| According to the leading suppliers of acrylic acid, the | | | | covered, though not fully, thanks to import. According |
| annual demand growth will stay at the level of 5% in | | | | to some experts, the demand for acrylic acid and its |
| the coming years. However, according some experts, | | | | derivatives in Russia is 10,000-15,000mt/y. In the next 9 |
| this growth by 2009 may be lower, not more than | | | | years, "Acrylat" JSC, the largest Russian manufacturer |
| 3.5% per annum. They predict the following demand | | | | of acrylic acid, will invest $450-500m in the |
| growth figures for various segments of acrylic acid | | | | development of the acrylic complex in order to raise |
| consumption: 3.6% per year for acrylates and 5% per | | | | production capacity to 60K mt/y of vinylformic acid. |
| year for superabsorbents. | | | | Current capacity of acrylic complex in Dzerzhinsk is |
| Despite the fact that many companies decided to | | | | 25K mt/y of acrylic acid of "E" grade (0.5% of world |
| postpone or abandon the construction of new | | | | output), 4.5K mt/y of methyl acrylate, 31K mt/y of |
| production facilities, some units will be commissioned in | | | | butylacrylate. |
| the coming years. Thus, BASF plans to increase its | | | | According to the European Basic Acrylic Monomer |
| existing production capacities for acrylic acid and | | | | Group (EBAM), acrylic esters are the main product |
| superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in Antwerp and for | | | | derived from propenoic acid. They account for 55% of |
| butylacrylate in Ludwigshafen. The decision came in | | | | global demand. Ethylenecarboxylic acid serves as an |
| response to existing as well as new long-term supplier | | | | industrial intermediate product, i.e. it is either processed |
| agreements, in most cases with strategic customers. | | | | directly into a polyacrylate or polymerised via the |
| BASF intends to use latest technology to improve its | | | | intermediate stage of an acrylate ester. Furthermore, |
| competitiveness and strengthen its global market | | | | acrylic acid is used as an ingredient and occurs as |
| leadership in this area. | | | | residual monomer in consumer products like adhesives, |
| According to Gerard E. Tarzia, Rohm and Haas vice | | | | paints, binding agents and printing inks. |
| president and business unit director, acrylic acid is one | | | | About half of the crude acroleic acid is processed to |
| of the fastest growing commodity chemicals, with | | | | purified (glacial) acrylic acid, which is further processed |
| worldwide demand increasing at about four percent | | | | both on-site (captive use) and by external |
| per year. He indicates that fuelled by its use in | | | | downstream users. The other half of crude propenoic |
| everything from water-based paints and sealants to | | | | acid is transformed into various acrylate esters at the |
| super-absorbent polymers and detergent additives, a | | | | production sites. Identical to glacial Vinylformic acid, |
| new world-scale 2-propenoic acid plant must be built | | | | these acrylic esters serve as commercial products, |
| every year, on average, to keep up with demand. And | | | | which are further processed both on-site and by |
| with worldwide demand for acrylic acid at about 7.5 | | | | external downstream users. Glacial acrylic acid is used |
| billion pounds, the cost savings alone by using a | | | | in the manufacture of superabsorbing polymers (SAP), |
| significantly less expensive key raw material would | | | | which account for 32% of the global demand for |
| revolutionize the industry. Currently, the largest plants of | | | | acrylic acid. |
| acrylic acid belong to "Rohm and Haas" (Deer Park, | | | | Acrylic acid and basic alkyl esters (methyl, ethyl, butyl |
| USA) - 580 thous. ton/year and "BASF" | | | | and 2-ethylhexyl esters) are used for the manufacture |
| (Ludwigshafen, Germany) - 270 thous. ton/year. | | | | of polymer dispersions, adhesives, super absorbent |
| Russia is devoid of modern and ecologically-safe | | | | polymers, flocculants, detergents, varnishes, fibres and |
| production of Acroleic acid and its products. The | | | | plastics as well as chemical intermediates. |
| Russian market demand for acrylic products is | | | | |