Middle East and Africa Sulfur Hexafluoride Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Grade (Electronic Grade, UHP Grade, and Standard Grade), End-user (Power and Energy, Electronics, Metal Manufacturing, Medical and Others)

The sulfur hexafluoride market in the MEA is expected to grow from US$ 20.32 million in 2019 to US$ 27.62 million by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2020 to 2027.

Various applications of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in medical instruments are bolstering the growth of the sulfur hexafluoride market in the region. In the medical industry, Sulfur hexafluoride is utilized for non-invasive surgeries and in the production of X-Ray equipment. It finds its application in as a tracer gas in laboratory fume hood contaminant testing during the final stage fume hood qualification. It also pressurizes waveguides in high-power microwave systems. It is also used in feedstock for the production of chemical weapon Sulfur decaflouride. The use of Sulfur hexafluoride in gas insulated substation equipment that are designed to contain gas in sealed pressure system drives demand. It is also a proffered plug or tamponade of a rental hole in repair operations of retinal detachments.

Emerging requirement for medical instruments in the economies demands the need for equipment in densely populated areas, which, in turn, create a huge opportunity for manufacturers of sulfur hexafluoride market. This increase in the demand for medical instruments across different countries of the region has resulted in mounting investments in the development of instruments in these regions, which is further driving the demand for sulfur hexafluoride. The HDVC transmission or high voltage direct power transmission adoption in developing countries is among the other factors expected to positively influence the demand for mineral insulated heating cables.

Based on end user, the electronics segment led the sulfur hexafluoride market in 2019. Sulfur hexafluoride is defined as a human-made gas which is composed of one sulfur and six fluoride atoms. The gas exhibits chemical stability along with nonflammability and highly electronegative nature with superior dielectric property of approximately 2.5 times more than air. The gas is extensively used for the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, including integrated circuits, flat panels, and micro-electro-mechanical-systems, as the high energy and reactivity of the ions leads to an unbeatable etching rate. It is also used to manufacture chips, such as processors and memories, on mono-crystalline silicon wafers, and solar cells on poly-crystalline wafers. The fluorinated gases, such as sulfur hexafluoride, play a significant role in the production of silicon devices. Further, the gas supports the production of integrated circuits for so called ‘isotropic etching,’ as it reacts in any direction and can pattern round cavities. The high electro negativity and heat transferring characteristics of SF6 essentially help absorb the electron energy and lower the arc temperature with the help of the capture of free electrons. SF6 is increasingly being used in the semiconductor industry as an etching gas to undertake the plasma etching or as a cleaning gas.

Various emerging economies backed by massive industrial presence, huge population, and increase in disposable income are the major factors driving the growth of the sulfur hexafluoride market in the MEA. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the MEA region is likely to get affected with respect to the economic growth. Although, the UAE is the manufacturing hub and leading raw material supplier for various industries, it is one the worst affected countries due to the COVID-19 outbreak, where all business operations are halted due to nationwide lockdown. Other leading manufacturing hubs, such as Saudi Arabia and South Africa, are also facing significant impact of COVID-19 outbreak. Various initiatives, such as travel bans, business shutdowns, and lockdowns were imposed by the governments across the MEA, which is anticipated to affect the expected revenue generation and overall growth opportunities in the MEA.

The overall MEA sulfur hexafluoride market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the MEA sulfur hexafluoride market with respect to all the segments pertaining to the region. Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry experts, such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, along with external consultants, such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the MEA sulfur hexafluoride market. Key players operating in the market include Linde plc, Iwatani Corporation, Air Liquide, Solvay S. A., and SHOWA DENKO K. K.

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