Israel’s Chemical Industry is a key component of the country’s GDP. Israel’s GDP rose by a value of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of the year 2018 as compared to the value attained in Q3. While the value rate for the change in GDP was recorded to be 2.7%. This growth was estimated to be USD 70.4 Billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.
For the year 2018, Israel’s growth concerning the industrial sector fell to a value of USD 10.9 Billion in the third quarter from 11.2 Billion in the second quarter. According to the market database, the industrial sector here is a combination of diversified products including computer-aided design and manufacturing, medical electronics, fiber optics, etc. The industrial segment contributes to roughly 26.5% of the GDP. The production growth rate for the year 2017 was recorded to be 3.5%. The proportion of workers employed under the Israel Chemical Industry in 2017 and 2018 was 17.3 % and 17.2 % respectively of the total number of workers in the manufacturing segment. Roughly 25% of the employees working for the manufacturing segment were employed under high-tech production facilities.
According to chemical market research reports in 2019, roughly 22,000 industrial plants have been stationed in Israel. They encapsulate labor-intensive production facilities like food, pulp and paper, and textiles. The statistics for this article have been obtained through World Bank data.
Elemental Bromine and its applications
According to the market database, Bromine is the third lightest member of the halogen group. Bromine (Br) has the atomic number 35 and it belongs to the p block in the periodic table. It is found in a fuming red-brown liquid state. This element evaporates readily at room temperature to form a colored gas. The properties of this element lie in between that of chlorine and iodine. The Dead Sea is considered to have one of the largest reserves for Bromine. The U.S. and Israel Chemical industries are considered to be the major producers of this element on a global scale.
The element is used as a reagent for several reactive processes carried out in the industry. Br is utilized in applications ranging from oil & gas drilling to its use in fire retardants. The element is also employed in mercury emission control and water treatment. The toxicology studies affiliated with this element restrict the growth of this market. The introduction of products like non-halogenated flame retardants acts as one of the key restraints for the growth of this market.
Albemarle and Israel Chemicals Ltd have taken an initiative to develop polymeric flame retardants that could potentially replace hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) flame retardants. Although the product is still under its testing stage due to concerns associated with the toxicity associated with it.
Factors that drive the growth of the bromine market
According to the market database, the increased use of Brominated flame retardants is expected to act as a key driver for this market. Countries worldwide have focused on developing stringent fire safety regulations. Therefore, manufacturing units affiliated with industries like automotive, textiles, consumer goods, etc need to adhere to these guidelines. These regulations have hereafter increased the demand for fire-retardants.
Additionally, insurance companies utilize a huge percentage of their assets in setting claims during a fire hazard. Thus, fire retardants are incorporated in most manufacturing commodities due to their ability to curtail fire. Flame retardants are can be derived from both chlorine as well as bromine. Brominated fire retardants have been continually replacing chlorinated fire control agents. Chlorine gas is liberated when chlorinated fire retardants come in contact with a source of heat. Moreover, Chlorine in its gaseous form is hazardous to live beings. Hence brominated fire retardants form a major segment of the NA as well as the APAC market. Brominated flame retardants are widely used by manufacturing plants for commodities such as plastics, textiles, and rubber. Growth in the consumption of these commodities within Israel is expected to propel the growth of the Israel Chemical Industry.
Hydrogen Bromide flow batteries
According to the market database, the increasing use of Hydrogen Bromide in flow batteries serves as a growth opportunity for this vertical. Hydrogen bromide is essentially a highly reliable power source that is utilized by industrial units. It is also known as high density, membrane loss flow batteries and is developed by EnStorage Inc. The company integrated several 50 kW HBr batteries to power an industrial grid in Southern Israel.
