High Purity Alumina Market

Market Overview

The global high-purity alumina market size was valued at USD 1,620.00 million in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 8,940.29 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 20.90% during the forecast period (2023-2031). 

High-purity alumina (HPA) is a high-quality non-metallurgical alumina product with a purity level of at least 99.99%. HPA is a starting point for making sapphire substrates used in things like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fake sapphire glass. It is resistant to corrosion, has a high brightness level, and can handle high temperatures. The global market for high-purity alumina is expanding due to the widespread usage of LED lighting over conventional lighting and technical advancement. The need for HPA has increased due to the increased usage of LED goods due to its better qualities, such as longevity, dependability, and low radiated heat. Additionally, as HPA is used in the creation of batteries for electric vehicles, the growth in the production of electric cars in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific has increased HPA demand. However, the critical factor projected to impede market growth during the projection period is increased HPA prices.

Highlights

• The 4N HPA segment is the major contributor to the market by type.
• The hydrolysis segment is the major contributor to the market by technology.
• The LED bulbs segment is the major contributor to the market by applications.
• Asia-Pacific is the most significant revenue contributor by region.

Market Dynamics

Global High Purity Alumina Market Drivers:

Increased Use of LED Bulbs in Place of Conventional Bulbs

Globally, there has been a shift in people's preferences away from traditional bulbs toward LED bulbs. Due to the growth of the commercial, marine, and horticulture lighting industries in the U.S., the demand for LED bulbs is quite strong. The lighting industry is seeing the emergence of new applications, including smart lighting and light communication. Implementing strict rules fuels the market penetration of LEDs to deploy energy-efficient lighting around the globe.

At the end of 2018, the Indian government distributed 210 million LED bulbs nationwide and released bids for retrofit projects using LED streetlights. Foreign bidders are now forming joint ventures with regional lighting businesses to meet bid requirements for revenue, production capacity, and manufacturing capability. Global government support and rising HPA demand have resulted in a boom in LED adoption, fueling the expansion of the HPA market worldwide.

Global High Purity Alumina Market Restraint:

Governing Body Guidelines for "Red Mud" Extraction

The government's restrictions on the extraction of red mud are among the issues that could limit the expansion of the world market for high-purity alumina. It is often created during the extraction of alumina from bauxite. According to the bauxite's mineralogical makeup and extraction efficiency, producing one ton of alumina typically has 1.0 to 1.5 tons of red mud. Thus, between 2.0 and 3.0 tons of red soil are produced for every ton of aluminum produced.

Red mud disposal is a significant issue in alumina facilities worldwide. Red mud is so intensely alkaline, and it could pollute the water and land near the alumina refinery plant. The government has implemented several strict rules that are expected to delay the growth of the high-purity alumina industry due to the environmental risks associated with red mud extraction.

Global High-Purity Alumina Market Opportunities:

Increased Demand from Developing Nations

Emerging economies present a significant potential opportunity for the high-purity alumina market. The increase in demand for LED lights from nations like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines is blamed for this. Due to the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) initiatives to minimize carbon footprints and meet the region's expanding electricity demand, it is projected that demand for LED lighting would increase more quickly throughout the Middle East. A further factor driving the expansion of the HPA market is the rise in automotive demand in Southeast Asian nations. According to the ASEAN Automotive Federation, the SEA automobile market had sales of USD 3.2 million over the previous five years, increasing at a CAGR of 11%. Additionally, according to the federation, SEA customers will continue to desire to buy new cars strongly.

As alumina is used in bio-medical equipment, the rapidly expanding medical industry in developing nations is anticipated to impact the high-purity alumina market. According to projections, the number of middle-class people living in ASEAN nations would nearly triple between 2010 and 2030, significantly fueling the growth of the medical industry. The aging population in countries like Singapore is predicted to increase medical demand, fueling the expansion of the high-purity alumina market.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

The global high-purity alumina market is bifurcated into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. 

