Zeolite mining industry in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries: a SWOT-AHP analysis of strategic, economic, and environmental factors

Abstract

This article assesses the potential and challenges of the natural zeolite mining industry in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Amid global sustainability challenges, the sector is gaining socio-economic importance due to the growing demand for eco-friendly materials with unique adsorption and catalytic properties. The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, combined with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), enables the identification and ranking of the industry’s key internal and external factors. The SWOT-AHP results indicate that high-quality deposits, a broad product portfolio, and advanced quality management are critical regional advantages. Conversely, high labor and logistics costs, the environmental impacts of extraction, and internal market competition were identified as weaknesses. Furthermore, economic uncertainty and the availability of substitutes represent significant threats to the industry’s stability. Exploring new applications, expanding to diverse sectors (such as agriculture and water treatment), and adapting to consumer trends present major opportunities for growth. Strategic priorities highlight that a strengths-opportunities (SO) approach enables firms to proactively leverage key assets to meet the growing demand for environmental adsorbents. Concurrently, a strengths-threats (ST) strategy helps mitigate risks associated with zeolite substitutes and global economic fluctuations. The article provides evidence-based recommendations to enhance regional competitiveness and sustainable development, while encouraging collaborative innovations between enterprises, policymakers, and research institutions.