Market Dynamics
China has long been a powerhouse in the energy production industry, and due to its sheer size and population, it has been a major player in the global mercury market. In recent years, China has been consolidating its position as a key participant in this segment, making it an important region for investors to watch in the mercury market. The Chinese Government has recognized the importance of energy security and has been consistently providing incentives to the expansion of mercury production. This has been supplemented by the expanding domestic demand for mercury, following its various regulatory and industrial functions. Most recently, significant Chinese investments have been made into the mercury production and chemical industry, with various production quotas increasing over the past few years. To further increase its capacity of mercury supply, the Chinese government has been actively encouraging imports of mercury as well as allowing for its export. Moreover, with its large-scale reforms to the energy infrastructure, initiatives such as the “One Belt One Road” Initiative and the Greater Bay Area Initiative, China has been pushing forward major development projects to increase its overall production of mercury.
The growing demand for mercury induced by these developments is expected to further increase the Chinese mercury market over the long term. With the Chinese Government aiming for an industrial production rate of 2800 tonnes per year, the mercury market is expected to see a very healthy growth rate in the coming years. China is expected to continue being a major player within the global mercury market in the forecast period (2018-2032). Despite the growing demand for mercury in China, it should be noted that mercury prices generally remain low, giving China an advantage in terms of sourcing the commodity. Furthermore, considering the large domestic preference for the chemical,the domestic market is likely to remain stable in the medium to long-term. This indicates that China has become the most dominating player of the mercury market size and trends. In sum, it is expected that the Chinese mercury market will remain robust over the 2018-2032 period, with the Chinese government likely to remain active in investing and expanding production capacity. The country's strong domestic demand will drive significant growth in the mercury market, and provide opportunities for investors in this field.
