UAE Attapulgite Market Outlook

uae's attapulgite market is estimated to witness a healthy growth over the forecast period of 2018 to 2032, driven by increased demand for specialty grade attapulgite in various industrial applications and civil engineering projects. according to a research study by analytiqz, the demand for attapulgite from the uae is expected to reach 597 kilo tons by 2032. this is mainly attributed to the growth of the construction industry and civil engineering projects in the region. attapulgite is used as a fill material in the construction of roads and highways in the uae. it is also used as a soil stabilizer, a low heat of hydration, a waterproofing agent, and an additive to improve the workability and cohesiveness of concrete. these applications are expected to be the main drivers of demand growth in the uae over the forecast period. in addition, there is an increasing demand for specialty grade attapulgite to be used in the manufacture of abrasive materials, drilling mud, and adhesives, among other applications. furthermore, its high absorption capacity, flexibility and low cost, makes attapulgite a preferred choice for many industries in the uae. currently, most of the demand for attapulgite is met by imports. in 2017, the imports accounted for more than 70% of total consumption in the country. however, the rising demand for attapulgite has led to the development of the local production of the material. currently, local production meets around 30% of the total demand and is expected to grow further over the forecasted period, driven by government initiatives such as the national industrial development initiative (ndi), which supports the development of local industrial production. the competitive landscape of uae's attapulgite market is dominated by international players such as imerys, minerals technologies, and innophos. however, local companies such as petroleum services company and mega chemicals are also playing a major role in the industry, catering to the rising regional demand for specialty grade attapulgite. overall, uae's attapulgite market is projected to witness a healthy growth over the forecast period, driven by increasing demand from construction and industrial sector and the government initiatives supporting local production of the material.