Barite Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Fillers), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global barite market size was valued at USD 1.19 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2021 to 2028. An increase in global oil and gas production is anticipated to augment the market growth as barite is widely used as a weighting agent in drilling operations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the product demand in 2020, which was reflected in the decline of the market growth. However, with vaccine roll-out and safety precautions being adhered to by oil and gas producers, the production is gaining pace and with the upcoming investments, the demand for barite is expected to flourish. The U.S. is amongst the leading consumers of barite. The country mainly utilizes the product as a weighting agent in fluids that are used in the drilling of oil and gas. It is also used as an extender and filler in plastic, rubber, and paints. The country consumed around 3 million tons of barite in 2019, of which the majority of the portion was imported.

In 2020, most of the mines were idled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted barite production. Furthermore, its consumption declined too as the oil and gas industry was negatively impacted on account of various restrictions. Numerous travel restrictions led to the reduced demand for transport fuel, which impacted crude oil production and the need for barite.

With the economic recovery, the production and consumption of oil and gas are expected to rise, thus, benefitting the product demand. For instance, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, around 98.8 million barrels/day of liquids and petroleum were consumed in July 2021, which was an increase of 6 million barrels/day compared to July 2020.

Being a drilling fluid, the number of rigs has a major impact on barite consumption. In the second week of August 2021, the rig count for the U.S. increased by 9, reaching 500. On a year-on-year basis, the rig count is up by 256 units compared to 244 units working last year. The rise in drilling rig counts is expected to benefit the market growth.

Barite Market Trends

The oil & gas industry accounted for the largest share of the barite market in 2020, in terms of revenue and volume. Barite finds application in the formulation of drilling mud as a weighting material. Due to its softness, it acts as a lubricant and does not damage drilling tools. 

Due to the COVID-19, many mines were idled resulting in lower barite supply in 2020. The impact on investment and exploration activity was witnessed in 2021 as well. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), total crude oil production was 4,083,494 thousand barrels in 2021, which is a decrease of 1.1% y-o-y as compared to 4,129,563 thousand barrels in 2020. With the ease in geo-political tensions and lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, investment in oil & gas exploration and exploration activity is anticipated to improve, and hence drive the barite market. 

Barite demand is directly impacted by the number of oil rigs present in a country. For instance, there were 586 rotary rigs in U.S. in 2021, which is an increase of 44% y-o-y as compared to 407 rotary rigs in 2020. Similar increases were noted in China in 2021. Hence, the increase in the number of rigs is expected to drive barite demand. 

The second most important application of barite is as a feedstock for the manufacturing of barium-containing compounds, which are widely employed in a variety of end-use sectors. Owing to its high radioactive absorption and specific gravity, it is used in the production of cement blocks. It is also used in the construction of X-ray rooms as a filler since it helps to block radiation. Barite is used as a filler in the construction of atomic reactors as it blocks neutrons. The growing demand for barium compounds in various applications is expected to catapult the market demand in the coming years.

Barite is also used as a filler in concrete, as a substitute to sand. The increasing production of cement directly impacts the barite market. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the production of cement in the U.S. increased to 92 million tons in 2021 from 89 million tons in 2020. Thus, the rising production of cement and efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emission by cement manufacturers are expected to positively influence market growth over the forecast period.

Barite mining has significant challenges owing to environmental concerns. Hence stringent regulations can offset the number of mining licenses issued by countries such as China, India, and the U.S. Challenges in transportation and logistics is another challenge faced by producers worldwide. This impacts input cost, thereby affecting the pricing structure. 

Application Insights

The oil and gas segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 77.0% in 2020 and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. In the oil and gas industry, the product is employed as a weighing agent in the formulation of drilling mud. It raises the slurry's hydrostatic pressure and compensates for high-pressure locations encountered while drilling. The mineral's softness also protects it from harming drilling instruments and allows it to act as a lubricant.

The chemicals segment held the second-largest revenue share in 2020. Barite is used as a feedstock for manufacturing barium-containing compounds, which are widely employed in a variety of end-use sectors. For example, barium sulfate is used in coating in the paper and rubber industries and linoleum materials, whereas barium chloride is used in weaving in the leather industry.

The barite-derived compounds find application in industries, such as ceramics, glass, and construction. For instance, they are used in the glass industry as a melting ingredient that helps reduce bubbles and improves product luminosity and transparency. Glass that contains barite is clearer and brighter than lead glass. The characteristics of barite enhance the properties of the final product. This is anticipated to positively influence its usage in different chemicals over the forecast period.

Barite is also preferred as a filler in various applications, including paints, plastic, coatings, and paper. In paints, it helps in adjusting thickness and increasing its stability and brightness. It also offers smoothness to undercoats along with chemical resistance to the walls. The paints and coatings industry is expected to witness high growth on account of the increased spending on the renovation and construction of new houses, which is expected to prove fruitful for the product demand.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the highest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2020. The oil and gas industry accounted for the largest share of the market. For instance, in January 2021, three offshore oil drilling projects were approved by the Government of Canada, jointly operated by Chevron, BHP, and Equinor.

The U.S. was the leading barite consumer in 2020 and was primarily consumed by the oil & gas industry. Here barite is also used as a filler and extender in various applications such as paint & coatings, plastic, and rubber.

Asia Pacific witnessed the highest growth rate of 4.4%, in terms of revenue from 2021-2028. India and China are anticipated to drive demand, especially accounted by oil & gas exploration activity. For instance, in September 2021, the Indian government approved oil & gas projects worth USD 13.3 billion for the north-eastern India. 

The Chinese oil & gas industry accounted for 69.6% of the total barite demand in 2020. The country witnessed the highest growth rate of 4.6% by value in the Asia Pacific region. China’s crude output witnessed an increase of 5% in 2021, as compared to 2020. This reflects the increasing exploration activity in the country, which is anticipated to have a positive impact on the barite market.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is competitive due to the presence of various players. According to the USGS, China and India are major barite producers in the world. Market players are engaged in mergers & acquisitions and capacity expansions to cater to the growing demand and widen their geographical footprints. For instance, in April 2021, CIMBAR Performance Minerals acquired the U.S. Barite and Alumina Trihydrate manufacturing assets and business of TOR Minerals. The acquisition aims at broadening CIMBAR’s portfolio and increasing its customer reach across multiple locations. Some prominent players in the global barite market include:

• Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd.

• Ashapura Group

• Excalibur Minerals LLC

• P & S Barite Mining Co. Ltd.

• Schlumberger Limited

Barite Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global barite market report on the basis of application and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Oil & Gas

  • Chemicals

  • Fillers

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  •  Europe

    • Germany

    • Norway

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa