Grinding Media

Global Market Outlook on Grinding Media

• The demand for the global GM is expected to grow at a rate of 4–5 percent from 2022 to 2025, owing to an increase in mining activity, supported by high commodity prices and robust demand outlook

• The demand growth is expected to come mainly from gold and non-ferrous metal segments. The copper market is expected to grow by about 4–5 percent between 2021 and 2026

Global GM Drivers and Constraints

• The demand from the cement and mining sector, coupled with declining ore head grades, is the key driver of GM consumption rate in the mining industry. The supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia–Ukraine war, the recent earthquake in Turkey, and the outbreaks of new waves of Covid-19 in China have pushed the grinding media and its feedstock market into a period of volatility for most part of last year. However, a recovery is anticipated in H2 2023

Drivers

Increase in Mining Activity

• Gradual increase in mining activities in the key global markets will drive up the demand for ore processing, in turn, the demand for Grinding Media in the long term

• For instance, the copper market is expected to grow by about 4–5 percent by 2026

Decline in Ore Head Grades

• Declining mineral head grades increase the number of ores to be milled, which results in increased utilization of grinding media in mineral processing

Constraints

Volatility in Commodity Prices

• China accounts for around 40–50 percent of the global commodity demand. The Chinese economy has been adversely affected due to Covid-related policies and associated lockdowns. The volatility in commodity prices will hinder the demand for grinding media

Growing trend in favor of Circular Economy, Emissions Reduction and Resource Conservation

• Growing demand for secondary production of key commodities, like steel, aluminum, copper, nickel and other base metals, by way of increasing recycled content, may limit the demand for grinding media from the mining segment

Regulatory Scenario

• Regulatory scenarios, such as section 232, safeguard tariffs from the EU, export duties from China could impact the prices of metals and allied products, thus indirectly impacting the HCGM industry

Market Driver – Commodity Price

• Prices of key commodities are the best indicators of mining activities, which, in turn, evinces the demand for grinding media

• Iron ore prices have increased by 2 percent, and averaged at 126 $/MT due to the improved demand from the end users

• LME Nickel prices averaged at 12.2 USD/lb in Feb 2023, a monthly drop of around 5.7% compared to 12.8 USD/lb in Jan 2023.