Iron Powder Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Reduced, Atomized, and Electrolytic), By End-User Industry (Automotive, Chemical, General Industrial, Food, and Others) and Regional Forecasts, 2021-2028

The global iron powder market size was USD 5,587.3 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 8,308.2 million by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period.

The increasing demand for automotive vehicles and rising disposable income are the primary factors driving the market growth. The growing production of automotive in countries such as China, Japan, and India is expected to support the demand for parts and components made using iron powder. The increasing penetration of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry is further anticipated to boost market growth rate. Additionally, powdered iron as an alternative fuel is projected to have a positive influence on the market. However, the rising incidence of chronic illness caused due to excessive consumption of iron-rich supplements will act as a restraining factor for the market.

Declining Demand for Automotive amid COVID-19 Pandemic to Hinder Market Growth

The pandemic inflicted a ban on man and materials transportation, resulting in abrupt stoppage of the production facilities and supply chains. As a result, the automotive manufacturers were unable to procure raw materials for manufacturing their products. The pandemic has disrupted the production volume of vehicles in Europe, exports of automotive parts and components from China, and led to the shutting up of assembly lines in the U.S. As per the statistics provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), production of total vehicles in India during the period of April-March 2020 declined by 14.7% compared to the same period in 2019.

LATEST TRENDS

Increasing Adoption of Iron Powder as an Alternative Fuel Source to Favor Growth

Powdered iron is slowly gaining popularity as a sustainable fuel option and is expected to replace industrial fossil fuels. Finely grounded powder, when burnt, produces high temperature and releases energy as it undergoes oxidation with zero carbon emission, and the iron oxide obtained as a residual product is recycled. Additionally, the powdered iron serves as an energy storage medium. Excess energy generated from solar panels is used to convert iron oxide into iron, which is later used as a fuel. Swinkels Family Brewers, a beverage company based in the Netherlands, has incorporated heat generation using powdered iron at an industrial scale. The cyclical iron fuel system installed at the company’s brewery can provide the heat necessary to produce 15 million beer glasses.

DRIVING FACTORS

Surging Demand for Iron Powder from Automotive Industry to Drive Growth

The rapid growth in population and the rising disposable income are the prominent factors boosting the demand for automobiles globally. In the automotive industry, powdered iron consumption is owed to metallurgy application through which various parts and components, including bearing, gears, camshaft pulley, and crankshaft sprockets, are manufactured. In addition to this, powdered iron is used for cutting and welding and production of structural parts. Moreover, processes such as metal injection molding and additive manufacturing gain traction in the automotive industry due to their ability to produce complex designs.  

Automotive manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen produce parts and components using additive manufacturing technology. Such initiatives are expected to grow and contribute to the iron powder market growth during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Risks Associated with High Consumption of Iron Rich Products to Impede Growth

In the food industry, iron powder has a high demand for iron nutritional supplements and in treating iron nutritional deficiencies. However, higher consumption of iron-rich supplements is associated with the incidence of chronic diseases. Excessive consumption of iron can have detrimental effects on the gastrointestinal system. An out-of-proportion intake of iron has vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. Over time, iron accumulates in the organs causing fatal damage to the brain and liver. The above-stated reasons are likely to act as a restraining factor for the market.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

Reduced Segment to Hold Major Market Share in the Upcoming Years

Based on the type, the market is segmented into reduced, atomized, and electrolytic.

The reduced segment is expected to hold the largest global iron powder market share in revenue during the forecast period. Reduced iron powder consumption is anticipated to rise due to the increasing demand from the automotive and electrical & electronics industries. The reduced type is used to produce automotive components such as the pulley, shock absorbers, and sprockets owing to their favorable properties such as good compatibility, high purity, and good sintering.

The properties such as high sintered density, dimensional stability, and superior strength are expected to propel the demand for atomized iron powder from complex powder metallurgy applications.

Electrolytic type is preferred for applications requiring high purity raw materials such as pharmaceutical, nutrition supplements, chemical reagents, and cosmetics. The advantageous characteristics offered by the electrolytic powdered iron are expected to contribute to the segmental growth in the forthcoming years.

By End-User Industry Analysis

Automotive Segment to Remain Dominant in the Near Future

Based on the end-user industry, the market is segmented into automotive, chemical, general industrial, food, and others.

The automotive segment is likely to hold the dominant share during the industry forecast period. In the automotive industry, powdered iron is used for particle metallurgy, sintering, hot isostatic pressing, and metal injection molding. It is extensively used for filler-in friction material for clutches, brake pads, and automotive OEM. Furthermore, the onset of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry is expected to augment market growth.

The general industrial applications of iron powder include air purifiers, filtration & separation, welding, and soft magnets for electronics. The powdered iron's beneficial conditions and properties for the mentioned applications are expected to bode well for the segment's growth.

In the chemical industry, the high demand for powdered iron from applications such as recycling industrial chemicals, filtration, catalysis, and magnetic paints production is expected to boost segmental growth.

The increasing incidence of micronutrient deficiency amongst children and infants and the rising preference of consumers for supplements and nutritional fortification boost the demand for this powder from the food industry.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The global market in the Asia Pacific stood at USD 1,921.8 million in 2020. The region is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is primarily attributed to China being the manufacturing hub for products ranging from automotive OEM to electronic products. China, India, and Japan are the major contributors to the region's growth due to the demand from small and medium-sized component manufacturers.

The increasing popularity of technologies such as additive manufacturing and powder forging in the U.S. is expected to drive the market in North America. Additionally, the rising consumption of iron and nutritional supplements amongst consumers is expected to surge the powdered iron demand.

Countries like the U.K., Germany, and France have a major influence on the growing product demand in Europe. The need for automotive OEM manufacturers to produce components and parts with complex designs and geometry to reduce the total weight of vehicles is anticipated to fuel the region's market growth.

Latin America is expected to showcase substantial growth due to increasing urbanization, infrastructure development, and the rising pharmaceuticals industry.

Rapid-paced industrialization drives the demand for iron-rich powder for several applications such as chemical reagents, oxygen absorbers, and surface coating in Middle Eastern countries. This is expected to propel the demand for the market in the Middle East and Africa in the forthcoming years.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Partnerships between Major OEMs to Amplify Their Market Positions

The competitive landscape of the global market is fragmented. Companies in the market are anticipated to partner with small and medium-sized component manufacturers to amplify their regional presence. Additionally, key market players are aiming to increase their production capacities in different regions to increase market presence. Moreover, other companies in the market focus on providing a powdered iron grade suitable for additive manufacturing.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• JFE Steel Corporation (Japan)


• Höganäs AB (Sweden)


• Reade International Corporation (U.S.)


• Industrial Metal Powders (India) Pvt. Ltd. (India)


• American Elements (U.S.)


• ATI (U.S.)


• Ashland (U.S.)


• BASF (Germany)


• CNPC Powder (China)


• Rio Tinto Metal Powders (U.K.)


• Other Players

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• November 2020 - Mimete S.r.l., Biassono, Monza, Italy, released two iron base powders, Super-duplex F53 and Duplex MARS F51. The launch will cater to the demand from oil & gas, power generation, and aerospace industries for additive manufacturing application.


• October 2020 - Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan, developed a power magnetic core for axial gap motors. The powder magnetic core is formed by die-pressing soft-magnetic iron powder into a three-dimensional shape. This has enabled the company to fulfill the recent growth in demand for lightweight and high-performance motors.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global iron powder market report provides a detailed analysis of the market. It focuses on key aspects such as profiles of leading companies, product types, and leading applications of the product. Besides this, it offers insights into the key market trends analysis and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation