Published December 2022
Isophthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid industrially produced by the oxidation of m-xylene. Commercially, it is used primarily as a component of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) copolymer, which is used in bottle resins and, to a much lesser extent, for fibers. Isophthalic acid reduces the crystallinity of PET, which serves to improve clarity and increase the productivity of bottle-making. Isophthalic acid’s second major use is as a component of high-quality alkyds and polyester resins for industrial coatings and unsaturated polyesters for fiberglass-reinforced plastics applications.
Due to the small number of producers, PIA has had imbalances in the past. However, since 2019, there have been investments in m-xylene; new capacity is due to come onstream in India by the end of 2023. Therefore, the PIA market should remain amply supplied for the next few years. Moreover, the current high energy prices have dampened short-term growth expectations in Europe and North America.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of isophthalic acid:
Despite recent capacity additions, mainland China is still not self-sufficient in isophthalic acid, and meets almost 40% of its domestic demand through imports. LOTTE Chemical in South Korea is the major exporter of isophthalic acid into mainland China, whereas FCFC from Taiwan has recently set up new capacity in mainland China to better serve the mainland Chinese market. Other major consumers of isophthalic acid are the EMEA region and North America.
The best prospects for growth in PIA consumption are Asian markets such as mainland China; however, India and the Middle East and Africa are also expected to show strong growth, mainly as a result of increases in the production of PET bottle resin. In other regions, consumption will also grow, but more moderately. Particularly in Europe and North America, downstream demand from the PET resin market may be dampened by the trend toward recycled PET. However, the overall global market is expected to continue to grow at a rate of 4–5%.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Isophthalic Acid and meta-Xylene is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including
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