Filter Block Market

The global filter block market is projected to experience growth in both volume and value over the next eight years, with forecasted increases in consumption, production, imports, and exports. Key highlights include rising demand for filter block worldwide, expected CAGR rates, consumption patterns in major countries such as Greece, the United States, and France, and trends in production, imports, and exports. The article provides detailed insights into the market dynamics, key players, and price trends in the filter block industry.

Market Forecast

Driven by rising demand for filter block worldwide, the market is expected to start an upward consumption trend over the next eight-year period. The performance of the market is forecast to increase slightly, with an anticipated CAGR of +5.6% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 47K tons by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +7.3% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $287M (in nominal prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Filter Blocks, Slabs And Plates Of Paper Pulp

Global filter block consumption surged to 31K tons in 2022, increasing by 17% compared with 2021. Overall, consumption, however, saw a mild reduction. Global consumption peaked at 39K tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

The global filter block market size dropped to $164M in 2022, approximately equating the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the period under review, consumption, however, continues to indicate a mild shrinkage. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $213M. From 2017 to 2022, the growth of the global market remained at a lower figure.

Consumption By Country

Greece (8.4K tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of filter block consumption, accounting for 27% of total volume. Moreover, filter block consumption in Greece exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the United States (2.9K tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was taken by France (2K tons), with a 6.5% share.

In Greece, filter block consumption increased at an average annual rate of +33.2% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United States (+15.6% per year) and France (+2.4% per year).

In value terms, the largest filter block markets worldwide were the United States ($21M), Greece ($17M) and France ($11M), with a combined 30% share of the global market.

Greece, with a CAGR of +30.0%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to market size among the main consuming countries over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2022, the highest levels of filter block per capita consumption was registered in Greece (792 kg per 1000 persons), followed by Belarus (83 kg per 1000 persons), France (30 kg per 1000 persons) and Canada (23 kg per 1000 persons), while the world average per capita consumption of filter block was estimated at 3.9 kg per 1000 persons.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of the filter block per capita consumption in Greece amounted to +33.8%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Belarus (+6.3% per year) and France (+2.3% per year).

Production

World Production of Filter Blocks, Slabs And Plates Of Paper Pulp

Global filter block production rose slightly to 29K tons in 2022, with an increase of 4.6% on 2021 figures. Overall, production saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when the production volume increased by 7.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global production hit record highs at 30K tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, filter block production expanded to $180M in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, the total production indicated a modest expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by -29.3% against 2016 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the production volume increased by 69% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $255M. From 2017 to 2022, global production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Production By Country

Germany (13K tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of filter block production, accounting for 43% of total volume. Moreover, filter block production in Germany exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Thailand (4.9K tons), threefold. The Czech Republic (3.1K tons) ranked third in terms of total production with an 11% share.

In Germany, filter block production remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Thailand (+0.3% per year) and the Czech Republic (+0.2% per year).

Imports

World Imports of Filter Blocks, Slabs And Plates Of Paper Pulp

In 2022, global filter block imports surged to 33K tons, increasing by 24% on the previous year's figure. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, global imports hit record highs at 38K tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, filter block imports rose slightly to $187M in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when imports increased by 20% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global imports attained the maximum in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Imports By Country

Greece was the main importer of filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp in the world, with the volume of imports finishing at 8.4K tons, which was near 25% of total imports in 2022. The United States (3.2K tons) held a 9.5% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by France (7.7%), Italy (4.8%) and Russia (4.5%). The following importers - Germany (1,297 tons), Turkey (1,099 tons), Canada (1,043 tons), Indonesia (1,006 tons), China (940 tons), Spain (846 tons), Poland (705 tons) and Denmark (544 tons) - together made up 22% of total imports.

Greece was also the fastest-growing in terms of the filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp imports, with a CAGR of +33.0% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Denmark (+14.2%), Indonesia (+12.2%), Germany (+9.7%), Spain (+8.7%), Canada (+6.8%), Turkey (+6.7%), the United States (+6.7%), Poland (+5.4%), France (+1.9%) and Italy (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, Russia (-1.5%) and China (-7.7%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Greece (+24 p.p.), the United States (+3.9 p.p.), Germany (+2.2 p.p.) and Indonesia (+1.9 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the global imports, while China saw its share reduced by -4.2% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest filter block importing markets worldwide were the United States ($23M), France ($14M) and China ($11M), with a combined 26% share of global imports. Italy, Greece, Germany, Russia, Spain, Indonesia, Turkey, Denmark, Canada and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 32%.

Greece, with a CAGR of +22.0%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

In 2022, the average filter block import price amounted to $5,593 per ton, declining by -16% against the previous year. In general, import price indicated modest growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, filter block import price decreased by -17.6% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the average import price increased by 32% against the previous year. Global import price peaked at $6,791 per ton in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($11,869 per ton), while Greece ($1,133 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+3.2%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Filter Blocks, Slabs And Plates Of Paper Pulp

In 2022, shipments abroad of filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp increased by 12% to 32K tons, rising for the second year in a row after two years of decline. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.4% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 13%. Over the period under review, the global exports attained the maximum in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

In value terms, filter block exports amounted to $230M in 2022. Over the period under review, total exports indicated buoyant growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +71.4% against 2015 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when exports increased by 20%. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs in 2022 and are likely to see steady growth in the near future.

Exports By Country

Germany was the key exporting country with an export of around 13K tons, which recorded 42% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Thailand (4.7K tons), the Czech Republic (3.1K tons), the UK (2.5K tons) and Switzerland (2.2K tons), together generating a 39% share of total exports. The following exporters - Denmark (744 tons) and France (554 tons) - each recorded a 4.1% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to filter block exports from Germany stood at +2.6%. At the same time, Thailand (+14.3%), the Czech Republic (+13.2%), Denmark (+9.6%), Switzerland (+1.8%) and the UK (+1.6%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Thailand emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +14.3% from 2012-2022. France experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. Thailand (+9.4 p.p.) and the Czech Republic (+5.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the global exports, while the UK and Germany saw its share reduced by -1.6% and -3.5% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($85M) remains the largest filter block supplier worldwide, comprising 37% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Thailand ($23M), with a 10% share of global exports. It was followed by Denmark, with an 8.5% share.

In Germany, filter block exports expanded at an average annual rate of +4.2% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Thailand (+12.7% per year) and Denmark (+8.7% per year).

Export Prices By Country

In 2022, the average filter block export price amounted to $7,205 per ton, declining by -6.5% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the average export price increased by 13% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $7,707 per ton in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Denmark ($26,361 per ton), while the Czech Republic ($4,194 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+10.9%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform