Abstract
Global demand to reach 3.1 million metric tons in 2013
Global demand for fluorine-containing chemicals is forecast to rise 2.5
percent per year to 3.1 million metric tons in 2013. Gains will be driven by
healthy growth in the production of refrigeration and cooling equipment,
boosting demand for fluorocarbon refrigerants, particularly in the developing
world. Growth in demand for fluoropolymers, which will remain strong in nearly
all world regions, will also benefit overall market gains. However, gains will
be restrained by continued concerns over the environmental impact of
fluorochemicals, which are leading consumers in major markets to limit
fluorochemical use or switch to nonfluorinated alternative products.
HFC demand benefits from HCFC phaseout
Fluorocarbon demand will increase at a pace roughly in line with the
fluorochemicals market as a whole; however, this masks a considerable shift in
the prospects for individual products. Demand for HCFCs, which saw healthy
growth during the 2003-2008 period, will begin to decline through 2013. The
2007 adjustment to the Montreal Protocol has accelerated the start of HCFC
phaseout in developing countries such as China and India, significantly
reducing growth prospects going forward. This, in turn, will drive strong
advances in demand for HFCs, the most common replacements for HCFCs, in the
developing world. However, HFCs are beginning to come under increasingly
strict regulations, particularly in Western Europe, restraining demand for
fluorocarbons overall.
Gains in demand for inorganic and specialty fluorochemicals will decelerate
markedly from the 2003-2008 period, as aluminum production (the largest outlet
for these products) exhibits a similar slowdown. However, demand for the
higher-value specialty products, such as fluorochemical gases, will benefit
from strong growth in world electronics production. Fluoropolymers will
exhibit the most rapid advances of any major fluorochemical product type,
fueled by a rising need for high-performance materials in chemical processing,
electronics and motor vehicle applications.
The Asia/Pacific region will continue to account for the largest portion of
fluorochemical demand in 2013, totaling just under half of the world market.
The region will also see above-average gains in demand, although slowing
considerably from the pace of increase during the previous decade. The fastest
demand growth, however, is expected for the Africa/Mideast region (from a
relatively small base), fueled by a rapid increase in aluminum metal
production in the region. In a continuation of long-term trends, the US,
Western Europe and Japan will account for a shrinking share of the world
fluorochemical market, as the developed world adopts more stringent
restrictions on the use of fluorine-derived products.
Study coverage
This new Freedonia industry study, World Fluorochemicals, presents historical
supply and demand data (1998, 2003 and 2008) plus forecasts for 2013 and 2018
by type and market in six regions and 15 countries. The study also considers
key market environment factors, evaluates company market share and profiles
global industry competitors.
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