Around New Year’s Day 2025, some genuine refractory raw materials experienced significant price fluctuations; affected by this, the market prices of waste refractory materials also experienced varying degrees of price fluctuations. Here is a simple analysis and forecast of several popular products on the market.
1.Waste ladle magnesia carbon brick
In 2024, the overall market price of waste magnesia carbon bricks did not fluctuate much, and at the end of the year, the price of waste magnesia carbon bricks fluctuated slightly. The reason is that some refractory companies did not prepare stocks in advance at the end of the year and purchased them from the market temporarily, causing a small increase in the market price of waste ladle magnesia carbon bricks. It is expected that in 2025, with the normal production of refractory companies, the market price of waste ladle magnesia carbon bricks will not fluctuate much.
2.Waste converter magnesia carbon bricks
In 2024, the market price of waste converter magnesia carbon bricks will be relatively stable, with a slight decline. The demand for converter bricks by refractory enterprises in Northeast China is not obvious, and converter bricks are basically shipped to refractory enterprises in Zhejiang. At the end of the year, affected by the reduction in the purchase price of Zhejiang refractory enterprises, the price of waste converter bricks dropped from 1,100 yuan/ton to 1,050 yuan/ton. It is expected that the market price of waste converter bricks will continue to decline in 2025.
3.Waste burned magnesia bricks
Converter burned magnesia bricks have the advantages of being very clean after use and having a high magnesium content. The market demand has always been great; the price is also relatively stable, basically maintaining at 600-700 yuan/ton. It is expected that the market price of waste burned magnesia bricks will not fluctuate much in 2025.
4.Waste high-alumina clay bricks
Affected by the poor situation of steel mills in 2024, some high-alumina clay brick firing enterprises reduced or stopped production, so the market price of waste high-alumina clay bricks continued to fall in 2024. The price of waste clay bricks in the market is as low as 150-200 yuan/ton, and the price of high-alumina bricks is as low as 500-600 yuan/ton. It is expected that the price of waste high-alumina clay bricks will continue to fall in 2025.
5.Waste corundum refractory materials
Affected by the rise in the price of alumina raw materials at the end of 2024, the price of waste corundum refractory materials also continued to rise. The highest price of corundum base bricks rose to 1,850 yuan/ton, and the price of corundum small white bricks rose to 2,750 yuan/ton. Such products have been in short supply. It is expected that the market price of waste corundum refractory materials will rise slightly in 2025.
6.Waste aluminum carbon refractory
Scrap aluminum carbon refractory materials mainly include scrap bricks containing silicon carbide, such as iron ladle bricks, torpedo tank bricks and iron hook materials. Except for the weak market demand for iron ladle bricks, the market demand for other aluminum carbon refractory materials is high and the price is relatively stable. It is expected that the market price of scrap aluminum carbon refractory materials will not fluctuate too much in 2025.
7.Waste cement kiln refractory materials
Waste cement kiln refractory materials mainly include silica-molybdenum bricks, magnesia-iron spinel bricks and magnesia-alumina spinel bricks. Affected by the downturn in the cement industry, the output of waste bricks has decreased, the demand of related refractory companies is not obvious, and the market price continues to fall. The price of silica-molybdenum bricks in the market is about 200 yuan/ton; the price of magnesia-iron spinel bricks and magnesia-alumina spinel bricks is about 400-500 yuan/ton. It is expected that the market price of waste cement kiln refractory materials will not fluctuate much in 2025.