacific refractories market accounted for 72.5% share in 2022, driven by steel production in China and India
- Global production of refractories reached 58.2 million metric tons in 2022
- China produced 81% of global refractories output at 47.1 million tons in 2022
- India's refractory production capacity stood at 4.2 million tons per annum in 2023
- Steel industry consumed 70% of global refractories at 40.7 million tons in 2022
- Cement industry refractory consumption: 8.5 million tons annually worldwide in 2023
- Glass sector used 4.2 million tons of refractories in 2022
- RHI Magnesita holds 12% global market share in refractories as of 2023
- Saint-Gobain ceramics & refractories division revenue USD 2.8 billion in 2022, 11% market share
- Vesuvius plc captured 8.5% share in steel refractories market 2023
- China accounts for 75% of global refractory exports in value terms 2022 USD 4.2 billion
- Europe imported 2.8 million tons refractories in 2023, 45% from Asia
- US refractory imports totaled 1.9 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 2.1 billion
The global refractories market is growing steadily, led by Asia's massive steel industry.
Consumption by Industry
- Steel industry consumed 70% of global refractories at 40.7 million tons in 2022
- Cement industry refractory consumption: 8.5 million tons annually worldwide in 2023
- Glass sector used 4.2 million tons of refractories in 2022
- Non-ferrous metals industry consumed 3.1 million tons refractories in 2023
- Petrochemicals end-use refractory consumption 2.8 million tons in 2022 globally
- Power generation sector used 1.9 million tons refractories in 2023
- Steel ladle lining consumes 25% of total steel industry refractories, approx 10.2 million tons/year
- Blast furnace refractories usage 15 million tons globally in 2022
- Converter refractories consumption 6.4 million tons in steelmaking 2023
- Tundish refractories used 3.7 million tons in continuous casting 2022
- Cement kiln refractories consumption averages 1.2 kg/ton clinker, total 7.8 million tons
- Float glass furnace refractories usage 450 kg/ton glass, total 3.9 million tons
- Aluminum smelting pots consume 0.8 kg/ton aluminum, 2.4 million tons refractories/year
- Copper smelters refractory lining 1.5 million tons annually worldwide
- Incinerators and boilers use 1.1 million tons insulation refractories in 2023
- EAF steelmaking refractories consumption 12 kg/ton steel, total 8.6 million tons
- BOF process uses 8 kg/ton hot metal refractories, 5.2 million tons global
- Lime kilns consume 0.9 million tons refractories yearly
- Foundry industry refractory use 2.1 million tons in 2022
Consumption by Industry Interpretation
Steel is the glutton at the refractory buffet, consuming over two-thirds of the global supply, while the cement, glass, and metals industries fight over the scraps to keep their own fiery processes from falling apart.
Key Companies and Shares
- RHI Magnesita holds 12% global market share in refractories as of 2023
- Saint-Gobain ceramics & refractories division revenue USD 2.8 billion in 2022, 11% market share
- Vesuvius plc captured 8.5% share in steel refractories market 2023
- Calderys (IMESA group) holds 7.2% global share in monolithic refractories
- Morgan Advanced Materials 6.8% share in high-performance refractories 2022
- Refratechnik Group 4.1% market share in cement refractories sector 2023
- Chosun Refractories (South Korea) 3.9% share in Asia Pacific market 2022
- IFGL Refractories India Ltd 2.8% global share, leading in India with 30% domestic
- Harsco Environmental (formerly Harsco Metals) 5.3% in ladle refractories 2023
- Minteq International (Carborundum) 3.5% share in US refractories market
- Puyang Refractories Group (China) 4.7% share in magnesia refractories 2022
- Beijing Lirr 2.9% global share in fused cast AZS refractories
- Darko (Slovenia) 1.8% share in Europe isostatically pressed refractories
- Top 10 global refractory producers account for 55% of world output in 2023
- Shinagawa Refractories (Japan) 3.2% share in iron & steel segment Asia
- Resco Products (US) leading with 4.2% in monolithic North America 2023
- Plibrico Company 2.5% share in industrial furnace refractories US
- China National Building Material (CNBM) 9.1% global share via subsidiaries 2022
- Krosaki Harima Corp (Japan) 3.6% in shaped refractories worldwide
- Rongsheng Refractory (China) 2.4% share in high-alumina products 2023
- Asia Pacific hosts 65% of top refractory manufacturers by capacity in 2023
Key Companies and Shares Interpretation
This fragmented market, where no single player dominates even 15%, reveals an industry both fiercely competitive and strategically specialized, with regional giants quietly amassing power beneath a global surface of apparent parity.
