Cristobalite Market

Cristobalite: Making Inroads in the Architectural Aesthetic Space

As the concept of surface covering is gaining popularity in residential and commercial buildings, and engineered stones continue to break aesthetic barriers in terms of design and function, interest in a wide variety of silica minerals has thrived in recent times. Consistency in the colors and patterns of new-age stone varieties combined with cristobalite has captured significant attention from consumers, in view of their improved appearance, greater transparency, and higher durability.

Considering the importance of silica minerals, Transparency Market Research, in its new business study, assesses how cristobalite producers are catering to the demand arising from engineered stone and other related industries, despite its lower prevalence than quartz. The study also offers thorough analysis and in-depth insights on the cristobalite market, which can equip stakeholders with the necessary facts and statistics to take well-informed decisions.

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Cristobalite Market: History and Evolutionary Landscape

Formed in volcanic lava domes through vapor-phase mineralization and devitrification of groundmass, cristobalite has gained its very own eminence across a wide range of industries over the years. In 2018, the global cristobalite market surpassed a valuation of US$ 27 million, and leading producers of cristobalite continue to have monopoly over the market. As high brightness and easy wetting of the mineral have raised its demand in construction-related activities, while its availability remains limited to specific geographic regions, leading producers such as Sibelco are focusing on the synthetic production of cristobalite. These producers are also forced to develop new material solutions, as Sibelco reported that the demand for cristobalite once again surpassed its supply in 2018.

It is also pertinent to note that, cristobalite is associated with several human health concerns, as exposure to high levels of silica minerals can have chronic health effects that last for months or even years; this continues to challenge the growth of cristobalite suppliers. Further, in view of its similar composition and other properties, cristobalite can be easily replaced by relatively low-cost quartz and other polymorphs, creating another obstacle to the growth of the market. Therefore, considering the rareness of the mineral and availability of cheaper substitutes, manufacturers are focusing on directing their investments towards the latest technologies to synthesize cristobalite, which operate at advanced levels of energy efficiency with lower emissions.

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Evolving Trends of Paints & Coatings to Redefine the Cristobalite Market

While rapid expansion of the construction industry continues to significantly accelerate the adoption of cristobalite, manufactures have also been earmarking for expansion in the glass & ceramics and paints & coatings sectors. With continuous focus on enhancing the aesthetic appeal of households and commercial complexes, especially in Asian and African countries, as the exterior walls are in constant exposure to dust particles, key market players are leveraging the lucrative opportunities created by the increasing demand for dust-resistant exterior paints. In addition, expansion of production capacities and innovations are highly influenced by a rise in the shift in consumer preference toward white countertops, and the use of cristobalite as a premium and superior additive in paint & coating applications.

As the sand form of cristobalite continues to replace the use of milled flour in paint & coating applications, manufacturers are wary about spending on other forms. In 2018, sales of the sand form of cristobalite accounted for nearly 85% of the market revenue share. Considering the demand for dust- and weather- resistant exterior paints from the residential construction sector in developing countries, manufacturers will remain focused on strengthening the production of cristobalite sand.

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Building Blocks of the Cristobalite Market

Investments in New Kilns

Since the natural sources of cristobalite fail to meet the ever-increasing demand for industrial use, manufacturers are targeting synthesizing the mineral by the conversion of quartz in a rotary kiln at very high temperature with the assistance of a catalyst. These factors played an important role in Sibelco's decision to open a new kiln in Belgium, with the aim to bridge the supply-demand gap. The new kiln would be using the latest technology to manufacture cristobalite, and increase its production capacity by approximately 70,000 tons per year. Such strategic initiatives are likely to influence new entrants in the market.

Focus on Independent Innovations

Sensing the high unmet needs of consumers in the cristobalite market, key players are significantly spending on their own innovations by forming high-quality management and research teams, and promoting innovations through continuous technology advancements. In addition, manufacturers are building efficient procurement strategies to maintain the constant supply of raw materials such as quartz, and enhance the efficiency of product operations.

The Competitive Landscape

The global cristobalite market has a very high level of consolidation, with the top three players - SCR-Sibelco NV, Quarzwerke GmbH, and Hoben International Limited - collectively accounting for over 75% of the revenue share. SCR-Sibelco holds a majority share of the cristobalite market, and has the largest production facility in the world. Capacity expansion remains a key focus area of leading cristobalite market players, while small companies struggle to provide large quantities of products to the customers.

Considering the nature of the product and geographical limitation of the sources, manufacturers are hesitant to improve their footprints in Latin America and the Middle East due to the high dependency on imports and high manufacturing costs in these regions. As Asia Pacific remains at the center of the broader expansion of the cristobalite market, key manufacturers are viewing this region, not only from a manufacturing perspective but also from a target market perspective. Continued urbanization and industrialization in the region, along with rise in the income available for spending on high-value products have also led to strategy realignment.

The Analyst Viewpoint

Report authors believe that, the cristobalite market will continue to witness steady growth during the period of 2019-2027. Traditionally, the market has remained highly consolidated, which is unlikely to change anytime soon. Analysts feel that, small companies operating in the cristobalite market will need to have adequate funds and more access to raw material sources to make an impact in the market.

Since the gap between supply and demand persists, key manufactures will need to focus on establishing a sustainable source of raw materials to increase their production capacities. Considering the wide-ranging limitations of natural sources, leveraging new technological advancements for the production of high-quality synthetic cristobalite is highly likely to open new growth prospects.