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Tecnon OrbiChem's online business intelligence platform, OrbiChem360, can help senior management level personnel, including procurement managers and business segment managers make timely, well-informed decisions based on reliable and accurate data and analysis of key factors shaping the acrylic acid and acrylate esters markets.
Tecnon OrbiChem provides detailed and comprehensive coverage of markets, prices, developments and trends for the global acrylic acid industry including key derivative products. We also provide informative tables and charts highlighting key trade statistics, regional price comparisons, and production/consumption trends.
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Market Analysis | Prices | Trade Data | Market Summary | Price Forecasts | Supply/Demand | Single Client Projects | ||
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Propylene | ||||||||
Propylene is the second of the major olefins, after ethylene. It is co-produced together with ethylene in steam crackers and also by refinery cat-crackers and, increasingly, dehydrogenation of propane. Propylene has become much more than just a co-product. It is growing faster than ethylene and various processes for on-purpose propylene production have been developed to provide incremental capacity. Propylene's major derivative is polypropylene but it is also used to produce acrylonitrile, plasticiser alcohols and other chemicals. |
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Acrylic Acid | ||||||||
Acrylic acid has traditionally been used as the raw material for acrylate esters, with minor use in acrylic copolymer dispersions. The largest growing sector has been superabsorbent polymers for use in diapers and feminine and elderly hygiene products. Acrylic acid is derived from propylene. Crude acrylic acid is purified to glacial acrylic acid for the manufacture of polyacrylates and super absorbent polymers. A process of esterification of crude acrylic acid via butanols, 2-ethylhexanol, ethanol, methanol and other alcohols is used for the production of acrylic esters. |
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Methyl Acrylate | ||||||||
Methyl acrylate (MA) is used as an 8-10% co-monomer with acrylonitrile for acrylic fibre production, although this is only one process for acrylic fibre production, with other technology based on vinyl acetate as the co-monomer, and some with methyl methacrylate. Other uses for MA include trans-esterification to functional acrylate monomers rather than direct esterification from AA; as an intermediate for antioxidants; with acrylonitrile in nitrile resins (US) as barrier resins in food packaging. Very little MA is used in the production of water-based acrylics. Methyl acrylate is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid and methanol. |
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Ethyl Acrylate | ||||||||
Ethyl acrylate is used in the production of water based acrylics, along with other acrylic esters. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. Ethyl acrylate’s primary use is in the textile and leather auxiliaries, adhesives and coatings areas. Ethyl acrylate is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid and methanol. |
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Butyl Acrylate | ||||||||
Butyl acrylate is the main acrylate ester used in water based acrylic dispersions, particularly for coating use, with 2-EHA for adhesives and in coatings and EA for textile, leather and polishes as well as coatings. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. BA is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid with n-butanol. |
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2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate | ||||||||
2-Ethylhexyl acrylate is used in the production of water based acrylics, along with other acrylic esters. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. 2-EHA is mostly used for coatings and adhesives. 2-EHA is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid with 2-ethylhexanol. |
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Methyl Methacrylate | ||||||||
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is used in polymers (PMMA) in various forms such as cast sheets, latices and moulding and extrusion polymers. Applications include advertising signs, aircraft windows, desk tops, lighting fixtures, building panels and plumbing/bathroom fixtures, as well as LED TV screen panels and light guide plates for LED TV. MMA is also used as a comonomer in paints and coatings applications. Most MMA plants use the ACH route to produce MMA but Mitsubishi also has an Alpha process, based on ethylene, methanol and carbon monoxide. |
Propylene is the second of the major olefins, after ethylene. It is co-produced together with ethylene in steam crackers and also by refinery cat-crackers and, increasingly, dehydrogenation of propane. Propylene has become much more than just a co-product. It is growing faster than ethylene and various processes for on-purpose propylene production have been developed to provide incremental capacity. Propylene's major derivative is polypropylene but it is also used to produce acrylonitrile, plasticiser alcohols and other chemicals.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Acrylic acid has traditionally been used as the raw material for acrylate esters, with minor use in acrylic copolymer dispersions. The largest growing sector has been superabsorbent polymers for use in diapers and feminine and elderly hygiene products. Acrylic acid is derived from propylene. Crude acrylic acid is purified to glacial acrylic acid for the manufacture of polyacrylates and super absorbent polymers. A process of esterification of crude acrylic acid via butanols, 2-ethylhexanol, ethanol, methanol and other alcohols is used for the production of acrylic esters.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Methyl acrylate (MA) is used as an 8-10% co-monomer with acrylonitrile for acrylic fibre production, although this is only one process for acrylic fibre production, with other technology based on vinyl acetate as the co-monomer, and some with methyl methacrylate. Other uses for MA include trans-esterification to functional acrylate monomers rather than direct esterification from AA; as an intermediate for antioxidants; with acrylonitrile in nitrile resins (US) as barrier resins in food packaging. Very little MA is used in the production of water-based acrylics. Methyl acrylate is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid and methanol.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Ethyl acrylate is used in the production of water based acrylics, along with other acrylic esters. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. Ethyl acrylate’s primary use is in the textile and leather auxiliaries, adhesives and coatings areas. Ethyl acrylate is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid and methanol.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Butyl acrylate is the main acrylate ester used in water based acrylic dispersions, particularly for coating use, with 2-EHA for adhesives and in coatings and EA for textile, leather and polishes as well as coatings. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. BA is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid with n-butanol.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
2-Ethylhexyl acrylate is used in the production of water based acrylics, along with other acrylic esters. Water based acrylics are used in coatings primarily, mainly decorative and masonry coatings, but increasingly for industrial coating formulations. Adhesives are another important end use, with textile uses, paper coatings, leather coatings and other uses such as polishes, carpet backing compounds and tablet coatings. 2-EHA is mostly used for coatings and adhesives. 2-EHA is produced via the esterification of crude acrylic acid with 2-ethylhexanol.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is used in polymers (PMMA) in various forms such as cast sheets, latices and moulding and extrusion polymers. Applications include advertising signs, aircraft windows, desk tops, lighting fixtures, building panels and plumbing/bathroom fixtures, as well as LED TV screen panels and light guide plates for LED TV. MMA is also used as a comonomer in paints and coatings applications. Most MMA plants use the ACH route to produce MMA but Mitsubishi also has an Alpha process, based on ethylene, methanol and carbon monoxide.
Market Analysis
Prices
Trade Data
Market Summary
Price Forecasts
Supply/Demand
Single Client Projects
Tecnon OrbiChem’s business intelligence services offer a full range of analysis, price data, and price forecasts for acrylic acid, key downstream derivatives and important feedstock markets.
Regular updates of economic news and industry events that shape market trends, plus price histories and future capacity changes, provide senior executives and company managers a full view of market activity and add proper perspective to the industry.
Acrylic acid is a key chemical intermediate which is used primarily in the manufacture of and acrylate esters and superabsorbent polymers (SAP). SAP is a material which can absorb and retain at least 300 times its weight, and among its main applications are diapers, incontinence products and feminine hygiene articles. Acrylate esters are an important application with wide-ranging uses. Butyl acrylate (BA) is the most widely traded of the acrylate esters and is used principally in paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants. 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) is extensively utilised in pressure sensitive adhesives, paints and coatings and tapes. Ethyl acrylate (EA) is employed in the leather, paints, paper and packaging sectors among others. Methyl acrylate’s (MA) main applications include the production of acrylic fibres, surface coatings and paper manufacturing.
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