Market Size and Forecast
- The global refractories market size was valued at USD 24.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030
- Refractory materials market in North America was valued at USD 3.2 billion in 2023, expected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 2.8%
- Asia Pacific refractories market accounted for 72.5% share in 2022, driven by steel production in China and India
- The shaped refractories segment dominated with 65% market share in 2023 globally, valued at USD 16.1 billion
- Europe refractories market size was USD 4.5 billion in 2022, projected to grow at 3.2% CAGR to USD 6.2 billion by 2030
- Global monolithic refractories market reached USD 8.7 billion in 2023, with a forecast CAGR of 5.1% through 2031
- Clay-based refractories held 55% of the market value in 2022 at USD 13.6 billion worldwide
- The refractories market for cement industry was valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 4.2% CAGR
- Non-clay refractories segment projected to grow from USD 11.2 billion in 2023 to USD 16.8 billion by 2032 at 4.6% CAGR
- Middle East & Africa refractories market size stood at USD 1.1 billion in 2022, forecasted CAGR 5.3% to 2030
- Latin America refractories market valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2023, projected to USD 2.4 billion by 2031 at 3.5% CAGR
- Alumina refractories sub-market was USD 9.4 billion in 2022 globally, with 4.9% growth expected
- Magnesia refractories market size reached USD 6.2 billion in 2023, CAGR 4.7% forecast to 2030
- Silica refractories segment valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2022, projected 3.8% CAGR
- Zirconia refractories market at USD 1.5 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 5.5% CAGR to 2032
- Global refractory raw materials market size was USD 18.5 billion in 2022, CAGR 5.0% to 2030
- Basic refractories held 42% market share in 2023, valued at USD 10.4 billion
- Neutral refractories market size USD 4.3 billion in 2022, forecast 4.4% CAGR
- Acidic refractories segment at USD 3.9 billion in 2023, projected growth 3.9% CAGR
- Iron & steel end-use segment dominated refractories market with 68% share in 2022, USD 16.8 billion
Market Size and Forecast Interpretation
As Asia Pacific, powered by the furnaces of China and India, continues to shape a 72.5% share of the global refractories market, it’s clear the industry is fired up and cementing its growth, brick by monolithic brick, to keep the world's steel and infrastructure literally from melting down.
Production and Capacity
- Global production of refractories reached 58.2 million metric tons in 2022
- China produced 81% of global refractories output at 47.1 million tons in 2022
- India's refractory production capacity stood at 4.2 million tons per annum in 2023
- Japan refractory production was 2.8 million tons in 2022, down 3.5% from previous year
- Europe total refractory production capacity is approximately 12.5 million tons annually as of 2023
- US refractory production reached 2.1 million short tons in 2022
- Brazil refractory production output was 0.65 million tons in 2022
- Russia produced 1.9 million tons of refractories in 2023
- South Korea refractory capacity utilization rate was 78% in 2022, producing 1.4 million tons
- Germany refractory production at 1.2 million tons in 2023
- Magnesia-carbon brick production globally exceeded 1.5 million tons in 2022
- Alumina refractory production in China was 22.4 million tons in 2022
- Fused cast refractories production capacity worldwide is 0.8 million tons per year
- Basic brick production in Europe reached 3.1 million tons in 2023
- High-alumina refractory production in India: 1.8 million tons in 2022
- Dolomite refractory production output 0.9 million tons globally in 2023
- Castable refractories production in US: 0.45 million tons in 2022
- Silicon carbide refractories production: 0.3 million tons worldwide 2023
- Chrome-free refractories production surged to 2.2 million tons in 2022
- Insulation refractories production capacity 4.5 million tons in Asia 2023
- Shaped refractories production globally 38.4 million tons in 2022 (66% of total)
- Unshaped refractories output 19.8 million tons worldwide 2023
- Magnesia refractory production in China: 18.7 million tons in 2022
- Electrofused refractories capacity 1.2 million tons globally
- Fireclay brick production 12.6 million tons in 2023 worldwide
Production and Capacity Interpretation
While China's staggering 81% dominance in refractory production might look like a forgone conclusion, the global landscape reveals a surprisingly intricate mosaic of specialized materials and regional strengths, proving the industry's foundation is far from monolithic.
Regional Distribution
- China accounts for 75% of global refractory exports in value terms 2022 USD 4.2 billion
- Europe imported 2.8 million tons refractories in 2023, 45% from Asia
- US refractory imports totaled 1.9 million tons in 2022, valued at USD 2.1 billion
- India refractory exports reached 0.42 million tons in FY2023, USD 250 million
- Japan exported 0.65 million tons refractories in 2022, mainly to Asia
- Brazil imports 70% of its refractories needs, 0.55 million tons in 2023
- Middle East refractory market growth at 6.1% CAGR, UAE imports USD 180 million annually
- Africa refractory consumption per steel ton 18 kg vs global 10 kg average 2022
- Russia refractory self-sufficiency 95% in 2023, production exceeds domestic need
- South America total refractory market USD 1.2 billion in 2023, 80% imported
- ASEAN countries imported 1.1 million tons refractories 2022, Indonesia leading
- Australia refractory imports USD 320 million in 2023, from China 60%
- Turkey produced 0.32 million tons, exported 0.15 million tons refractories 2022
- Iran refractory production capacity 0.4 million tons, 90% for domestic steel
- Mexico imports 0.28 million tons refractories yearly, USD 200 million value
- Germany refractory exports USD 850 million in 2023 to EU and overseas
- UK consumed 0.22 million tons refractories in 2022, 65% imported
- Saudi Arabia refractory market USD 450 million 2023, growing with Vision 2030
- Vietnam refractory imports doubled to 0.18 million tons in 2022-2023
- Canada production 0.12 million tons, imports 0.35 million tons 2023
- South Africa imports 90% refractories, 0.25 million tons for mining/steel 2022
- Refractory recycling rate in Europe reached 25% of total consumption in 2023
Regional Distribution Interpretation
The global refractory industry paints a picture of a world utterly dependent on China's industrial furnace, where even self-sufficient giants like Russia and recycling pioneers in Europe can't escape the heat of international trade, while regions like Africa and the Middle East forge ahead with uniquely fiery appetites.
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