Global Beryllium Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Application (Alloys, Metals, Ceramics, Others), By Industry Vertical (Automotive, Aerospace, And Defence, Healthcare, Oil And Gas, Electronics, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

Beryllium is a nonmagnetic chemical element found in approximately more than 30 types of minerals. The electrolysis of molten beryllium chloride and sodium chloride compound mixture and the chemical procession of bertrandite and beryl minerals are the most commonly used methods of extracting and producing beryllium. The US, China, Brazil, and Mozambique are the top beryllium-producing countries in the world. The heat conductivity and valuable mechanical properties of beryllium promote the application of beryllium for thermal and structural purposes. In addition, the high electrical conductivity and the melting point of beryllium are encouraging the adoption of beryllium in the production of alloys, metals, ceramics, and other products to be used across a wide range of industry verticals including automotive, aerospace, aviation, electronics, healthcare, oil, and gas sectors. In addition, beryllium is consumed in the nuclear energy sector to lower the speed of neutrons in nuclear reactors.

Market Drivers

• Expansion of consumer electronics

The expansion of the consumer electronics industry offers an opportunity for the growth of the beryllium market as copper-beryllium alloy mixtures are used to generate infrastructural components such as switches, connectors, and relays to be used in mobile phones, computers, and other telecommunication products. For instance, the Standards for Control of Substances Used in Products report released by Samsung Electronics in 2022 states that it consumed beryllium alloy to produce some electronic parts including connectors. Therefore, the expansion in the production activities of electronic items such as smartphones will result in a proportionate increase in the consumption of beryllium in that respective company or enterprise. The development in mobile infrastructure technology and the rise in disposable income levels across certain economies are fueling the demand for portable electronic goods such as cell phones. For instance, Apple Inc. reported that the sales of its iPhones increased from 196.9 million units in 2020 to 232.2 million units in 2022. In addition, the development of the 5G network will further increase the demand for smartphones with 5G compatibility. Therefore, the expansion of companies manufacturing consumer electronics will propel the growth of the beryllium market over the forecast period.

• Extensive application in the aerospace sector

The dimensional stability and sophisticated polishing ability of beryllium are resulting in the utilization of beryllium in producing camera shutters and mirrors to be used in communication satellites and other spacecraft infrastructure. In addition, certain types of beryllium alloy compounds are used to produce fast-paced missiles and aircraft while the beryllium-copper alloy is consumed in manufacturing structural parts of space shuttles such as support beams, brake discs, and windshields. For instance, in July 2021, Nasa released a space telescope named James Webb which comprises mirrors made from beryllium obtained from the Spor Mountain region in Utah state of the US. In addition, the rise in the number of communication satellites released into space provides a growth opportunity for the consumption of beryllium. For example, the European Space Agency reported that Ariane 5 released the tallest communication satellite among all European countries, Spacebus Neo in 2022. Hence, the extensive application of beryllium in the aviation and aerospace industries is a significant factor in promoting the development of the beryllium market.

The toxicity of beryllium could restrict the growth of the beryllium market.

The release of beryllium as an airborne matter could result in chronic beryllium disease or berylliosis as a result of the inhalation of beryllium fumes and dust leading to lung inflammation. In addition, the University of California San Francisco Medical Center reported that even though the spread of berylliosis could be slowed down by various measures such as lung transplants and oxygen therapy, there are no cures available to eliminate the disease. Beryllium is also known as a cancer-causing element that has the ability to cause severe damage to exposed areas such as body skin and eyes. Therefore, the hazards associated with exposure to beryllium could lower the consumption of beryllium in certain areas where the employees stand at risk of inhaling beryllium. Hence, the carcinogenic nature of beryllium and its application in nuclear reactors has resulted in the listing of beryllium as a mineral critical to national security by the European Commission and U.S. Department of Defense which could restrict the expansion of the beryllium market.

Key Developments

• In October 2022, the subsidiary company of Bouygues Construction, Bouygues Energies & Services constructed a beryllium manufacture cleanroom for its client company Novanta to assist in processing, coating, and polishing the optics produced by Novanta’s Beryllium and Optics Centre of Excellence with beryllium
• In April 2022, a company involved in the production of copper and beryllium alloys, IBS Advanced Alloys Corp. announced the introduction of new casting to be used for manufacturing beryllium and copper alloys at its newly expanded manufacturing unit in Indiana. The company further reported that this particular production plant in Indiana manufactured numerous two-ton billets volume of alloy material using beryllium and copper.

North America contributes majorly to the global beryllium market and is expected to remain steady over the forecast period.

The North American beryllium market is dominated by the production and consumption activities of beryllium in the US. The aggregate consumption of beryllium in the US approximately increased from 196 metric tons in 2020 to 200 metric tons in 2021. The US Geological Survey revealed that the net sales of beryllium metals of major beryllium-producing companies in the US increased by 19% in 2020. In addition, the majority of beryllium consumption in the US were attributed to the automotive, aerospace, and defence sector in the US. Further, the US is the leading producer of beryllium in the world which produced 170 metric tons of beryllium in 2021 from mining activities. Therefore, the abundance of beryllium extraction and production in the US and the simultaneous consumption of beryllium across different sectors is anticipated to promote the growth of the North American beryllium market.

Key Market Segments:

• By Application
  •  Alloys
  • Metals
  • Ceramics
  • Others
• By Industry Vertical
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace and Defence
  • Healthcare
  • Oil and Gas
  • Electronics
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • The Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Others