Clay Product & Refractory Manufacturers NAICS 3271

Jul 20, 2025 - Ceramics Put Brakes on Global Warming

• Ceramics continue to reduce the impact of power-hungry AI on global warming, The American Ceramics Society reports. With data center demand accounting for about 1.3% of worldwide electricity use in 2023 – and expected to grow dramatically as more data centers come online – the development of new materials with better thermal and electrical properties than silicon is essential. An advanced ceramic semiconductor developed by a team from Japan’s Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. that could replace silicon is c‐axis–aligned crystalline indium‐gallium‐zinc oxide (CAAC‐IGZO). The team’s ongoing work on the development of CAAC-IGZO and other materials for oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors was published in a new paper titled “Oxide ceramic large-scale integration device for putting the brakes on global boiling accelerated by artificial intelligence age computers,” that discusses how CAAC-IGZO and crystalline indium oxide can improve the chips needed to advance AI computing.
• Wholesale power prices are forecast to rise across most US regional markets this year, with the biggest jumps – projected at between 30% to 35% – expected for the Southwest and California, according to the US Energy Information Administration. However, solar power projects in Texas and hydropower in the Northwest are expected to grow their power supplies keeping a lid on prices, according to the EIA. Wholesale power prices could average $40 per megawatt hour in 2025, an increase of 7% over 2024, according to the agency. The cost of natural gas – the single biggest fuel source for US power generation – delivered to power plants is expected to average $3.37 per million British thermal units this year, a 24% jump from last year, but roughly equal to 2023, per the EIA. As large users of electricity, clay product and refractory manufacturers are sensitive to increases in electricity prices.

• The devastating loss of life and property caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles is drawing attention to fire-resistant building materials. Materials including brick, concrete, and steel are designed to withstand high temperatures and resist ignition, reducing the risk of fire damage and increasing safety. ”Brick is a safer building material than others for a very simple reason,” according to brickmaker and distributor Acme Brick. “With its main component being clay, brick can withstand heat over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on its composition and purpose. Brick is classified as a non-combustible material, meaning it can serve to both resist and contain fire.” Fire testing performed at the National Brick Research Center found that brick, on average, provides 1.5 hours of protection before a fire breaches a home, compared to less than 30 minutes for vinyl and fiber-cement siding.
• Producer prices for clay product and refractory manufacturers rose 3% in May compared to a year ago after rising 1.4% in the previous May-versus-May annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Producer prices hit a record high in May, rising steeply and steadily since 2021. Employment by clay product and refractory manufacturers continued to decline, falling 1.5% year over year in April, while average wages at nonmetallic mineral product manufacturers rose 7% YoY in May to a new high of $28.37 per hour, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.