From 2013 through 2023, Japan's bentonite production has shown a general downward trend. Initially steady at 420.0 thousand metric tons, slight declines were noted from 2017 onwards, with a significant drop in 2020. The production then recovered partially in 2021 but continued to decrease slightly thereafter, leading to 414.52 thousand metric tons in 2023.
Year-on-year variation for the last two years reveals a marginal decrease of around -0.17%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years stands at -0.17%. Forecasted data from 2024 to 2028 suggests an ongoing decline with the CAGR for this period anticipated at -0.14%, leading to an estimated production value of 410.94 thousand metric tons by 2028.
Future trends to watch for:
- Potential technological improvements that could enhance bentonite extraction and processing efficiency.
- Demand fluctuations in key industries utilizing bentonite, such as construction, drilling, and animal feed.
- Environmental regulations impacting mining and production processes.
