US amines demand to grow at 3.3% per year, reach $3.4 billion in 2015 - study

US demand for amines, excluding those used to produce other amines, is forecast to advance 3.3% annually to 3.3 billion pounds in 2015, valued at $3.4 billion, according to a new study from US market research firm Freedonia Group.

Growth will accelerate from the pace of the 2005-2010 period, which was impacted by the recent recession that led to declines in key markets for amines. Gains will remain healthy in important markets such as agricultural chemicals and personal care products, the group said.

Technical innovations in emerging markets will drive growth going forward as amines are used in place of competitive intermediates in such markets as wind energy and shale control in oil exploration. Among the various markets in which amines are used, agricultural chemicals and cleaning products are the largest and together will account for the majority of gains in demand through 2015, according to the study.

Ethanolamines will continue to represent both the largest and the fastest-growing product segment in the US amines market, accounting for over one-third of volume demand and projected to grow at an annual pace of 4.4% through 2015. Diethanolamine will remain the most commercially significant of the ethanolamines, providing strong support as it continues to benefit from use in popular glyphosate herbicides. Demand for monoethanolamine will see ongoing gains in the wood treatment market. Additionally, growth in triethanolamine demand will be aided by expanding uses in personal care products and fabric softeners.

Specialty amines demand will be boosted by a rebound in plastics processing, as well as by the replacement of other amines in such applications as natural gas treatment and by expanding uses in fast-growing applications including epoxy curing agents in wind turbine blades, the Freedonia Group said. Fatty amines are most commonly used in cleaning products and personal care products and will continue to benefit from their benign environmental profile.

Alkylamines will advance at a below-average pace, restrained by market maturity combined with sluggish gains for the major products that employ these amines. Market maturity - particularly in the lubricants market - will also limit gains for ethyleneamines, which represent the smallest-volume product segment.

Related News

From the Archive

Comments

Comments

{{ error }}

Add Comment

{{ comment.name }} Editor • {{ comment.dateCreated | date:'short' }}

{{ comment.text }}