China has become the world's largest consumer of acrylic acid and its esters. In the past, the gap between domestic supply and demand was significant. However, with the commissioning of new projects in recent years, the country's reliance on foreign imports has gradually declined. Over the next few years, China is expected to experience a peak period for the construction of acrylic acid and ester facilities, with continuous expansion of production capacity across the industry.
Acrylic acid is primarily used in the production of acrylic esters, which account for approximately 80% of total acrylic acid consumption. China leads the world in the fastest-growing acrylate consumption rate. In 2006, the output of acrylates reached 611,000 tons, while consumption hit 840,000 tons, representing about 23% of global consumption. The market size exceeded 5.4 billion yuan. Despite rapid industry growth, demand continues to outpace supply. From 1996 to 2001, the self-sufficiency rate of acrylic acid dropped from 80% to 44%, while import dependency rose from 20% to 56%.
As prices for acrylic acid and esters continue to rise, domestic companies are accelerating the development of new production facilities. For example, Formosa Plastics (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. launched a 160,000-ton/year acrylic acid plant and a 230,000-ton/year acrylate project in October 2006. Similarly, Mitsubishi Chemical transferred its technology to Shenyang Blue Paraffin’s subsidiary, completing an 80,000-ton/year acrylic acid and 130,000-ton/year acrylate unit by the end of the same year. By 2006, China’s acrylic acid production capacity reached 720,000 tons per year, and acrylate capacity reached 780,000 tons. With these new projects coming online, import dependency fell from 42.3% in 2002 to 9.6% in 2006.
Driven by strong demand in sectors such as construction, textiles, packaging, and hygiene products, China’s acrylate market is expected to grow rapidly in the future. It is projected that domestic demand will reach 1.16 million tons in 2010, accounting for around 31.4% of global consumption. By 2015, annual demand is expected to reach 1.7 million tons, making China a major global acrylate consumer. In response, the expansion of domestic acrylic acid and ester industries remains robust.
In mid-July 2006, Sinochem Group initiated an acrylic acid and ester project in Guangrao County, Shandong Province, with a design capacity of 80,000 tons/year of acrylic acid and 120,000 tons/year of acrylate. Singapore Sun Vic Chemical Company expanded its acrylic acid and ester plant in Xiangshui, Jiangsu, aiming to increase production to 205,000 tons/year of acrylic acid and 250,000 tons/year of acrylate by the end of 2006. BASF also planned to build a polyacrylate polymer plant in Shanghai with a capacity of over 30,000 tons/year, scheduled for completion in early 2008. Additional projects are under planning in Hebei, Huizhou, Guangdong, Maoming, Sichuan, and Liaoning, with capacities ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 tons/year. These developments indicate that the next few years will be a critical period for the expansion of acrylic acid and ester facilities in China.
By 2010, it is expected that China’s acrylic acid production capacity will reach 900,000 tons/year, and acrylate capacity will reach 980,000 tons/year. While supply and demand were roughly balanced in 2006 due to completed projects, rising economic growth is likely to further increase demand. By 2010, the supply-demand gap is expected to widen again. Therefore, in the long term, there is still significant room for growth in the acrylic acid and ester industry in China.
Building Materials And Equipment
Static Classification Machine,Static Classification Machines,Static Classification Equipment, Building Rotating Distribution Tray
Sichuan Shichuang Micro Nano Technology Co.,Ltd , https://www.scwnpowder.com