| Demand for polyamide polymer and compounds in China reached 511,000 tonnes at the processor level in 2007 and is expected to grow to 758,000 tonnes in 2010.
According to a study by Tony Jones of UK-based AWJ Consulting, the PA market in China grew by an average 15% per annum in the last three years. It is forecasting growth of 13.9% per annum in the next three years.
Injection moulding accounted for 82% of PA demand in the country last year, with the electrical/electronics sector taking almost 50% of the total tonnage processed.
Automotive applications had a 16% share of the injection moulded PA market and “it is undoubtedly the fastest growing sector”, the study said.
Passenger car production in China increased by 100% during 2003-2006 and grew another 23% in 2007. The volume weight of PA per car made in China is also set to increase from its current level of 7-8kg, which lags far behind the levels of cars made in the west.
The study also looked at the suppliers to the Chinese market. In PA6, Melda is the largest Chinese producer, estimated at 40,000 tonnes capacity in 2007. But DSM is to bring on stream a 50,000tpa plant, mainly targeted at film converters.
Imports of PA6 accounted for 64% of the 315,000 tonnes of demand in 2007, said AWJ. For PA66, import penetration was even higher, at 86% of the 193,000 tonnes of demand last year.
Shenma is the largest Chinese producer of PA66, the study said.
Jones, who recently set up AWJ Consulting, has spent his career in the plastics industry in technical moulding and market research capacities. |