Asia-Pacific is the most significant revenue contributor and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.20% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is researched in China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and the rest of the region. In 2019, Asia-Pacific held the most significant market share (69.7%) for high-purity alumina worldwide. China is the top producer and consumer of high-purity alumina in the Asia-Pacific region, with 48.9% and 49.6% of the market share overall in value and volume, respectively. The need for HPA in the area is anticipated to develop as economies in nations like China and India expand and established HPA players move. The automotive and electronics industries experience a spike in demand.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.80% during the forecast period. The increase in demand from end-user sectors, including LED bulbs, smartphones, smartwatches, and medical, among others, is the key factor driving the HPA market in this area. The market for HPA in North America is further driven by the rise in CO2 emission concerns and strict environmental legislation to boost the adoption of LEDs in this region. The increase in energy-saving initiatives in the area, with legislative assistance, has led to the adoption of LED in North America. The need for HPA in North America is also driven by the rise in electric car sales and regional technological improvements.

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and the rest of Europe all study Europe. The global demand for electric vehicles is expected to expand, likely fueling Germany's automotive market's expansion during the projection period. This will likely enhance the demand for Li-ion batteries from German automakers, fueling the growth of the world market for high-purity alumina. The need for HPA in the area is also anticipated to rise due to the demand for bio-medical equipment to address the growing number of patients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the rest of LAMEA are researched. Brazil is a LAMEA area emerging economy. Brazil's building industry has experienced a tremendous expansion in recent years due to the country's growing population and rising demand for new homes. The industry has experienced a boom in demand for products made of aluminum, such as doors and windows. The need for HPA to produce these products has increased due to this factor. Additionally, the LAMEA region's governments are promoting the adoption of LED lights due to the region's rising energy usage. These lights use less energy and are energy-efficient. 

Segmental Analysis

The high-purity alumina market is segmented by type, technology, and application.

The global high-purity alumina market is bifurcated based on type into 4N HPA, 5N HPA, and 6N HPA.

The 4N HPA segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.30% during the forecast period. Alumina is the 4N subcategory of HPA and has a 99.99% purity level. Compared to other forms of HPA, the 4N category is the least expensive. The need for 4N HPA is anticipated to rise dramatically in the global market for producing lithium-ion batteries, specialty glass, and LED lighting. Manufacturing sapphire glass for smartphone screens, coatings for lithium-ion batteries, optical windows, and watch lenses are other essential uses for 4N HPA. One of the market's main segments, 4N HPA, is anticipated to see significant volume and margin improvement demand. Alpha HPA Limited, an Australian company with its headquarters in Sydney, is working to build the 4N HPA Project quickly.

5N HPA is employed because of its superior electrical insulating capabilities and high heat conductivity. It is appropriate for lithium-ion batteries found in electric cars. In the upcoming years, market growth for lithium-ion batteries is anticipated to boost the market for 5N HPA and hybrid and electric vehicles. Due to an increase in demand from end-user applications, 5N HPA demand is predicted to expand faster than other types of HPA. LEDs used in outdoor displays, high-performance backlight modules, and traffic lights all employ 5N HPA. One of the main factors propelling the 5N market is the increase in demand for these goods.

With an impurity level of just 0.0001%, the 6N category of HPA is 99.9999% pure. High-end applications, including medical (surgical tools and instruments, bio ceramics), automotive (lithium-ion batteries, vehicle shine, electrical insulators, pump, and valve components), and aerospace and defense call for sapphire wafers to be grown in very high quality with the aid of 6N HPA. Compared to 4N and 5N, 6N has the highest level of purity. Regarding volume, the 6N sector held an 8.03% share of the overall HPA market in 2017. The pricing of 6N HPA is anticipated to decrease with the commercialization of HCL technology, which is expected to accelerate the usage of 6N HPA in newer applications and increase the market share.

The global high-purity alumina market is bifurcated into Hydrolysis and Hydrochloric Acid Leaching (HCL) based on technology.

