India’s aluminium powder and flakes export declines 4% YoY in 2016

The global aluminium powder and flakes market is growing steadily driven by the automotive paints and sealants and other industrial pigments sectors. During 2009-2016, the market has grown at a CAGR of two per cent reaching a volume of 589,012 tonnes in 2016. A recently published report suggests the market will grow at around five per cent CAGR over the next five years. APAC with a CAGR of over five per cent is the largest market globally. India, once a net exporter of aluminium powder and flakes, has now slowed down on its exports. It is now focusing on growing its domestic market rapidly.

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International trade data shows India exported only 3927 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes in 2016 compared to 4087 tonnes in 2015. The value of aluminium powder and flakes export, however, rose from US$14.2 million in 2015 to US$15.5 million in 2016. In 2017, India’s total aluminium powder and flakes export is estimated to reach 3256 tonnes, down 17 per cent from the previous year. The value of export will rise to an estimated US$22 million by the end of the current year.

Quarterly trade data estimates that India’s aluminium powder and flakes export in the first quarter of FY 2017-2018 will reach 836 tonnes, up from 789 tonnes in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal. In the second quarter of the current fiscal year, aluminium powder and flakes export by the country will total at 818 tonnes.

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India exported its majority volume of aluminium powder and flakes to France, Belgium, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, Turkey, and UAE in 2016.

Aluminium powder and flakes also known as metana is used for several applications such as manufacture of slurry, explosive and detonators, thermit process used for manufacture of ferro-alloys, specialised welding applications, and manufacture of aluminium paste, paints and several pigments used in automobiles manufacturing in these countries.

Aluminium powder market has grown enormously over the last five years. The top five aluminium powder manufacturers in India include Metal PowderCompany Limited (MEPCO), Arasan Aluminium Industries, Khosla Metal Powder Company, Glacier Aluminium, and MMP Industries Ltd.