Global Abrasives Market By Type (Bonded Abrasives, Coated Abrasives, and Super Abrasives), By Application (Automotive, Machinery, Metal Fabrication, and Electrical & Electronics), By Region and Key Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2020-2029

Abrasive is a material that is used to finish or shape the workpiece by friction, which may cause some of the workpiece to be abraded and worn. Although finishing a material usually means polishing it to obtain a reflective, smooth surface. The process may also involve roughening treatments such as matte, satin, or beaded finishes. In short, ceramics used to grind, cut, and polish other softer materials are called abrasives. Abrasives are very common and widely used in various industrial, technical, and domestic applications. This causes significant changes in the chemical and physical composition of the abrasive and the shape of the abrasive. Some common uses of abrasives include buffing, polishing, grinding, honing, sharpening, drilling, cutting, polishing, and grinding, etc.

Abrasives are classified as natural or synthetic. Natural and synthetic abrasives often have a variety of shapes, usually in the form of bonded or coated abrasives, including ribbon, block, disc, sheet, wheel, loose, and rod. Impurities in natural minerals may render them ineffective. There are lots of naturally occurring abrasives such as calcium carbonate, novaculite, impure corundum, sand, garnet, Tripoli, corundum, iron oxide, boron carbide, etc. There are some manufactured abrasives such as bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, etc.

Metal fabrication involves constructing metal structures through bending, cutting, and assembly processes. This is a value-added process that involves building machines and structures from a variety of raw materials. Various abrasive such as hand pads, abrasive disc, rolls, abrasive belt, sponges, abrasive accessories, abrasive sheets are used in the metal fabrication industry. The primary function of the metal manufacturing industry is to produce metal parts that will form larger machines. Metal manufacturing has proven to be an essential part of the global metal industry, as it produces small parts for heavy/large machinery and equipment that cannot be manufactured at the same time as heavy machinery. The growth of related industries and the continuous improvement of government regulations, the cyclical fluctuations in metal prices, the overall economic situation, and the end-user market, have all affected the metal manufacturing industry. The metal manufacturing sector consists of companies that are mainly engaged in the manufacture of various types of metals, such as aluminum, steel, precious metals, and base metals. The industry is highly fragmented. The APAC region dominates the industry and accounts for the majority.

The super abrasive segment is expected to grow at the highest compound annual growth rate between 2019 and 2029 due to its wide acceptance in various industries such as machinery, automotive, and metal manufacturing, resulting in high demand in the abrasive market. However, coated abrasives have the largest market share in the abrasive market. This major market position of the coated abrasive part can be attributed to its better surface maintenance finish and higher productivity.  All these factors have helped expand the abrasive market in recent years.

The automotive segment is estimated to be the largest end-use industry in the abrasives market. The automotive market is driven by industrial and economic development, especially in the APAC region, which has increased the demand for better transportation services and therefore increased demand for abrasives in automobiles. It is widely used in the automotive industry for deburring, sizing engine parts, and cleaning, plus maintenance and repair of car bodies, accessories, and interiors; cleaning the inside of pipes, smoothing welds, and making edges and surfaces smooth or rough.

The price and availability of raw materials are two key parameters in the abrasive market value chain. The prices of abrasives and their derivatives vary from region to region. As a result, similar volume-to-income ratios vary from region to region, which makes the abrasive market uncertain.

The global abrasives market is segmented on the basis of type, material, and end-use industry:

Based on Type

• Coated Abrasives
• Bonded Abrasives
• Super Abrasives

Based on Material

• Natural Abrasives
• Synthetic Abrasives
• Ceramic/ Sol Gel/ Seed Gel
• Bonded Ceramic/ Sol Gel/ Seed Gel
• Coated Ceramic/ Sol Gel/ Seed Gel
• Other Synthetic Abrasives

Based on End-Use Industry

• Automotive
• Machinery
• Metal Fabrication
• Electrical & Electronics Equipment
• Other End-Use Industries

Key Players

• Robert Bosch GMBH
• I. Du Pont De Nemours and Co.
• 3M Company
• Saint-Gobain S.A.
• Henkel AG & CO. KGAA
• Fujimi Incorporated
• Tyrolit Group
• Deerfos Co., Ltd.
• Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., LTD