In 2011, the world beryllium production reached more than 260.4 tonnes. In 2012, the global production of beryllium registered a 12.3% YoY decrease, declining to approximately 228.41 tonnes. The US is an unrivalled leader in the world beryllium market, with more than 87% share of the world beryllium output. Other important beryllium manufacturing countries in the world include China, Mozambique, Brazil and Madagascar.
Global beryllium production by country, 2012
The production of beryllium in the leading country, the US, registered a 14.9% YoY decline in 2012 and decreased to 200 tonnes, compared to 235 tonnes in 2011. The domestic consumption for 2012 was estimated at around 220 tonnes. In the same year, the consumer electronics and telecommunications industries were the major beryllium end users, accounting for over 40% of the beryllium consumption volume in the US.
Currently, a new player is deepening its footprint in the global beryllium marketplace. In December 2011, Russia reopened its unique emerald-beryllium Malyshevsky mine in the Sverdlovsk region. The country is also increasing investments in its other mining and refining complexes.
Materion Natural Resources, IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., Materion Brush Beryllium & Composites, Belmont Metals, Applied Materials, NGK Metals Corporation, American Beryllia, Esmeralda de Conquista Ltda, Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co, Fuyun Hengsheng Beryllium Industry Co, and Grizzly Mining Limited are among the entrenched beryllium market players.
The overall beryllium production is poised to exceed 500 tonnes of contained beryllium by 2017. The sustained market growth is expected to be driven by the constantly increasing consumption from the telecommunications, automotive electronics and computer industries. A considerable increase in beryllium consumption is predicted to be registered in Latin America and Asia in the upcoming years. The introduction of novel beryllium-containing alloys will likely make a great contribution to the world beryllium market growth. The US is forecast to remain the dominant market player.
More information on the beryllium market can be found in the study “Beryllium Market Review”.