Market shares

This product, given the abbreviation FOD (fuel-oil domestique) in France, still held a considerable market share there of 17 Mt in 1993. However, since 1973 when its consumption reached 37 Mt, FOD has seen its demand shrink gradually owing to development of nuclear energy and electric heating. FOD also faces strong competition with natural gas. Nevertheless, its presence in the French, European and worldwide petroleum balance will still be strong beyond tbe year 2000. 

Fig. 20. U.S. market share for several types of mixed fertilizer, where (—) represents bulk blends (-) ammoniation—granulation and ( ) fluids.

Table 6 shows the sales estimates for principal film and sheet products for the year 1990 (14). Low density polyethylene films dominate the market in volume, followed by polystyrene and the vinyls. High density polyethylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polypropylene are close in market share and complete the primary products. A number of specialty resins are used to produce 25,000—100,000 t of film or sheet, and then there are a large number of high priced, high performance materials that serve niche markets. The original clear film product, ceUophane, has faUen to about 25,000 t in the United States, with only one domestic producer. Table 7 Hsts some of the principal film and sheet material manufacturers in the United States.

Outside of the United States, there are six primary producers in China, France, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, and Spain. Mines in Newfoundland, Canada, were closed in 1990. Both Mexico and South Africa have lost market share to China which has high grade, low cost fluorspar. China is expected to dominate world markets because reserves are vast and production cost is low. Table 3 (2) shows a Hst of world producers by country of fluorspar in the early 1990s. 

After 10 years of unabated rapid growth in the plenum wire and cable market, fluoropolymers including PVDE, primarily the flexible VDE/HEP copolymer, are beginning to lose market share to lower priced PVC-akoys. The loss of market share in the plenum market probably wkl be compensated by growth of PVDE in other fields thus during the mid-1990s the total volume of PVDE may not grow (188). 

Consumption of polyurethane foam in bedding reached a maximum in 1978 and has since declined. The innerspring mattress has remained the standard in the United States whereas aH-foam mattresses have gained a dominant market share in Europe. 

Although the ratios have varied from year to year since 1979, the selective herbicides used in com production have accounted for approximately 21% of herbicide use on a per crop basis (24). Herbicide use in soybean and cotton production combined account for ca 23% of the selective herbicide market. Graminicides, which selectively kill grasses, constitute 40% of the total market, leaving a market share of approximately 16% for the nonselective herbicides. 

The consumer industries involved and the market share of hydraikic fluids used therein include the following (13) ... 

Generally it can be said that optical systems will assume an ever increasing market share (depending on the achievement of uniform standards) of the data storage market which is currently dominated by magnetic systems. Additionally they will advance iato new appHcations. Up to the end of the twentieth century, complementary technologies rather than a conflict between optical and magnetic mass memories are likely. 

The world ink industry had total sales estimated to be about 10.5 biUion in 1992. The United States had about 32% (by weight) of world sales with the remaining portion spHt between Asia and Europe/Africa. Japan has about 22% market share, Germany has 10%, and the U.K., Italy, and Erance each have 5%. The remaining share is spHt among many other countries. 

Laminated windshields, as opposed to tempered glass windshields, are gaining in market share outside of North America. From 37% of the non-North American market of 1976, they were estimated to have reached 75% by 1982 (13). In addition to North America, Belgium, Italy, and the Scandinavian countries permit only laminated windshields, and other nations are increasing use by customer option. The trend toward laminated windshields is expected to continue and nonlaminated windshields will likely be obsolete by the year 2000 (14). 

R—Co alloys 18%, NdFeB 4%, Alnicos 11%, and others 2%. Because of the superior magnetic properties and cost advantage, the market share of NdFeB magnets had increased to 16% by 1990. 

A researcher studying a specialty chemical business or a specific specialty chemical company should pay particular attention to these nidiments innovative talents, service faciUties and performance, marketing abiUties, and responsiveness to customer needs. Of these, the last may be the key criterion in most cases. A company that frequendy is first with the solution to a customer s problem (even if the solution is sometimes less than perfect) usually holds the customer and a dominant market share against future competition. 

Some 98% of all these light sources are used for tobacco products and although disposable lighters continue to gain market share from matches, the overall lights market has begun to decline. Annual sales for the U.S. match industry in 1992 were approximately 60 x 10 . ... 

Reverse Osmosis. This was the first membrane-based separation process to be commercialized on a significant scale. The breakthrough discovery that made reverse osmosis (qv) possible was the development of the Loeb-Sourirajan asymmetric cellulose acetate membrane. This membrane made desalination by reverse osmosis practical within a few years commercial plants were installed. The total worldwide market for reverse osmosis membrane modules is about 200 million /yr, spHt approximately between 25% hoUow-ftber and 75% spiral-wound modules. The general trend of the industry is toward spiral-wound modules for this appHcation, and the market share of the hoUow-ftber products is gradually falling (72). 

Formaldehyde. Worldwide, the largest amount of formaldehyde (qv) is consumed in the production of urea—formaldehyde resins, the primary end use of which is found in building products such as plywood and particle board (see Amino resins and plastics). The demand for these resins, and consequently methanol, is greatly influenced by housing demand. In the United States, the greatest market share for formaldehyde is again in the constmction industry. However, a fast-growing market for formaldehyde can be found in the production of acetylenic chemicals, which is driven by the demand for 1,4-butanediol and its subsequent downstream product, spandex fibers (see Fibers, elastomeric). 

Commercial production of PE resias with densities of 0.925 and 0.935 g/cm was started ia 1968 ia the United States by Phillips Petroleum Co. Over time, these resias, particularly LLDPE, became large volume commodity products. Their combiaed worldwide productioa ia 1994 reached 13 X 10 metric t/yr, accouatiag for some 30% market share of all PE resias ia the year 2000, LLDPE productioa is expected to iacrease by 50%. A aew type of LLDPE, compositioaaHy uniform ethylene—a-olefin copolymers produced with metallocene catalysts, was first introduced by Exxon Chemical Company in 1990. The initial production volume was 13,500 t/yr but its growth has been rapid indeed, in 1995 its combiaed production by several companies exceeded 800,000 tons. 

Worldwide capacity for oxo process chemicals reached 7.0 x 10 metric tons at the start of 1990 (35). Market share for oxo chemicals is divided between Western Europe (36%), the United States (30%), Eastern Europe (12%), Japan (10%), other Asian countries (8%), and South America and Mexico (4%). U.S. 0X0 manufacturers, products, and capacities are given ia Table 2. 

The principal market segments for thermoplastic elastomers in 1987 were reported to have the various market shares as shown in Table 16 (204). Table 16. Market Share of Polyesterether Elastomers in 1987, %... 

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