As East Asia maintains its position as the world's greatest growth region, industrial mineral consumer markets are continually being sought and penetrated by regional and Western players alike. The refractories market is no exception. However, with refractories consumption and outlook somewhat down in most other parts of the world, producers are looking to the bright prospects associated with the rising sun of the refractories market in the East. The region is host to some of the world's largest, most technically advanced, and fastest growing iron and steel industries, which, along with cement and glass markets, have been spurred on by economic growth. But have Asia's growth economies finally begun to run out of steam? What does the future then hold for refractories demand?
