New products to drive growth in US industry
The ongoing development and commercialization of new catalyst products will continue to spark growth in this heavily research-intensive industry. Demand for metallocene and other single site polymerization catalysts continues to advance at well above average rates; while even newer product forms (such as chiral and enzyme catalysts for chemical processing) begin to emerge from the development pipeline.
Petroleum refining to remain top market
Petroleum refining will remain the largest single market for catalysts, although gains will be somewhat below average due to generally slow growth in petroleum refining activity and the widespread use of lower value chemical catalysts, primarily acids. Growth opportunities exist in alkylation and reformation catalysts, as the almost certain phase-out of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) gasoline additives sparks increased demand for alkylate and reformate products.
Polymerization, chemical processing uses to lead gains
Demand for polymerization catalysts will benefit from the growing use of higher value metallocene and other single site catalysts. These advanced catalysts yield polymers with improved processing and performance characteristics, primarily polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
Chemical processing catalysts will also show above average rates of growth as new catalyst products, such as chiral and enzyme catalysts (used primarily in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals), begin to make significant inroads.
Enzyme, chiral, organometallic types offer best growth prospects
In terms of catalyst materials, metals will continue to account for the largest portion of overall demand in value terms, due to their higher cost, especially precious metal catalysts based on silver, gold or platinum group metals. Enzyme-based and chiral catalysts and organometallic products (which include metallocene polymerization catalysts) will record the greatest growth, as these advanced catalysts become more widely utilized.
Chemical and zeolite-based catalysts, which are lower value products, will record belowaverage growth, although both are still widely used in a variety of chemical, plastic and petroleum refining applications.
Study coverage
Details on these and other findings are available in the new Freedonia study, Catalysts. The study analyzes the $2.8 billion US catalysts industry, presenting historical demand data (1992, 1997 and 2002) and forecasts to 2007 and 2012 for refinery catalysts (e.g., cracking, alkylation, hydroprocessing, reforming); and chemical and polymer processing catalysts (e.g., polymerization, organic synthesis, oxidation, synthesis gas, hydrogenation and other catalysts). Data are also broken out by catalyst material (e.g., metals, organometallic compounds, chemicals, zeolites, enzymes).
In addition, the study examines the market environment, details industry structure and company market share, and profiles leading companies including Akzo Nobel, Engelhard, WR Grace, Johnson Matthey and Royal Dutch/Shell. | 
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