The hydrolysis segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 20.90% during the forecast period. The most popular process for producing HPA used by large firms is the Hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxide. In this method, aluminum metal and alcohol are combined to create high-purity aluminum alkoxide. Hydrated alumina is made through the Hydrolysis of the alkoxide. Furthermore, calcination is used to produce HPA. Alumina refiners have boosted production to fulfill the rising demand for primary aluminum worldwide. Due to this, there has been a substantial increase in demand for hydrolysis technology to extract alumina. It also assists in recovering acid that can be reused, lowering operating costs. Additionally, it aids in offering end consumers the ability to customize HPA products.

A synthetic method for removing alumina from clay is HCL leaching. Due to the significant installation expenses associated with this technology, small providers are less likely to use it. Due to the initial high cost of production, small makers of HPA may not survive in the market. The major companies in the market for high-purity alumina are now searching for alumina extraction methods other than Hydrolysis. Such new technological advancements are anticipated during the projected period to fuel the HPA market.

The high-purity alumina market is bifurcated based on application into LED Bulbs, a semiconductor substrate, Li-ion batteries, optical lenses, biomedical devices, and others.

The LED bulbs segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.70% during the forecast period. A semiconductor called an LED uses electricity to create light. Artificial sapphire substrates, formed via HPA, are used to make LED bulbs. To produce the wafers on which the LEDs are manufactured, sapphire ingots are cored and cut into thin slices. Globally, the demand for LED bulbs has increased dramatically compared to the standard incandescent light. Implementing strict laws fuels the market penetration of LEDs to install energy-efficient lighting across the globe. Additionally, a government campaign to promote the use of LED lights by the public to decrease energy usage is projected to boost demand for LED bulbs.

Another significant application area in this market is a semiconductor substrate, and more businesses are investing in HPA due to the need for high-quality goods for power modules. HPA has several performance advantages, including superior heat conductivity and brittleness. Due to its low price, it is frequently utilized in gadgets like tablets, computers, memory storage units, smartphones, plasma displays, and more. The electronic sector extensively uses high-purity alumina to produce tablets, smartphones, and smartwatch displays. The demand for consumer electronics products like smartphones and laptops has surged due to rising disposable income and consumer standards of living, particularly in developing nations like China and India.

Li-ion batteries are made using 4N high-purity alumina. Due to environmental regulations imposed by the governments of several developed and developing countries, including the U.S., Germany, China, and India, to reduce dependence on conventional fuel sources and curb environmental pollution, automobile manufacturers worldwide are concentrating on producing electric vehicles (EVs). The demand for Li-ion batteries for usage in electric vehicles is anticipated to rise. Manufacturers of Li-ion batteries are expected to be driven by this factor to increase their need for high-purity alumina.

Optical lenses are frequently made with synthetic sapphire. It is manufactured commercially from agglomerated aluminum oxide in an inert atmosphere, producing a polycrystalline material with a small amount of porosity. The single crystal of synthetic sapphire, also known as corundum or al2o3, is chemically stable and possesses outstanding mechanical qualities such as a high melting point and resistance to abrasion and scratching. It is frequently employed in hostile circumstances where it must be dependable, optically transmitting, and strong. The demand for optical lenses is considerably fueled by growth in the market for binoculars in the defense sector to monitor enemy movements and by expansion in the use of telescopes in the aerospace sector to observe distant stars and planets up close.

Recent Developments

• January 2022- For Battery Cleantech, Polar Sapphire received USD 4.1 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). Polar Sapphire will be able to construct a demonstration line using financing from SDTC to produce high-purity alumina needed to manufacture lithium-ion batteries.
• January 2022- Polar Sapphire's investment by Ara Partners was disclosed. The acquisition will provide Polar Sapphire with immediate and continuous finance for its growth. With the funding, the business can construct its first significant commercial production, with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes annually (TPA).