CMAI Completes 2011 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis

HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) announces the completion of the 2011 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis, an annual global study that covers historical trends and future projections for supply, demand, production, capacity, trade, pricing and profitability of the global terephthalic acid (PTA), dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), polyester polycondensation melt, PET packaging resin, polyester industrial filament, polyester textile filament, polyester bulk continuous filament and polyester staple fiber for the period 2005 to 2015.  Included with each analysis is 12 months access to CMAI's online capacity and supply/demand databases with a mid-term supply/demand update, incorporating CMAI's latest market outlook.  The analysis is a necessary resource for business managers and planning professionals who need to make strategic business decisions in a rapidly changing global economic and market environment.

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Current Market Situation

Despite global PTA capacity continuing to expand in 2009-2010, global demand was able to keep pace with expansions and operating rates recovered from the low levels seen in 2008.  China's contribution to global PTA capacity expansions slowed in 2010 compared to recent years.  Following the trend of recent years, worldwide capacity and demand for DMT continues to decline, as it is increasingly displaced by PTA.

Global PET bottle resin capacity expanded once again in 2010, with China accounting for slightly more than half of the new capacity added.  Among fibers, polyester filament continued to exhibit the fastest capacity growth in 2010—especially in its largest segment, textile filament.  China continues to add significant new industrial filament capacity.  Polyester bulked continuous filament capacity is growing rapidly in the U.S., replacing higher cost fibers in carpet applications.  After excessive overbuilding in the middle of the decade, global polyester staple capacity remained essentially flat from 2009 to 2010.

Following a strong increase in 2007, global polyester demand experienced its first ever decline in 2008.  Global fiber demand recovered in 2009, led primarily by robust growth in China, which continued to support strong polyester fiber demand growth in 2010.  Global PET packaging resin demand returned to growth in 2009, although the growth was anemic.  PET packaging resin demand growth in 2010 returned to a more normal level.  With increasing interest in sustainability, there has been growth in demand for recycled PET (RPET).  RPET, consumed primarily in polyester fiber applications, is seeing increasing demand in food and beverage packaging in the West, despite the more stringent quality requirements in these applications.

Net PTA trade volumes between regions rose marginally in 2010, as Northeast Asia is moving toward a balanced PTA trade position, and Europe's net imports increased.  The largest change in net PET trade was the transition of North America from a net importer in 2009 to a slight net exporter in 2010.  The largest net exporter of polyester fiber continued to be Northeast Asia in 2010.

Market Outlook

The primary strategic supply issue will be the pace at which Asia, specifically China, continues add capacity in the polyester value chain.  PTA capacity additions will continue to be concentrated in China, although Brazil, Poland, Portugal, Russia and Saudi Arabia also have announced plans to build PTA facilities during the forecast period.  As large, world scale units are commissioned, CMAI anticipates rationalization of older assets.  Overall PET packaging resin capacity growth is expected to slow as rationalization is also expected to moderate the effect of new additions.  Major polyester fiber capacity additions will continue to be concentrated in China but Brazil and India will bring on new projects in the forecast period.  Polyester staple capacity will once again return to growth during the forecast period.  Production of filament and staple fibers from RPET will expand.

Strong economic growth in the emerging markets will drive demand for polyester products.  Demand for DMT will continue to decline in polyester applications except in polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) production, which will grow slowly.  Increases in polyester fiber consumption will be the primary driver for PTA demand growth in Asia while in North America and Europe, PTA demand will follow PET packaging resin growth trends.  As new capacity additions are made in the polyester value chain in Asia and the Middle East, trade patterns and volumes will change, especially for PTA.

To find out more about the market issues and CMAI's outlook for this industry, order the 2011 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis now at www.cmaiglobal.com.  The analysis is presented in book and CD-ROM format, along with access to CMAI's online capacity and supply/demand databases.  Updates to the capacity database are available to clients throughout the year as they occur, and a bi-annual update to the supply/demand database provides a fresh view as the markets develop.  Clients benefit from the up-to-date market information which is necessary for strategic business decisions.

CMAI is the premier provider of Market, Planning and Business Advisory services offering a unique combination of consulting analytics and expertise for the global chemical, plastics, fibers and chlor-alkali industries.  With offices in Houston, New York, London, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Bangkok, Singapore and Shanghai, CMAI has provided expert business advisory services to a broad base of companies across multiple value chains and geographies since 1979.   Clients to CMAI services include chemical and oil companies, technology & EPC companies, law firms, banking and financial institutions, plastic converters, textile & apparel manufacturers, brand-owners, grocers/retailers, government agencies and trading companies. 

For more information on the 2011 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis, visit CMAI's website at www.cmaiglobal.com or contact:

SOURCE Chemical Market Associates, Inc.