Market Opportunity

Acrylic Acid and Acrylate Esters are widely used petroleum based chemicals with well documented manufacturing processes, economics, and performance requirements. The market demand of these chemicals is nearly 4 Million MT/yr, roughly split equally between acrylic acid and acrylate esters.

The acrylic acid and acrylate esters market is attractive because they are high volume and high margin chemicals with growth rates exceeding GDP in many regions. In 2008, the market was valued at over $11 billion and expected to grow at an annual rate of 4%. Growth is mainly being driven by emerging markets of China and India that are adopting an increasing amount of Western products that use acrylic acid as intermediates.

Acrylic Acid and Acrylate Esters applications include the following:

• Personal Care (diapers, hygiene pads)
• Detergents
• Flocculants
• Polymers
• Coatings, adhesives, sealants