IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Polycarboxylic Acids – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The global polycarboxylic acid market revenue amounted to $42.8B in 2018, rising by 3.5% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, the global polycarboxylic acid consumption peaked at $45.5B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Global Polycarboxylic Acid Trade 2014-2018

In 2018, the global polycarboxylic acid exports amounted to 13M tonnes, surging by 9.1% against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% from 2014 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 9.1% y-o-y. In that year, global polycarboxylic acid exports attained their peak and are likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, polycarboxylic acid exports totaled $15B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. Over the period under review, global polycarboxylic acid exports reached their peak figure at $16.1B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, exports failed to regain their momentum.

Exports by Country

In 2018, South Korea (2.9M tonnes), distantly followed by China (1.5M tonnes), Taiwan (1.4M tonnes), Thailand (1M tonnes), Belgium (1M tonnes) and Mexico (0.7M tonnes) represented the key exporters of polycarboxylic acids, together making up 66% of total exports. The following exporters – Canada (494K tonnes), the Netherlands (493K tonnes), Poland (381K tonnes), India (361K tonnes), Spain (351K tonnes) and Germany (312K tonnes) – accounted for 19% of world exports.

From 2014 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by India, while exports for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest polycarboxylic acid supplying countries worldwide were South Korea ($3B), China ($2.1B) and Taiwan, Chinese ($1.4B), with a combined 43% share of global exports. These countries were followed by Belgium, Thailand, the Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Spain, India and Poland, which together accounted for a further 35%.

Export Prices by Country

In 2018, the average polycarboxylic acid export price amounted to $1,165 per tonne, surging by 2.4% against the previous year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Germany ($1,443 per tonne), while Mexico ($761 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2014 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Korea, while the other global leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform