Top 10 Zirconium Companies in the World

The global zirconium market size reached US$ 1.9 Billion in 2023. The market is primarily driven by the rising product applications in chemical processing, nuclear power, piezoelectric crystals, and steel and zirconium alloys. Besides this, the growing usage of zirconium for manufacturing pipes, plumbing fittings, heat exchangers, colored glazes, bricks, ceramics, abrasives, lamp filaments, surgical tools, and artificial gemstones has catalyzed the product demand. Moreover, the escalating demand for zirconium-based protective coatings from the aviation and automotive sectors and the increasing prosthetic applications of zirconium alloys are propelling market growth. 

As per the analysis by IMARC Group, the top zirconium companies are focusing on increasing their production capacities to meet the escalating product demand from various end use industries. They are also making heavy investments toward new product development and innovations, which are expected to further expand zirconium applications. Additionally, the leading manufacturers are engaging in extensive research and development (R&D) activities to widen their product portfolio and customer base. They are also collaborating with local players and adopting mergers and acquisitions (M&As) as key strategies to strengthen their position in the global market. Furthermore, the discovery of new mine reserves, shifting focus toward technological innovations, and ongoing advancements in manufacturing techniques are some of the other factors creating a positive outlook for the market. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 3.5 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% during 2024-2032.

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List of Top Companies Operating in the Zirconium Industry:

The global zirconium market has several major players, including Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASM), Base Resources Limited, Doral Mineral Sands Pty Ltd. (Iwatani Corporation), Eramet SA, Iluka Resources Limited, Kenmare Resources Plc, Rio Tinto Group, Saint-Gobain ZirPro, Tosoh Corporation, and Tronox Holdings Plc. More information about these companies has been provided below. 

1. Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASM)

Australian Strategic Materials Ltd is an emerging, vertically integrated producer of critical metals for new growth industries, sustainable energy solutions, and advanced and clean technologies. It is mainly engaged in the extraction, refining, and manufacturing of high-purity metals, alloys, and powders, supplying directly to leading global players in clean energies, electric vehicles, aerospace, electronics, and communications. The company operates the Dubbo Project located in the Central West of New South Wales, containing globally significant resources of rare earth elements, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, and yttrium. ASM’s critical metals business converts oxides into high-purity metals, powders, and alloys.

2. Base Resources Limited

Base Resources Limited is an Australia-based but Africa-focused mining company that produces and develops mineral sands. It boasts an attractive portfolio of high-quality assets and a track record of excellence in project delivery and operational performance. The company operates the established Kwale Project in Kenya that produces a range of mineral sand products, including ilmenite, rutile, and zircon. Currently, it is developing the Toliara Sands Project in Madagascar and conducting an exploration program in Tanzania.

3. Iwatani Australia Pty Ltd (Doral Mineral Sands Pty Ltd.) (Iwatani Corporation)

Iwatani Australia Pty Ltd, formerly Doral Mineral Sands Pty Ltd., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iwatani Corporation. It comprises the Doral Group of companies, including Doral Mineral Sands and Doral Fused Materials, operating under Iwatani’s Materials Division in Australia. The Doral Mineral Sands produces titanium minerals and zircon sand products at its mineral sand operations in the South West and Peel regions of Western Australia. On the other hand, Doral Fused Materials is an integrated zirconia producer involved in converting zircon sand into high-value zirconia products used in ceramics, colors, and industrial refractories.

4. Eramet SA

Eramet SA is a leading global mining and metallurgy company and a preferred partner for numerous industries, including steel, stainless steel, aerospace, energy production, and pigment manufacturing, as well as new-generation battery developers. It is primarily involved in the extraction and recovery of metals, such as manganese, nickel, and mineral sands, and the development and processing of high-value-added alloys, including high-speed steels, high-performance steels, superalloys, and aluminum and titanium alloys. The company is becoming a leader in the mineral sands industry through the combined expertise of its two sites. The Grande Côte Opérations (GCO) in Senegal mines a high-quality mineral sand deposit and produces ilmenite, rutile, and leucoxene, along with zircon, which is one of the most sought-after commodities in the market owing to its low radioactivity. Additionally, the TiZir Titanium and Iron (TTI) enrichment capabilities of the Group’s Norwegian plant facilitate the manufacturing of titanium dioxide slag and high-purity pig iron using Senegalese ilmenite. 

5. Iluka Resources Limited

Iluka Resources Limited is a leading producer of zircon and high-grade titanium dioxide feedstocks, including rutile and synthetic rutile, across the globe. It specializes in the exploration, development, mining, processing, marketing, and rehabilitation of critical minerals and has gained a significant position in rare earth elements. Its diverse product portfolio comprises rare earth, zircon, iron and carbon, and titanium products. The company offers a complete range of zircon products, which includes different qualities of zircon and zircon specifications to target specific intermediate and end use sectors.

6. Kenmare Resources Plc 

Kenmare Resources Plc is an established mining company and a major supplier of mineral sand products to a global customer base. It is one of the world’s largest producers of mineral sand products: titanium feedstocks and zircon. The company operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine, located on the northeast coast of Mozambique, which contains globally significant deposits of heavy minerals, including the mineral zircon and titanium minerals (ilmenite and rutile mainly used to produce titanium dioxide pigment). 

7. Rio Tinto Group

Rio Tinto Group is a leading global mining group focused on exploring, mining, and processing the earth’s mineral resources. It supplies a range of metals and minerals to help the world grow and decarbonize. Its main products include Iron Ore, Aluminum, Copper, Borates, Lithium, Scandium, Diamonds, Salt, and Titanium Dioxide. Moreover, Rio Tinto has a number of active projects across the globe, including Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation in South Africa. RBM is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (74%) and Blue Horizon and is a world leader in heavy mineral sand extraction, refining, and production. It predominantly produces zircon, rutile, iron, and slag. Currently, the company has operations in around 35 countries across six continents worldwide, with most of its assets in Australia and North America. 

8. Saint-Gobain ZirPro

Saint-Gobain ZirPro is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of zirconium oxide powders, ceramic grinding beads, and blasting and peening media. It offers engineered, high-performing zirconia-based materials, such as beads, powders, and grains, for a wide variety of demanding industrial applications globally. The company’s main product lines include zirconium oxide powders, ceramic grinding beads, zirconium chemicals, and blasting and peening ceramic media. ZirPro is part of Saint-Gobain Ceramics, which encompasses all the businesses of Saint-Gobain that are specialized in ceramic-based solutions for industrial clients.

9. Tosoh Corporation

Tosoh Corporation is a global chemical company that supplies essential raw materials to manufacturers worldwide. It mainly serves chemical, petrochemical, construction, automotive, consumer electronics, information technology, bioscience, and environmental markets. Since its establishment, the company has built a balanced product line of commodity chemicals for industry and specialty products and materials for high technology and niche markets. Its extensive product portfolio includes advanced materials, bioscience, cement, chlor-alkali, olefins, organic chemicals, polymers, and polyurethanes. Under the advanced materials division, it offers battery materials; zirconia injection mold components and compounds, zirconia grinding & dispersion media, and zirconia fine beads and powders; fabricated quartz ware; silica glass; thin film deposition materials, and zeolites for catalysts and molecular sieves. Besides this, Tosoh Corporation is the parent company of a Japanese chemical and specialty products and materials group, comprising more than 100 companies globally and a diversified workforce of over 12,000 people.

10. Tronox Holdings Plc

Tronox Holdings Plc is a vertically integrated mining company and a global leader in the production of high-quality titanium dioxide and inorganic chemicals. It is engaged in mining and processing titanium ore, mineral sands (zircon, pig iron, staurolite, and activated carbon), and other materials. It produces titanium dioxide pigment, ultra-fine and specialty-grade titanium dioxide products, and high-purity titanium chemicals, which impart brightness and durability to paints, plastics, paper, and other daily-use products. Apart from this, the company is also the second-largest producer of zircon across the globe.

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