Clay Products and Refractories Market Report 2025

The clay products and refractories market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $166.99 billion in 2024 to $177.45 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to steel and metal industries demand, global manufacturing trends, mining and extraction activities, infrastructure development, energy production needs.

The clay products and refractories market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $213.9 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to focus on sustainable refractory materials, increased demand from renewable energy, growing demand for specialty refractories, advanced manufacturing techniques, infrastructure resilience needs. Major trends in the forecast period include digitalization in manufacturing, technological advancements in refractory manufacturing, advanced refractory materials, demand for lightweight refractories, focus on energy-efficient kiln technologies.

The anticipated stable economic growth is expected to drive the expansion of the clay products and refractories market in the future. Stable economic growth is characterized by a consistent and sustainable increase in a country's economic output over time, marked by minimal fluctuations, low inflation, and steady job creation, all of which contribute to overall financial stability and enhanced living standards for the population. This stable growth supports the clay products and refractories sector by fostering increased demand for construction materials and industrial applications, resulting in higher production levels, investment in new technologies, and improved market opportunities for manufacturers. For instance, in May 2023, the Federal Reserve Board, a US-based banking institution, reported that in 2022, 40% of adults indicated that their family's monthly expenses had risen compared to the previous year, while 33% noted an increase in their monthly income. Consequently, stable economic growth is projected to boost investments in end-user markets, thereby driving the clay products and refractories manufacturing market during the forecast period.

The anticipated growth in the construction industry is expected to further propel the growth of the clay products and refractories market. The construction industry encompasses the sector engaged in the planning, design, building, and maintenance of infrastructure and buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial projects. This sector is associated with significant economic growth, job creation, and the development of critical infrastructure, which supports various sectors such as transportation, housing, and commercial enterprises. Clay products and refractories play a vital role in construction by providing durable materials like bricks, tiles, and fire-resistant linings that enhance structural integrity, thermal insulation, and aesthetic appeal in buildings and infrastructure projects. For example, in July 2023, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an Australian government agency, reported that in the March quarter of 2023, the number of dwellings under construction rose by 1.3%, totaling 240,813 units, surpassing the previous record of 240,065 units set in the March 2022 quarter. Thus, the growth of the construction industry is driving the expansion of the clay products and refractories market.

Leading companies in the clay products and refractories market are leveraging advanced technologies such as robotic clay printing to gain a competitive advantage. Robotic clay printing involves the use of robotic arms equipped with specialized extruders to layer and shape clay materials, allowing for the creation of intricate designs and structures with high precision and efficiency. For example, in September 2024, researchers at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland, developed a new robotic additive manufacturing method designed to enhance sustainability in the construction industry. Unlike conventional concrete 3D printing, this innovative process eliminates the need for cement. Known as impact printing, the technique employs affordable, readily available, and low-carbon earth-based materials, such as clay and excavated soil.

Major companies in the clay products and refractories market are introducing innovative products such as 3D modeling applications to broaden their customer base, increase sales, and boost revenue. These applications enable users to create, manipulate, and visualize three-dimensional objects or scenes. For example, in August 2023, Italy-based WASP launched Clay 3D printers, a parametric 3D modeling application for printing clay. This unique product offers free access to the program through the web, enhancing user experience and experimentation in the field of 3D modeling.

Leading companies in the clay products and refractories market are creating new products like clay 3D printers to reach larger customer bases, boost sales, and enhance revenue. Clay 3D printers are specialized machines designed for 3D printing with clay-based materials to create three-dimensional objects. In October 2022, Cerambot, a producer of ceramic 3D printers based in China, announced the launch of an innovative multi-material 3D printer capable of producing large-format prints up to 28 inches tall. The Eazao Matrix is a next-generation 3D printer intended for pottery, creative construction, and educational applications, featuring a patented air chamber extruder and versatile multi-material capabilities.

Major companies operating in the clay products and refractories market include Shinagawa Refractories Co. Ltd., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., LIXIL Group, Kyocera Corporation, The Siam Cement Group Public Company Limited, Corning Incorporated., Internacional De Cerámica S.A.B. De C.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials, Imerys S.A., RHI Magnesita N.V., Vesuvius plc, Krosaki Harima Corporation, Orient Refractories Limited, CoorsTek Inc., Puyang Refractories Group Co. Ltd., Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Chosun Refractories Co. Ltd., IFGL Refractories Ltd., Ceradyne Inc., HarbisonWalker International, Refratechnik Holding GmbH, P-D Refractories GmbH, Rath Group, Resco Products Inc., Magnesia Refractories Group, Calderys India Refractories Limited, Allied Mineral Products Inc., Refractarios Especiales S.A., Dalmia Refractories Limited.

The Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the clay products and refractories market in 2024. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the clay products and refractories market. The regions covered in the clay products and refractories market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the clay products and refractories market report are Australia; China; India; Indonesia; Japan; South Korea; Bangladesh; Thailand; Vietnam; Malaysia; Singapore; Philippines; Hong Kong; New Zealand; USA; Canada; Mexico; Brazil; Chile; Argentina; Colombia; Peru; France; Germany; UK; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; Ireland; Italy; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Russia; Czech Republic; Poland; Romania; Ukraine; Saudi Arabia; Israel; Iran; Turkey; UAE; Egypt; Nigeria; South Africa.

Clay products and refractories encompass materials that undergo heating and subsequent shaping into bricks or other forms for industrial applications. Equipment and tools utilized in the manufacturing of clay products include crushers, grinders, wire cutters, high-pressure cylinders, rollers, dryers, and burners.

The primary types of clay products and refractories include pottery, ceramics, plumbing fixtures, clay building materials, and refractories. Pottery involves the creation of vessels using clay and other ceramic materials. The manufacturing process for clay products and refractories involves grinding, cutting, mixing, shaping, and honing. Materials used in this process include quartz, chamotte, sand, sawdust, slag, and pulverized coal. These materials find applications in various industries, including construction, automobiles, steelmaking, cosmetics, the food industry, and other end-user sectors.

The clay products and refractories market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides clay products and refractories market statistics, including clay products and refractories industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with clay products and refractories market share, detailed clay products and refractories market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the clay products and refractories industry. This clay products and refractories market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The clay products and refractories market consists of sales of building brick, paving brick, terra-cotta facing tile, roofing tile, and drainage pipe. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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