The Market

The various end use segments of the magnesium industry can be grouped according to whether they use pure or

alloy magnesium. More pure magnesium is consumed than alloy magnesium (about 320,000 tons and 160,000 tons, respectively in 2007), but demand for alloy is growing faster. Growth of demand for pure magnesium has averaged about 2% per year outside China.

 
Throughout the 1990’s and the early part of this decade, demand for alloy magnesium outside China grew at 10%

to 15% annually, driven demand for die castings for motor vehicles. However, turmoil in the North American auto

industry has slowed the growth since 2003.

With the ever tightening environmental regulations, there has been renewed interest in alloy magnesium for

automotive die castings shown in North America. European interest remains strong and the Japanese are poised to

increase their use die castings early in the next decade.