As a key material in high-temperature industries, the sales volume of refractory bricks directly reflects the dynamics of downstream industries. Against the backdrop of global industrial green transformation, the market is undergoing demand upgrades and a reshaping of its structure.
1. Core Demand: Driven by Steel and Building Materials
The steel and building materials industries account for over 70% of global refractory brick consumption. In the steel sector, global crude steel production reached 1.87 billion tons in 2024. Capacity replacement in China and India drove demand for high-purity magnesia-carbon bricks and other high-end products, with annual consumption reaching 12 million tons, accounting for over 50%. In the building materials industry, cement rotary kilns require materials such as high-alumina bricks. Each new dry-process production line consumes 500-800 tons of bricks annually, with sales increasing by 3.2% year-on-year in 2024. Southeast Asia saw a 5.1% growth rate due to cement capacity expansion. Demand from emerging fields such as waste incineration and non-ferrous metal smelting is also gradually increasing.
2. Key Influencing Factors
On the cost side, magnesia accounts for 30%-40% of raw material costs. In 2024, prices rose by 15% due to environmental protection-related production restrictions in China, leading to the exit of small and medium-sized manufacturers and increased industry concentration. In terms of policy, China’s “dual-carbon” goals are driving the upgrading of refractory bricks towards low energy consumption and long service life, while the EU’s CBAM (Conformity Assessment and Implementation) is prompting companies to improve environmental performance. Technologically, the market share of new monolithic refractories is expected to rise from 35% in 2019 to 48% in 2024, with 3D printing technology supporting high-end customized demand.
3. Regional Landscape and Future Growth Points
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer, accounting for 65% of production and 58% of consumption in 2024. Companies are accelerating their overseas expansion. Southeast Asia and the Middle East are leading in demand growth, reaching 6.3% and 4.8% respectively in 2024. Over the next 3-5 years, global sales are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.5%-3%. Green materials will be the core growth driver, with the market size of chromium-free refractory bricks expected to exceed $8 billion by 2027. Emerging industries such as hydrogen metallurgy and photovoltaic glass are driving demand for specialty bricks, with sales of zircon bricks for photovoltaic applications growing at an average annual rate of over 8%.
In summary, the refractory brick market is undergoing structural adjustments. Industry players need to focus on high-end and green technologies. Emerging markets and specialty materials offer significant investment value.