1 Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Market Description by Type
The different types of magnesium aluminate spinel include AR 90, AR 78, MR 66.
AR 90: It is distinguished according to the different proportions of aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide. Due to the spinel phase region, at high temperatures up to 1900°C a spinel phase containing 90% Al2O3 can be produced and maintained by rapid cooling. At lower temperatures, e.g. 1600°C during steel production, this high alumina content in AR 90 becomes unstable and a mixture of spinel and free corundum (Al2O3) is formed.
AR 78: The AR 78 spinel phase remains stable at temperatures around 1600°C.
MR 66: MR 66 is used extensively as a replacement for chrome ore in basic brick manufacture. MR 66 imparts the improved thermal shock resistance normally associated with chrome additions, but without the potential problem of hazardous waste disposal.
2 Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Market Production and Share by Type from 2018-2023
The production and market share of magnesium aluminate spinel of type MR 66 show a steady growth trend during the period from 2018 to 2023. Specifically, the production in 2018 was 85.91 kilotons with a market share of 49.85%. By 2019, production rose slightly to 89.41 kilotons, with a slight increase in market share to 49.92%. In 2020, despite challenges in the global economy, production of MR 66 remained at 85.54 kilotons, with a slight increase in market share to 50.10%. Moving into 2021, production picked up to 91.04 kilotons with a further increase in market share to 50.37%. In 2022, production reached 93.14 kilotons with a slight decrease in market share to 50.25%. By 2023, production reaches 96.19 kt and market share remains at 50.11%. Overall, the steady growth of the MR 66 type over this period reflects its importance in high-temperature industrial applications, particularly in the metallurgical and refractory sectors, where it is in constant demand.
From 2018 to 2023, magnesium aluminate spinel of type AR 78 shows stable production and market share changes. In 2018, the global production of AR 78 was 35.08 kilotons, accounting for 20.36% of the total production. In subsequent years, production and market share of AR 78 remained relatively stable despite intense market competition. In 2019, production increased slightly to 36.47 kilotons and market share remained at 20.36%. The production decreased slightly to 34.77 kilotons and market share remained at 20.36% in 2020. By 2021, production picks up to 36.77 kilotons with a slight decrease in market share to 20.34%. In 2022, production of AR 78 reaches 37.75 kilotons with a slight increase in market share to 20.37%. By 2023, production of AR 78 increases marginally to 39.19 kilotons and market share increases to 20.42%. This trend indicates that despite the challenges of new materials, AR 78 maintains a steady market demand and production scale due to its unique properties in specific high-temperature applications, such as in refractories and ceramics.
The production of magnesium aluminate spinel of type AR 90 and its share in the total global production shows a slight fluctuating trend during the six-year period from 2018 to 2023.In 2018, the production of AR 90 was 10.17 kilotons, which accounted for 5.90% of the total global production. Subsequently, in 2019, production increased slightly to 10.47 kilotons and the market share decreased slightly to 5.85%. By 2020, production declined to 9.96 kilotons and market share also slightly decreased to 5.83%.In 2021, production picked up to 10.40 kilotons and market share further decreased to 5.75%.In 2022, production of AR 90 further increased to 10.60 kilotons and market share once again decreased to 5.72%. By 2023, the production of AR 90 reaches 10.88 kilotons and the market share maintains its decreasing trend to 5.67%. Overall, despite the small share of AR 90 type in the total global production of magnesium aluminate spinel, its production and market share remain relatively stable, which may be related to the stability of its demand in specific high-end applications.
Table Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Production (K Tons) by Type (2018-2023)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
MR 66 | 85.91 | 89.41 | 85.54 | 91.04 | 93.14 | 96.19 |
AR 78 | 35.08 | 36.47 | 34.77 | 36.77 | 37.75 | 39.19 |
AR 90 | 10.17 | 10.47 | 9.96 | 10.40 | 10.60 | 10.88 |
Others | 41.17 | 42.76 | 40.49 | 42.54 | 43.86 | 45.69 |
Total | 172.33 | 179.11 | 170.75 | 180.74 | 185.35 | 191.95 |
Table Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Production Share by Type (2018-2023)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
MR 66 | 49.85% | 49.92% | 50.10% | 50.37% | 50.25% | 50.11% |
AR 78 | 20.36% | 20.36% | 20.36% | 20.34% | 20.37% | 20.42% |
AR 90 | 5.90% | 5.85% | 5.83% | 5.75% | 5.72% | 5.67% |
Others | 23.89% | 23.87% | 23.71% | 23.53% | 23.66% | 23.80% |
Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
3 Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Market Description by Application
The different applications of magnesium aluminate spinel can be categorized into Refractory Materials and Others Application (Electronic Materials, Optical Materials, etc).
