- Email: [email protected]
The inside story…
FOCUS ON SURFACTANTS A MONTHLY REPORT FROM CAROLINE EDSER
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ALL SURFACE ACTIVE AGENTS ISSN 1351–4210
FEBRUARY 2008 In this issue
RAW MATERIALS
THE INSIDE STORY... 2-3
Linear alkylbenzene Oleochemicals Ethoxylates/others
SURFACTANTS
3
Nippon Shokubai increases surfactant interests
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS
3-4
Builders Other
APPLICATIONS
4-5
Personal care Household products Other
PATENTS
5-6
Latest patents from Ecolab, Seydel and others
LEGISLATION
6
Adapting to REACH
COMPANY RESULTS
6-7
Recent figures from Stepan, P&G and Novozymes
COMPANY NEWS
7
BASF forms new Care Chemicals division
EVENTS
SURFACTANTS
8
This issue provides a brief overview of the current and expected future state of the market for key surfactant intermediate linear alkylbenzene (LAB), courtesy of a new study on detergent alkylates published by USbased consulting company Colin A Houston & Associates (see p 2). For the decade between 2006 and 2016, modest average global demand growth of 2.5% per year is forecast for LAB, reaching 3.7 M tons in 2016. However, growth rates will vary significantly from region to region, with the developing markets of the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa predicted to enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the period, while the mature market of Western Europe will see growth restricted to 0.4%/y. In North and Latin America, demand for LAB is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.5% /y and 1.3%/y, respectively. The Asia-Pacific market currently accounts for almost half of annual consumption, and this position will continue until 2016. Overcapacity and margin issues continue to dog the LAB sector; in the past year, the soaring costs of petroleum-based raw materials damaged margins to such an extent on several occasions that at least one major LAB producer reported that the sustainability of the business was at risk. However, escalating feedstock prices have also taken their toll on the rival fatty alcohol-based sector, and the Houston report concludes that the competitive position of LAB and its derivatives has actually improved from predictions of a couple of years ago. Elsewhere, an update on consumer trends in personal care (p 4) sheds
SURFACTANTS
further light on how the demand for natural versus petroleum-derived feedstocks varies in different countries and in different subsectors, such as bar soaps (natural) compared with liquid soaps and shower gels (synthetic). It’s heartening to see plenty of patent activity reported in this issue on the part of the various formulated products sectors; their innovative strength in turn provides a sure foundation for the future health and growth of the surfactants industry. This month’s snapshot from the US Patents Office (p 5) ranges from personal care applications to powder and liquid detergents, a rinse aid, and a novel liquid fabric treatment formulation from Procter & Gamble in which a crystalline, hydroxylcontaining stabilizing agent forms a thread-like structuring system. The latest financial results from Stepan, summarized on p 6, are also grounds for optimism. For each of the first three quarters of 2007, the company has reported healthy sales growth for its surfactants products. In the third quarter, sales of surfactants increased 12% compared with the same period in 2006. The profitability of most of the surfactants business also improved – with Europe providing the strongest performance – although gross profit was dragged down by problems in the biodiesel sector. And consumer products giant Procter & Gamble continues to shine (p 6). For the quarter to the end of Sep 2007, P&G’s sales grew 8% year on year and net income was up 14%. All the main business segments of relevance to surfactants performed well.
SURFACTANTS
Caroline Edser
SURFACTANTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ALL SURFACE ACTIVE AGENTS ISSN 1351–4210
FEBRUARY 2008 In this issue
RAW MATERIALS
THE INSIDE STORY... 2-3
Linear alkylbenzene Oleochemicals Ethoxylates/others
SURFACTANTS
3
Nippon Shokubai increases surfactant interests
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS
3-4
Builders Other
APPLICATIONS
4-5
Personal care Household products Other
PATENTS
5-6
Latest patents from Ecolab, Seydel and others
LEGISLATION
6
Adapting to REACH
COMPANY RESULTS
6-7
Recent figures from Stepan, P&G and Novozymes
COMPANY NEWS
7
BASF forms new Care Chemicals division
EVENTS
SURFACTANTS
8
This issue provides a brief overview of the current and expected future state of the market for key surfactant intermediate linear alkylbenzene (LAB), courtesy of a new study on detergent alkylates published by USbased consulting company Colin A Houston & Associates (see p 2). For the decade between 2006 and 2016, modest average global demand growth of 2.5% per year is forecast for LAB, reaching 3.7 M tons in 2016. However, growth rates will vary significantly from region to region, with the developing markets of the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa predicted to enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the period, while the mature market of Western Europe will see growth restricted to 0.4%/y. In North and Latin America, demand for LAB is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.5% /y and 1.3%/y, respectively. The Asia-Pacific market currently accounts for almost half of annual consumption, and this position will continue until 2016. Overcapacity and margin issues continue to dog the LAB sector; in the past year, the soaring costs of petroleum-based raw materials damaged margins to such an extent on several occasions that at least one major LAB producer reported that the sustainability of the business was at risk. However, escalating feedstock prices have also taken their toll on the rival fatty alcohol-based sector, and the Houston report concludes that the competitive position of LAB and its derivatives has actually improved from predictions of a couple of years ago. Elsewhere, an update on consumer trends in personal care (p 4) sheds
SURFACTANTS
further light on how the demand for natural versus petroleum-derived feedstocks varies in different countries and in different subsectors, such as bar soaps (natural) compared with liquid soaps and shower gels (synthetic). It’s heartening to see plenty of patent activity reported in this issue on the part of the various formulated products sectors; their innovative strength in turn provides a sure foundation for the future health and growth of the surfactants industry. This month’s snapshot from the US Patents Office (p 5) ranges from personal care applications to powder and liquid detergents, a rinse aid, and a novel liquid fabric treatment formulation from Procter & Gamble in which a crystalline, hydroxylcontaining stabilizing agent forms a thread-like structuring system. The latest financial results from Stepan, summarized on p 6, are also grounds for optimism. For each of the first three quarters of 2007, the company has reported healthy sales growth for its surfactants products. In the third quarter, sales of surfactants increased 12% compared with the same period in 2006. The profitability of most of the surfactants business also improved – with Europe providing the strongest performance – although gross profit was dragged down by problems in the biodiesel sector. And consumer products giant Procter & Gamble continues to shine (p 6). For the quarter to the end of Sep 2007, P&G’s sales grew 8% year on year and net income was up 14%. All the main business segments of relevance to surfactants performed well.
SURFACTANTS
Caroline Edser
SURFACTANTS