China Refractory Materials Market Overview, 2029

The Chinese refractory material market is crucial to industrial sectors such as steel, cement, glass, and non-ferrous metals, supplying heat-resistant materials that can survive high temperatures. Refractories are critical in sectors that demand materials that can withstand intense thermal, mechanical, and chemical stress. The Chinese government began to promote privatisation and international investment, resulting in the growth of competitive private actors alongside state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The late 2000s saw a boom in China's steel sector, resulting in an exponential increase in demand for refractory materials. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) oversees industrial development, including the refractory industry. Other major bodies are the China Association of Refractories Industry (CARI) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which establish industrial rules and standards governing refractory production and export. Over the last decade, government programs have aimed to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the refractory sector. The Chinese government's "Made in China 2025" strategy has prioritised innovation and the development of high-performance refractories for advanced industries such as aerospace and electronics, resulting in increased R&D investments. China issued the "13th Five-Year Plan" in 2016, which aimed to promote materials science. This plan prioritised refractories as a strategic emphasis, encouraging innovation, environmentally responsible production, and greater value-added products. Compliance is enforced by both national and regional governments, including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The country's efforts to reduce pollution, in accordance with its national "Blue Sky" program, have resulted in a crackdown on inefficient and polluting refractory manufacturers. The COVID-19 pandemic has a major influence on China's refractory material sector. Lockdown procedures forced the temporary shutdown of production facilities in early 2020, causing supply chain disruptions. China's slowdown had an impact on businesses that rely on refractories, as it is a major supplier globally. However, China recovered quickly. By mid-2020, several industries had resumed operations, aided by government stimulus programs targeted at boosting industrial output.

According to the research report "China Refractory Material Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the China refractory material market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.47% CAGR from 2024 to 2029 The China refractory material market is rapidly changing, owing to shifting industry demands, advances in material science, and stricter environmental restrictions. The country is the world's leading producer and user of refractory materials, which have several applications in industries such as steel, cement, glass, and non-ferrous metals. One noticeable trend is an increased emphasis on high-performance refractories. As industries such as steel and glass manufacturing work to enhance energy efficiency and minimise emissions, the demand for more durable and thermally resistant materials has increased. High-performance refractories, such as those made from modern ceramics and composite materials, are increasingly favoured over older choices due to their longer service life and greater performance under harsh environments. Manufacturers are working on low-carbon, non-toxic refractory solutions that meet severe environmental regulations, such as the GB/T environmental protection criteria. Ruitai is one of China's largest refractory manufacturers, manufacturing high-performance materials for sectors such as steel and cement. The company has been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in manufacturing environmentally friendly products. Sinoma, a state-owned corporation, is a key player in the refractory industry. The company has a strong presence in both domestic and foreign markets, providing a diverse variety of refractory solutions to various industries. The principal driver is the growth of heavy industries, particularly steel and cement, which consume the vast majority of refractory materials. China's rapid urbanisation and infrastructural development are also driving up demand for refractories used in construction materials. As the government continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in transportation and energy, the demand for heat-resistant materials in cement, brick, and steel production will remain high.

The China refractory material market is divided into two categories: shaped (brick form) and unshaped (monolithic) materials. Both types are essential in high-temperature industrial processes, particularly in steel, cement, glass, and nonferrous metals. However, the market is seeing a shift towards unshaped refractories, which are gradually seizing the lead over traditional shaped goods. Shaped refractories, frequently manufactured in brick form, have long dominated the Chinese market. Shaped goods, such as fireclay bricks, magnesia bricks, and silica bricks, offer great structural stability at high temperatures and are especially popular in industries that require intricate, heavy-duty linings. Despite their extensive use, shaped refractories have seen their market share decline in recent years as unshaped materials have advanced. Unshaped refractory materials have recently emerged as the market leader, owing to China's industrial modernisation and the demand for speedier, more cost-effective solutions. The trend towards monolithic materials is consistent with the increased demand for energy-efficient, long-lasting, and simple-to-install refractory solutions. Several Chinese businesses control China's refractory market, notably the unshaped segment. Ruitai Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Sinosteel Refractory Co., Ltd., and Henan Rongsheng Refractory Co., Ltd. are among the largest manufacturers of both shaped and unshaped refractories. Suppliers such as Zibo Jucos Refractory Co., Ltd. and Luoyang Refractory Group Co., Ltd. have also established a significant domestic presence, notably in the unshaped refractory market. Their emphasis on innovation and customisation has allowed them to get a larger market.

In China's refractory materials industry, refractories are divided into three types based on their chemical behaviour: basic, acidic, and neutral. Basic refractories, particularly magnesia-based bricks and unshaped castables, are essential in steelmaking for lining furnaces, converters, and ladles because of their great thermal stability, chemical resistance, and capacity to endure extreme temperatures. China's steel sector, the world's largest, consumes the great majority of basic refractories, making them the market leader. The dominance of basic refractories in China is inextricably linked to the country's steel production sector, which accounts for more than half of global output. As steel production increases, so does demand for high-quality basic refractory materials. However, acidic refractories are less common in China's overall refractory market than basic refractories, owing to the smaller size of the sectors that use them. Although they play an important role in some specialist applications, their overall market share is much smaller. While neutral refractories are necessary in some applications, their market share in China remains secondary to basic refractories since demand for them is lower than in the steel and cement industries. Alumina, chromite, and carbon-based materials are frequently employed in neutral refractories. These materials are very useful in industries where both acidic and basic conditions exist, such as the nonferrous metals sector. China's refractory sector is home to numerous major enterprises that specialise in various types of refractories. Ruitai Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Sinosteel Refractory Co., Ltd., and Henan Rongsheng Refractory Co., Ltd. are important participants in the basic refractory market, providing magnesia- and dolomite-based products to the steel and cement industries.

China's refractory materials market is diversified, including fireclay, alumina, magnesia, silica, and other specialised refractories. Each substance has a specific industrial application, with the steel, cement, glass, and nonferrous metals sectors being the principal users. Magnesia-based refractories dominate the market, owing to China's enormous steel production industry. Magnesia-based goods, such as magnesia-carbon and magnesia-chrome bricks, are critical to China's steel industry, which is still the country's largest industrial sector. The strong demand for magnesia refractories stems from their employment as furnace, converter, and ladle linings in steel manufacture. Ruitai Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Henan Rongsheng Refractory Co., Ltd., and Sinosteel Refractory Co., Ltd. are key participants, particularly in the magnesia and alumina markets. Alumina refractories are necessary for applications requiring excellent heat stability and wear resistance. However, alumina-based refractories are often employed in certain industries, giving them a large market presence while ranking second behind magnesia refractories. Silica refractories play an important role in these speciality industries, although they have a lower market share in China than magnesia and alumina due to their restricted use in broader industrial sectors. Other specialised refractory materials, such as zirconia and chromite-based refractories, are utilised in high-temperature or highly corrosive conditions. These materials are essential in sectors such as nonferrous metals and several petrochemical applications. Though important, their overall market share is small in comparison to the more widely utilised magnesia and alumina materials.



Considered in this report
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• Refractory Material market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Form
• Shaped
• Unshaped

By Chemistry
• Basic
• Acidic
• Neutral

By Chemical Composition
• Fireclay
• Alumina
• Magnesia
• Silica
• Others

By End Use
• Metals & Metallurgy
• Cement
• Glass & Ceramics
• Power Generation
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Refractory Material industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.