Mineral fuels and oils, and paper and paper products are the two sectors in the top 20 that experienced a marginal decline in exports in Q4 2020, with exports falling by 13.8% and 1.5%, respectively. [...] As observed with exports to China and Germany, exports of chemical products to the USA showed exponential growth in Q4 2020, increasing by 514% from R298 million in Q4 2019 to R1.8 billion, driven by growth in exports of reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, (excluding rubber accelerators) (HS3815). [...] Therefore, the growth in China’s foundry, refractories and ceramic industries is likely to continue driving its demand for zirconium ores and concentrates.3 South Africa’s zirconium ores and concentrates exports to Spain and USA experienced exponentially growth in the fourth quarter of 2020, increasing by 128% and 600%, respectively. [...] It is not clear what is driving the increase in demand for zirconium in the USA, although the country uses it as a main input in nuclear fuel cladding, chemical piping in corrosive environment and in the production of specialty alloys. [...] According to secondary sources, there has been a general decline in demand for printing and writing paper as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the migration of exhibitions, conferences, advertising and education to digital and online platforms, as many people are working from home.5 A similar paper industry product experienced a significant decline in 2020, and was analysed in the pr.
Authors
- Pages
- 28
- Published in
- South Africa
