Middle East & Africa Attapulgite Market Outlook

attapulgite, a magnesium-aluminum-silicate mineral, is widely used in antiperspirants, skin care products, and plastic films for its absorbent properties. as per grand view research, the middle east & africa attapulgite market is expected to grow at a cagr of 5.2% over the forecast period from 2018-2032 on account of increasing demand from the end-use industries and rising awareness of its health benefits within the region. in terms of application, pharmaceuticals dominated the market, occupying 34.1% of the overall revenue generated in 2017, on account of increasing geriatric population and rising demand for healthcare products in the region. construction was the second largest application segment in 2017, owing to the growing infrastructure development across the region. the extensive usage of attapulgite in this segment for tile adhesives, fireproofing, screed and rendering mortar, cement additives, waterproofing and finishing materials is likely to propel its demand over the forecast period. the industry is also expected to benefit from rapidly expanding industrial and manufacturing sectors. the market is expected to benefit from rising governments’ support and increased investments in infrastructure and industrial projects. for instance, the south african government are focussing on public-private initiatives (ppi) to support infrastructural development across the country. such initiatives are likely to contribute to the rising investments in infrastructural projects, thereby increasing demand for attapulgite. the region is also expected to benefit from growing trade agreements with other countries, which facilitates speedy transportation of raw materials for construction projects. notable players in the market include jgc corp, clariant ag, fauji fertilizer company and eprint group, among others. companies are actively investing in r&d activities backed by strong partnerships, in order to develop new and attractive products. moreover, firms are also focusing on technological advancements‎ for product development, which is expected to contribute to market consolidation over the forecast period. overall, the middle east & africa attapulgite market is expected to experience steady growth over the forecast period on account of increasing construction and manufacturing activities, coupled with rising awareness of health benefits associated with its use. companies are expected to make strategic investments in r&d activities to stay ahead in the competition, thus increasing their product portfolio and profitability.