I. Product use
Magnesium hydroxide, also known as caustic magnesia, lightly burned magnesia, etc., is a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water called magnesium hydroxide emulsion, or magnesium milk for short. Magnesium hydroxide is a natural mineral brucite. It can be used to make sugar and magnesium oxide, etc. Because magnesium hydroxide is relatively abundant in nature and its chemical properties are similar to aluminum, users have begun to use magnesium hydroxide to replace aluminum chloride for fragrance products. It is used as an analytical reagent and also in the pharmaceutical industry. Magnesium hydroxide is a new type of filling flame retardant. It releases bound water when decomposed by heat and absorbs a large amount of latent heat to reduce the surface temperature of the synthetic material it fills in the flame. It has the effect of inhibiting the decomposition of polymers and cooling the generated combustible gases. Magnesium hydroxide is recognized as an excellent flame retardant with triple functions of flame retardancy, smoke suppression and filling in the rubber and plastic industry.
2. Forecast of foreign market situation
- 2.1. Current status and forecast of market supply
Magnesium hydroxide is a new type of filling flame retardant. It releases bound water when decomposed by heat and absorbs a large amount of latent heat to reduce the surface temperature of the synthetic material it fills in the flame. It has the function of inhibiting the decomposition of polymers and cooling the generated combustible gases. Magnesium hydroxide is recognized as an excellent flame retardant with triple functions of flame retardancy, smoke suppression and filling in the rubber and plastic industry. At present, in the field of communication cables, the use of inorganic flame retardants in foreign countries such as the United States, Japan and the European Union exceeds 64%, while China only accounts for 8%.
- 2.2. Current status and forecast of market demand
According to the survey of Hebei Messi Biology Co., Ltd., the global demand for magnesium hydroxide will reach 943,300 tons in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%. China is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of magnesium hydroxide, with total revenue of US$143.4 million, compared with US$133 million in 2015. In 2023, the global magnesium hydroxide market is expected to have an annual compound growth rate of 5.8% and total revenue of US$1 billion. Asia Pacific will continue to be the largest market, with a revenue share of 38.1% in 2023.
Environmental uses of magnesium hydroxide, including sewage treatment and flue gas desulfurization, will continue to stimulate demand, accounting for 47.1% of total revenue in 2016. The application of flame retardants will achieve a high growth of 4.4%, accounting for 21.8% of total revenue. In addition, the application of magnesium hydroxide as a neutralizer in the pulp and paper industry will be strengthened.
- 2.3. Market supply and demand balance analysis
Magnesium hydroxide products are divided into flame retardant grade, neutralization grade, medical grade, electronic grade, oil additive magnesium hydroxide, etc. in terms of application; and are divided into flake, ultrafine, whisker, nano-grade, heavy magnesium hydroxide, etc. in terms of structure. Among them, ultrafine magnesium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide whiskers have good development potential.
3. Domestic market forecast
- 3.1. Market supply status and forecast
For a long time, magnesium hydroxide flame retardant has been a high-end product in my country. The application of magnesium hydroxide as a flame retardant in China started late, and the level of awareness and publicity is not enough. Many chemical industries such as rubber and plastics have not yet been widely used, and sales price is also an important factor affecting its application and development. The high-end magnesium hydroxide flame retardant market is still mainly monopolized by manufacturers from the United States, Japan, and Israel, and the value of each ton of product ranges from 24,000 yuan to 37,000 yuan.
my country imports about 30,000 tons each year, mostly used by foreign-funded enterprises in China, mainly used in high-end materials such as communication equipment, high-speed rail insulation materials, nuclear power plant wires and cables, etc. It is understood that researchers at the Qinghai Salt Lake Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully mastered the core process of preparing magnesium hydroxide flame retardant products, and are gradually breaking the monopoly of high-end magnesium hydroxide flame retardants by foreign manufacturers.
- 3.2. Current market demand and forecast
For foreign countries, such as the United States, Japan and Western Europe, the annual consumption of magnesium hydroxide flame retardants maintains a relatively high annual growth rate. This trend of sustained growth will not change much in the short term, which also reflects from the side that for a large country like my country that produces and applies polymers, the development prospects of halogen-free magnesium hydroxide flame retardants are broad.
As a newly developed green industry in the 21st century, the development of the magnesium hydroxide industry will contribute greatly to the realization of the goal of a beautiful China with a clean environment and ecological civilization. At present, the investment in the magnesium hydroxide industry by all parties is still insufficient, and the market is not mature enough, and it is urgent to work together. Not long ago, magnesium hydroxide was removed from the list of hazardous chemicals. I hope this is a good start. my country is rich in magnesium resources, but it is not a strong country in magnesium products. I hope that enterprises, scientific researchers and government departments will work together to promote the development of the magnesium industry and transform resource advantages into industrial advantages as soon as possible.
- 3.3. Market supply and demand balance analysis
There is an oversupply of low-end and mid-end magnesium hydroxide products in China, and a shortage of high-end products. While many companies are still struggling with the price increase and decrease of their products, many companies have already jumped out of this field and taken the lead in laying out high-end markets, such as the ultrafine magnesium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide whisker markets. There is an oversupply of low-end and mid-end products in China, and a shortage of high-end products. This is a great opportunity for magnesium hydroxide companies to upgrade their technology and products.