Polyamide consumption

The most prominent aliphatic polyamides are polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6. Polyamides are used in a broad range of applications as performance polymers in medicine, textile, and car manufacturing industries. In 2003, the European production ofpolyamides was approximately 3 million tons for technical applications. Of the total polyamide consumption, 94% was polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6. 

PA 11 and PA 12 are more flexible, have a better behaviour at low temperature and are less sensitive to water and moisture but are more expensive. Their market share is only a few percent of the total polyamide consumption. 

PA 66 is the oldest, the best known, the most used, with probably more than 70% of the total polyamide consumption, and is among the cheapest. 

As briefly menfioned in section 10.2.1, polyamides are selected for their performance and thus specific properties with only a minor price pressure. In recent years, the automotive market has evolved to become the single largest application field for moulded polyamides. They are selected for their excellent resistance to chemicals (such as gasoline and other petroleum products) and the environment (such as water and light) plus their relatively high temperature stability. Much of the growth mentioned in section 10.1.2 is derived directly from this market to the point that the total polyamide consumption is stipulated and almost dependent on the success of new car and tmck production. 

Other fillers with significant shares of the world market in plastics are wollastonite (4%) and mica (2%), both chiefly in PP and polyamides. Consumption patterns for mica vary from region to region. Only about 5,000 tonnes of (mainly) dry ground mica was consumed in plastics in the US in 2002, which represents a mere 5% of total US consumption. 

For the period 2002-2007, world polyamide consumption is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of between 4-5%, which is somewhat lower than recent historical growth trends. Lower world economic growth and maturing markets are the main factors restraining future growth... 

Table 4.8 Percentage share of world polyamide consumption by region, 1999-2002 ...

Table 4.9 shows percentage share of total world polyamide consumption by market sector for the period 1999-2002. 

Table 5.2 shows polyamide consumption in automotive applications by world region for the period 1999-2002. 

In 2002, total polyamide consumption in automotive applications was 660,000 tonnes against 638,000 tonnes in 1999. Market tonnage declined in 2001 due to the contraction in world automotive production, but then recovered in 2002, particularly in Western Europe. North American consumption of polyamide fell sharpest in 2001, as car production was down by around 15%. 

Table 6.4 Polyamide consumption in E E applications by world region, 1999-2002 (000 tonnes) ...

In 2002, the industrial sector accounted for 7% of total polyamide consumption. 

In 2002, consumer products accounted for 11% of total polyamide consumption. 

In 2002, total polyamide consumption in consumer product markets amounted to 215,000 tonnes against 201,000 tonnes in 1999. World consumption increased by around 8% in 2000, but then declined in 2001 due to the downturn in world economic activity. In 2002, there was a strong recovery in demand across all major world regions, except Japan. 

In 2002, other markets accoimted for 24% of total world polyamide consumption. 

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