LITERATURE
sales from non-cyclical core Business Units. According to Kottmann, the acquisition of Süd-Chemie ‘marked a first milestone in this process’. The company now intends to manage its portfolio further and is evaluating strategic options for the Business Units Textile Chemicals, Paper Specialties, and Emulsions, Detergents & Intermediates. It plans to implement these options during the next 18 months. ‘We will implement these portfolio management measures with the same speed and determination as that of our activities in the restructuring phase. They are an important pre-requisite for reaching our targets by 2015’, Kottmann explains. Clariant will also pursue further profitability in its existing Business Units through Performance Management and Functional Excellence measures, he says. Contact: Clariant International Ltd, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6969, Web: www.clariant.com
LITERATURE New report analyses global plastics additives market to 2016
T
he global plastics additives sector is a mature industry in terms of both value and volume. However, the growth and development of enduse markets for plastics means that the consumption of plastics additives continues to increase. Global revenue for the industry reached US$39.7 billion in 2011 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% to $47.8 billion by 2016, according to a new market report, Plastic Additives Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share & Forecast (2011–2016), published by Transparency Market Research. Plastics additives are a diversified sector encompassing four main functional categories: property modifiers, property extenders, stabilizers and processing aids. Of these,
August 2012
property modifiers are forecast to be the largest segment in terms of both revenue and volume consumed in 2016. Property modifiers include flame retardants, antioxidants, antimicrobials, plasticizers, blowing agents and impact modifiers. Modifiers are rarely used alone, being typically added to plastics in combination with processing aids and property extenders. Among all property modifiers, plasticizers are the fastest-growing segment followed by flame retardants, the report finds. The plasticizers market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% during the 2011–2016 period, and is expected to account for a 51.8% share by volume of total demand for plastics additives in 2016. In addition to examining the plastics additives market according to product type, the report also analyses the main geographical. The Asia Pacific is leading globally both in terms of production and consumption of plastic additives due to growth in end-use markets such as the automotive and construction industries. The automotive industry in China and India is expected to grow at more than 8% and 14% per year, respectively, the report says. North America and Europe are described as mature markets for plastics additives but demand here is also expected to increase as sluggish economies recover. The report also considers the curbs and opportunities for plastics additives resulting from increasingly stringent environment, health and safety regulations worldwide. In addition, profiles are provided for the six largest producers: BASF, Chemtura, Exxon Mobil, Bayer, Clariant and Kaneka. According to Transparency Market Research, the new 130-page report helps to identify the factors that will be the driving force behind the plastics additives market and submarkets in the next five years. It provides extensive analysis of the plastic additives industry, current market trends, industry drivers and challenges to provide a better understanding of the structure of the plastics additives market, the company says. Licence prices range from $4395 to $10 395. Contact: Transparency Market Research, State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207, USA. Tel: +1 518 618 1030, Web: www.transparencymarketresearch.com
Additives for Polymers
11