Fly Ash Market Size

Global Fly Ash Market Overview

The fly ash market is projected to register a CAGR of 6.65% from 2022 to 2030. Fly ash is a fine particle byproduct of burning pulverized coal that coal-based power plants typically produce. The fly ash market size is expected to reach approximately USD 15.87 billion by 2030. The need for electrical energy is currently at an all-time high due to the exponential growth in the population. Coal-based power plants are primarily responsible for satisfying this demand, particularly in emerging nations. Due to the increased demand for coal-based plants, the fly ash generation from these units has significantly increased.

January 2023: Northstar Advisors Pte. Ltd. has acquired one of the largest providers of coal ash to utility customers across North America, Trans Ash Inc. Through this acquisition, Northstar Group's existing capabilities serving the coal ash remediation market are strengthened.

February 2022: Eco Material Technologies has purchased Boral Limited's North American fly ash business, Boral Resources and Green Cement Inc., a producer of near-zero carbon cement products. This partnership allows them to make a greater environmental impact by transforming harmful waste into products that reduce carbon emissions.

Fly Ash Market Dynamics

Fly ash provides nutrients to the soil and can restore the biological capabilities of deteriorated soil. With increased urbanization and industrialization over the past few years, population growth has decreased farmland area, making it imperative to boost crop productivity. It encourages the usage of fly ash in the majority of agricultural nations. The growing population is anticipated to impact infrastructure and residential construction requirements substantially. It is also anticipated that rising building investment in developing and least developed nations will support the market during the projected period.

Market Drivers

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  Increasing adoption as an additive for Portland cement in the building & construction industry

  
  

Using fly ash as an additional cementitious component in Portland cement concrete has many advantages. It enhances the concrete's performance in fresh and hardened states. Hardened concrete aids in improving characteristics through pozzolanic and hydraulic activity, but freshly laid concrete aids in reducing water consumption and improving the paste's workability and flow. Additionally, it serves as an economical supplemental element and lowers the requirement for Portland cement in the concrete. It can be found in sufficient quantities for various applications, such as bricks and concrete mixtures.

Market Restraints

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  Stringent environmental regulations

  
  

One of the main obstacles to the market's revenue growth is the government's strict laws on landfills and air quality. Fly ash from thermal power stations using coal or lignite, which contains harmful metals including selenium, aluminum, arsenic, lead, vanadium, mercury, uranium, and thorium, among others, may harm the ground and topsoil if it is dumped. It has sparked environmental concerns, leading to the implementation of strict environmental protection legislation, which is anticipated to harm businesses involved in producing and selling these products. To avoid embankment failures and fly ash spilling into the nearby water body, the standards state that fly ash disposal should not be done within 500 meters of water bodies.

Market Opportunities

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  Increase in the application of environment-friendly products

  
  

When cement is made, much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere in units of one tonne. Cement production accounts for 7% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Since there is a lot of this ash, using it in cement can cut carbon emissions by 25% to 30%. The goal of producing more ecologically friendly concrete by using less cement and partially replacing some cement in concrete with a by-product of other materials is expected to drive the market potential for fly ash bricks.

Fly Ash Market Segmentation

Type Insight

The fly ash market segmentation, based on type, is class F and class C. The fly ash market growth was prominently high under the class F category in 2021 due to the increasing adoption of the Portland cement product for excellent strength mixes and mass concrete. Furthermore, benefits associated with the product, including high compressive strength, increased resistance to ASR (Alkali silica reaction), decreased permeability and water demand, and less heat generation during hydration, are expected to increase its adoption and, thus, drive revenue growth of this segment.

Application Insight

The fly ash market segmentation, based on application, is bricks & blocks, Portland cement & concrete, road construction, agriculture, and others. In 2021, the bricks & blocks segment accounted for the largest market share of the  market. Fly ash gives bricks and blocks a significant amount of compressive strength. High-quality fly ash bricks are frequently used to build brick masonry structures and make an excellent alternative to regular clay bricks. Fly ash provides blocks with a superior mold, sharper corners, and superb gloss and texture. By reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 90%, these bricks and blocks can help preserve natural resources and enhance environmental preservation. They are becoming increasingly in demand as carbon dioxide-efficient materials, and this demand is expected to rise over the projected period.

Global Fly Ash Market Share, by Region, 2021 (%) Fly Ash Market Overview, by Region

By region, the fly ash market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Asia-Pacific accounted for the most extensive market share. North America will exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific dominated the market share in 2021. China holds the major share of the regional market, backed by higher demand from the cement market. India and China ly are the leading manufacturers of cement and cement products. The region is experiencing high demand for cement due to the rapid expansion of the building & construction industry. Additionally, both countries are major exporters of cement ly. Key factors such as changing demographics, increasing disposable income in emerging & highly populated countries, and urbanization activities are fueling the market growth.

North America

North America accounted for the fastest growth rate in the market in 2021. Construction is one of the major sectors in the US economy, and according to the United States Census Bureau, overall expenditure of this industry was estimated at an adjusted annual rate of USD 1704.4 billion (0.5%) above in February 2022 over January 2022. The construction industry in Canada and the United States is shifting towards prefabricated building compounds. The region's key cement and concrete manufacturers are adopting automation and digitalization for prefabricated construction.

Fly Ash Market Competitive Landscape

The market's competitive landscape depicts a consolidated market with the top 10 companies accounting for about 50% of the market revenue. Key players in the market have invested a considerable amount of resources in the research & development of several ash products. A product portfolio supported by superior operational efficiency and safe & novel technology development for composites application is the strategy used by the market leaders for their growth. For instance, in February, 2022, Charah Solutions, Inc. declared that it had been given a sales and marketing contract for fly ash from a western utility for the company's plant's sustainable recycling.

Prominent players in the fly ash market research include Holcim Group, Boral Limited, CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., Charah Solutions, Inc., Titan Cement Group, Salt River Materials Group, Waste Management, Inc., The SEFA Group, Ashtech India Pvt. Ltd., and Cement Australia, among others.

Scope of the Fly Ash Market Report

Type Outlook

• Class F


• Class C

Application Outlook

• Bricks & Blocks


• Portland Cement & Concrete


• Road Construction


• Agriculture


• Others

Region Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  • Mexico
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • Australia and New Zealand
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • South America
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  
  

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are summarized in 5 stages. They are as mentioned below:

Fly Ash Market Forecast & Size:

To identify and estimate the market size for the fly ash market report segmented by type and application by value (in US dollars). Also, to understand the consumption/ demand created by consumers of  fly ash market forecast between 2022 and 2030

Market Landscape and Trends:

To identify the fly ash market growth and infer the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

Recent News

According to the Business Wire on January 2023, Lafarge Canada and TransAlta have partnered together in Alberta to launch a joint initiative for low-carbon concrete through a project that repurposes fly ash.

Intended Audience

• Fly ash producers


• Raw material suppliers


• Retailers, wholesalers, and distributors


• Governments, associations, and industrial bodies


• Fly ash companies