Refractory Materials: Magnesium Aluminate Spinel, with its high melting point and high temperature resistance, can be made into refractory products such as refractory bricks and used in high-temperature industries such as metallurgy.
Others Application (Electronic Materials, Optical Materials, etc): Magnesium Aluminate Spinel can be processed into high-performance transparent ceramics for electronic and optical applications. For example, it can be used as an integrated circuit substrate candidate material and an insulating matrix material.
4 Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Market Consumption and Share by Application from 2018-2023
From 2018 to 2023, refractory materials as a major application of magnesium aluminate spinel, showed significant dominance in terms of sales volume and market share. In 2018, the sales volume in the refractory materials segment amounted to 163.19 kilotons, which accounted for 94.70% of the total sales volume, and accounted for almost the vast majority of the overall market share. Subsequently, in 2019, sales increased marginally to 169.41 kilotons and the market share declined slightly to 94.59%.In 2020, despite the challenges in the global economy, sales of refractory materials remained at 161.37 kilotons and the market share stabilized at 94.50%. By 2021, sales picked up and increased to 170.62 kilotons with a slight decrease in market share to 94.40%. in 2022, sales further increased to 174.74 kilotons with a slight decrease in market share to 94.28%. By 2023, sales in the refractory materials segment reached 180.68 kilotons, with a further decrease in market share to 94.13%. These figures show that, despite fluctuations in market share, refractory materials remain a core area of magnesium aluminate spinel, and the stability of sales volumes and market share reflects the material’s indispensable position in high-temperature industrial applications, particularly in the metallurgical, cement, and ceramics industries, where it continues to be in demand.
Demand for magnesium aluminate spinel in other applications, such as electronic materials and optical materials, has shown a steady increase over the six-year period from 2018 to 2023. In 2018, total sales for these other applications amounted to 9.14 kilotons, or 5.30% of the global total, which is a relatively small market share but has demonstrated its importance in specific technological areas. Moving into 2019, sales grew to 9.69 kilotons with a slight increase in market share to 5.41%. In 2020, with the global economy facing challenges due to the impact of the epidemic, sales for these applications remained at around 9.38 kilotons, with a small increase in market share to 5.50%. In 2021, sales picked up and grew to 10.12 kilotons, with a stabilized market share of 5.60%. In 2022, sales of sales further increased to 10.61 kilotons and market share increased slightly to 5.72%. Sales in other applications reach 11.27 kilotons in 2023, with market share continuing to grow slowly to 5.87%. This growth trend reflects the expansion of magnesium aluminate spinel applications in high-tech fields such as electronics and optical materials, especially the increased demand for high-end technology products such as integrated circuit substrates, transparent armor, and missile fairings, which place stringent requirements on the material’s resistance to high temperatures, abrasion, and optical properties. Overall, although refractory materials are still the main application area for magnesium aluminate spinel, the market share of other applications is gradually growing, showing the potential and importance of magnesium aluminate spinel in emerging technologies.
Table Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Consumption (K Tons) by Application (2018-2023)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
163.19 | 169.41 | 161.37 | 170.62 | 174.74 | 180.68 | |
Others (Electronic Materials, optical Materials, etc) | 9.14 | 9.69 | 9.38 | 10.12 | 10.61 | 11.27 |
Total | 172.33 | 179.11 | 170.75 | 180.74 | 185.35 | 191.95 |
Table Global Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Consumption Market Share by Application (2018-2023)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Refractory Materials | 94.70% | 94.59% | 94.50% | 94.40% | 94.28% | 94.13% |
Others (Electronic Materials, optical Materials, etc) | 5.30% | 5.41% | 5.50% | 5.60% | 5.72% | 5.87% |
Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
