Global Mining Chemicals Market 2016-2020

Overview of the global mining chemicals market

Technavio’s market research analyst predicts the global mining chemicals market to grow at a CAGR of more than 7% during the forecast period.  Mining chemicals are specialized chemicals that improve the productivity and efficacy of mining processes. These chemicals are predominantly used in blasting and drilling, mineral processing, and water and waste treatment. They are commonly used in the extraction of metals and minerals like copper, gold, molybdenum, nickel, iron, cobalt, alumina, and other industrial minerals like bauxite, chromite, cobalt, manganese, and quartz. The consumption of mining chemicals has been growing considerably as they enable higher productivity and better quality yield in the mining industry. Moreover, with growing complications in mining processing, several chemical research companies, such as Kemetco Research, Nalco, Axis House, and Kamira, are coming up with eco-friendly specialty chemicals that have negligible environmental effects.

APAC was the largest and fastest-growing region in the global mining chemicals market in 2015. China, Australia, and India are the major revenue contributors in the region. Much of the region’s growth comes from the surging demand for mining chemicals in China, which occupied around 66% of the mining chemicals market in 2015. Factors like rising mining activity and the increasing investment in the mining industry in China are expected to augment the growth of the region's market over the next four years.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

The global mining chemicals industry is extremely competitive where key players compete to increase their market shares and geographic presence by acquiring the local and regional players. Competition in the market will further intensify in the coming years with the influx of the private labels. The mining chemical companies are focusing to increase their production capacity and are constantly working on research activities for new products. With the increase in technological advancements, manufacturers are spreading themselves either in the commodity or specialized chemicals markets. There are only few players in the market who are offering the full range of chemicals. This market is predominantly driven by mining chemicals companies from the APAC region.

Leading vendors in the market are -

• AECI
• BASF
• Chevron Phillips Chemical
• Clariant
• Cytec Solvay Group

Other prominent vendors in the mining chemicals market include AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry, Evonik, DuPont, and Ashland.

Segmentation by product type and analysis of the mining chemicals market

• Grinding aids
• Sulfide collectors
• Flocculants
• Frothers
• Solvent extractants

The grinding aids segment accounted for the largest share in the market during 2015 and is expected to continue its dominance over the predicted period. Alkanol amines, glycols, esters of glycols, alkanol amines, and carboxylates of alkanol amines are used as grinding aid chemicals in mineral processing. The use of these products results in significant gains in grinding productivity by minimising cohesion and adhesion in the ore slurry. These chemicals offer improved ore throughput in grinding circuit and use less energy, require minimal maintenance, and have better environmental performance.

Segmentation by application and analysis of the mining chemicals market

• Blasting and drilling
• Mineral processing
• Water and waste treatment

Blasting and drilling is the largest application segment in the global mining chemicals market and is expected to grow significantly over the next four years. Through blasting and drilling, chemicals are used to break the raw mineral ore rocks in a controlled manner. Explosives are primarily used in the process of mining, quarrying, and tunneling. Ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) is one of the commonly used mining chemicals in blasting. It has preference over other chemicals in the mining industry because it is much safer in usage. Countries like China, the US, South America, and India are the major consumers of blasting and drilling chemicals.

 Key questions answered in the report include

• What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2020?
• What are the key factors driving the global mining chemicals market?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global mining chemicals market?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in the global mining chemicals market?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global mining chemicals market?
• Trending factors influencing the market shares of APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America.
• What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global mining chemicals market?

Technavio also offers customization on reports based on specific client requirement.

Related reports:

• Global Silica Minerals Mining Market 2016-2020
•  Global Mining Equipment Rental Market 2016-2020
• Global Chromium Mining Market 2016-2020

Mining chemicals have several applications including mineral processing, mining of explosive and drilling chemicals, and water and waste treatment, among others. Some of the mining chemicals primarily used are sulfosuccinate surfactant, alkyl aryl oxime, alkyl xanthate salt, petroleum distillate, and ammonium nitrate. There are different types of mining processes like coal mining and metal and mineral ore mining where these chemicals are extensively used. These chemicals enable easy extraction of complex ores, which are normally very difficult to extract.  Some of the major vendors identified in this market space are Cytech Solvay, BASF, and AECI.

The report, global mining chemical market, is part of Technavio’s chemicals and materials research portfolio. This portfolio provides a comprehensive market analysis along with the market share, market sizing, and market segmentations covering areas such as additives, adhesives and sealants, agrochemicals and fertilizers, bio-chemicals and bio-materials, chemical engineering equipment, glass and ceramics, industrial gases, metals and minerals, olefins, paints, coatings, and pigments, personal protective equipment, plastics, polymers, and elastomers, and specialty chemicals. These market research reports provide a perspective on the various market opportunities and market threats along with the key trends that would influence the market growth during the forecast period. It presents insights into the changing competitive landscape and a detailed profiling and market analysis of the vendors. Also covered in the research are the key regions or countries that would have an impact on the market during the assessment years.