Global Corundum Market Trends Analysis

Brief Introduction

Corundum is a common mineral that is widely used as an industrial abrasive. Gem corundum is mined almost exclusively from gem gravel deposits. Non-gem corundum such as 'black emery' finds use as an abrasive, owing to its natural hardness. Brown corundum is used as deburring agent due to its ability to smoothen ragged edges. It is also used in sand blasting, grinding and plunge cutting. White corundum is comparatively brittle and is angular compared to its brown counterpart. It produces less heat upon friction. It is often used to polish glass. White corundum also finds applications in vitrified grinding wheels, as a sharpening agent for cutting tools, and precision milling equipment among other similar applications. The market for synthetically produced corundum is driven by these industrial abrasion applications. The gemstone market is however driven by natural Corundum, which are mined and processed.

Corundum was the first gem mineral to be synthesized in the lab by a process known today as flame fusion. A rather difficult process, flux growth, was used to synthesize gem corundum. Synthetic rubies and sapphires are presently manufactured in enormous quantities for both industrial and gem application.

Market Overview

North America is one of the largest markets for corundum; due to the lack in natural occurrence in this region, the demand for artificial corundum is high. The demand is especially high from the manufacturing economies in the region such as Germany, Turkey and the U.K. In Asia-Pacific, China is the major producer and consumer of artificial corundum. Countries such as India, Thailand, Korea and Japan are the major manufacturers of corundum. Europe also accounts for a considerable demand for the mineral.

Although great advancement has been made in some countries in the production of synthetic or manufactured abrasives, natural abrasives have retained their eminent place and are used extensively; this can be credited to corundum's characteristics and ease in availability. The reason for natural corundum being particularly suitable for grinding is its prominent basal cleavage that causes the crystal to break readily with a smooth flat surface at right angles to the axis of elongation through successive reductions in size unlike synthetic corundum (alumina), which has a conchoidal fracture.

The major players in the corundum market included in this report are K.A. Refractories Co. Ltd., Gemfield, RSA Le Rubis SA, Swarovski Gemstones, Arteka, Henge Group and Riken corundum Co. Ltd. among many others.

Drivers&Challenges

The major driver for the corundum market is the high demand for synthetic corundum in the abrasive industry. The gemstones that fall under corundum minerals are perhaps the most sought after precious stones after the diamond. Apart from the highly popular rubies and sapphires, rare gemstones such as padparadscha have witnessed an increasing demand in the jewellery market owing to its uncommon color.

The major restraint for the corundum market is the price fluctuation in the jewellery grade corundum, despite the fact that the gem & jeweler market accounts for a constant demand. Moreover, the political turmoil in certain mining countries of Africa and the ban on export of precious gems in Myanmar proves to be a hindrance.