CERAME-UNIE Industry

REFRACTORIES

Refractories products are a vital element for any high-temperature production process, such as steelmaking, the production of cement, glass and ceramics, and petrochemical processes.

The industry is the most important worldwide, with a healthy external trade surplus of around € 600 million.

As around 60% of the production is sold to the steel industry, main production capacity tends to be found in Germany, Italy, France and the UK. Due to a strong raw materials (magnesia) position Austria is an important producer and exporter of refractories.

The industry has been able to improve considerably the quality of its products, and has achieved a corresponding high level of Europe-wide production standards.

In order to strengthen its position on an oligopsonic market, the industry is speeding up the concentration process.

« back to industry