Published March 2024
This report covers the major zinc chemicals of commercial importance — zinc oxide (accounting for 61% of the market for the three chemicals in 2023), zinc sulfate (34%) and zinc chloride (5%). The major market segments for zinc chemicals include rubber compounding, agriculture and ceramics.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of zinc chemicals by end use:
At present, use of zinc oxide as a vulcanization agent in rubber compounding remains the single largest end use. This market is driven largely by automotive markets, more specifically tires, belts, hoses and other. Global automobile production rebounded strongly after the economic downturn in 2009–10, with considerable rubber capacity increases in Asia and South America and a surge in new tire and rubber capacity in the United States, as global manufacturers moved closer to automobile production centers. The automotive industry began to experience difficulties in 2019 on the back of slowing general economic growth, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the industry’s contraction. Following a decrease in light vehicle production in 2018–20, the industry is recovering.
Growth for zinc chemicals in the area of fertilizers, animal feed and food consumption has slowed as some major agricultural regions have already adopted the use of zinc compounds. More than 50% of the soils in the world are considered to be zinc-deficient. With the population having doubled in the past 30 years and projected to increase from 7 billion to over 9 billion by 2050, the arable land per person continues to decline; therefore, crop yields must increase. In many studies, including projects in Brazil, mainland China, India and Turkey, agricultural yields were increased by adding zinc to standard fertilizers and premixes. In addition, various organizations and businesses alike have begun to emphasize the benefits of zinc used in food and nutritional supplements.
The third-largest application is the consumption of zinc oxide in the production of tiles, ceramics and glass. This market primarily trends along with economic conditions, and thus saw decreased demand growth globally prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a spike during the post-pandemic recovery, zinc oxide demand returned to the 2019 level in 2022. Mainland China’s dominance in the tile market has decreased in recent years as India, Brazil, Southeast Asian countries and Africa have increased their market share.
Other uses of zinc chemicals represent an assortment of applications including consumption for chemical intermediates, rayon, paints and coatings, textiles, batteries and electronics. The use of zinc sulfate for rayon manufacture is the fastest-growing application for zinc chemicals.
Combined, the rubber compounding and agricultural markets accounted for almost two-thirds of total zinc chemical consumption in 2023. Demand for the three primary zinc chemicals is forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 2.0% through 2028.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Inorganic Zinc Chemicals is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including
Key benefits
S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Inorganic Zinc Chemicals has been compiled using primary interviews with key suppliers and organizations, and leading representatives from the industry in combination with S&P Global’s unparalleled access to upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights into industry dynamics, trade and economics.
This report can help you
- Identify trends and driving forces influencing chemical markets
- Forecast and plan for future demand
