China Attapulgite Market Outlook

china is currently the world’s largest producer and consumer of attapulgite, a non-metallic mineral resource mainly composed of silica, alumina and trace metals. attapulgite has a wide range of applications, including oil absorption, agricultural soil conditioners, synthetic paints, and sealants. it can be used as a filtration medium for oil-water separation, which is an important component for global oil industry. over the past few years, the demand for attapulgite in china has increase significantly due to the rise in environmentally sensitive products and growing market for industrial and petrochemical applications. as a result, china is now a major producer and exporter of attapulgite, both domestically and to its neighboring countries. in the near term, the demand for attapulgite in china is expected to be steady due to the country’s large industrial base and increasing oil consumption. as the construction and automotive sectors in china continue to grow, the country should see a rise in demand for attapulgite as well. furthermore, as china’s energy consumption increases, so should demand for attapulgite as an oil filtration medium. in the long-term, china is expected to remain at the forefront of demand for attapulgite, as the government plans to develop shale gas in order to meet its energy needs. additionally, the country’s 5-year plan to increase the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, may also spur china’s demand for attapulgite. further, the chinese government’s commitment to reducing air pollution may drive the demand for attapulgite. finally, increasing exports of attapulgite from china, as global demand for this mineral resource rises, should also contribute to the demand outlook. as attapulgite replaces other materials in various applications, its use in china and overseas should continue in the coming years. thus, with a positive outlook for demand in the years to come, it is likely that the demand for attapulgite in china from 2018 to 2032 will remain strong.