CW price index for slag declines in 3Q2021
CW price index for slag in the third quarter of 2021 is estimated to decline almost 2 percent when compared to the second quarter, according to the 3Q2021 update of CW Research's Global Cement Trade Price Report.
Global granulated slag volumes increased by less than 1 percent in the second quarter, with Japan retaining its pole position as the main slag exporter. Thus, Asia-Pacific-Japan remained the world's leading slag exporting region, with a share of almost 70 percent of total exports in the second quarter of 2021.
ÔÇ£Slag prices have been under pressure driven by Malaysia and Germany, the third and fourth largest exporters, which have seen both prices and volumes decreasing since the beginning of the year up to August, in spite of an increase in Japan's export prices,ÔÇØ assessed Carolina Pereira, Director at CW Group.
Global slag exports record rise in the second quarter
In the second quarter of 2021, global slag exports rose less than 1 percent quarter-on-quarter, and posted a growth of around 5 percent when compared to the same quarter last year.
In terms prices, the CW price index for slag increased more than 5 percent on a yearly basis from the second quarter of 2020.
Japan accounts for over 40 percent of the global slag market
Asia-Pacific-Japan continued to be the largest exporter of slag during the second quarter of 2021, even though volumes declined almost 1 percent quarter-on-quarter.
In the second quarter of 2021, the second largest exporter of slag, India, saw slag exports remain fairly stable, on a yearly perspective. India's slag FOB price during the second quarter of 2021 decreased almost 2 percent year-on-year.
FOB slag prices in Asia-Pacific-Japan region to rise in the third quarter
The CW price index for slag in the Asia-Pacific-Japan region is estimated to increase more than 3 percent in the third quarter of the year, compared to the previous quarter.
In Japan, FOB prices for slag are also projected to increase more than 3 percent from June to September 2021, while prices in China are likely to surge by more than 7 percent quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter of 2021. Export prices in India and in Taiwan are also expected to increase quarter-on-quarter in the 3Q.
The Global Cement Trade Price Report is CW Research's benchmark price assessment for monthly gray cement, white cement, clinker and granulated blast furnace slag prices and volumes. The 150+ page report, published on a quarterly basis, serves as the industry go-to source for monthly price data for over 70 individual markets worldwide, including multiple cornerstone data series: import, export, ex-works and market prices.
Find out more about the report here.