Publications

Citation

(2012), "Publications", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 41 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2012.12941baa.021

Publications

Article Type: Conferences, training and publications From: Pigment & Resin Technology, Volume 41, Issue 2

New Energy: Fertilizer Market is Growing

Fertilizers are vital nutrients necessary for all plants. They are essential for high-yield harvest. In 2010, about one quarter of all fertilizers used in Europe were applied on grassland for feeding.

Increasing sales – especially in Eastern Europe

According to the market research institute Ceresana Research, the European fertilizer market will grow to €15.3 billion by 2018. With a roughly 15 percent share, France is forecasted to be the largest sales market in 2018, followed by Russia and Germany. So far, only small amounts of fertilizers are used in Eastern Europe. This is why we expect fertilizer demand in this region to increase in future. In addition, the slow shifting from small farms to large-scale farms is leading to rising demand for fertilizers.

Food and energy challenges

“Increases in agricultural production and rapid population growth have become major issues of concern,” says Oliver Kutsch, CEO of Ceresana: “Moreover, rising prosperity in emerging countries like China, Brazil and India is resulting in changes in dietary habits. Rising meat consumption requires more grain, and therefore increases in fertilizer use”.

Furthermore, bioenergy sources continue gaining importance, with oil fruits and energy maize as the most popular varieties. Ceresana forecasts that especially the sales of fertilizers for energy maize will increase over the next years. The fertilizer use for oil fruits is anticipated to see above-average increases in rapeseed production as well as in sunflower and soy production in the Mediterranean area.

In contrast, the importance of sugar beet cultivation is declining further. While sugar production accounted for about 3.4 percent of European fertilizer demand in 2002, this share is expected to drop to 3 percent by 2018. However, this trend is weakened by more intensive fertilizer application, above all in Eastern Europe.

The study in brief

Manufacturers, suppliers and processors use our in-depth overview and analyses of the market: three fertilizer types (nitrogen, phosphate and potash), eight application areas and 30 country profiles. Additionally, Ceresana provides a clearly-arranged list of producers, including 72 profiles of fertilizer manufacturers. The comprehensive report offers you a clear understanding of the fertilizer industry. It comprises more than 450 pages, 129 colored graphs and 206 tables. An eight-year review as well as price, revenue and demand forecasts up to 2018 – split by application areas, fertilizer types, and countries – provide the information and tools to help you make important business decisions.

For further information, please visit the web site: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/chemicals/fertilizers

Indian Summer for the Chemical Industry – Chemical Industry is Optimistic – CIM Barometer at 12.6 Points

Our autumn survey reveals an optimistic business climate in highly competitive markets. Growing competition and considerable increases in research and development expenditures will dominate global chemical markets during the next months.

Chemical industry still on track for growth

In spite of macro-economically uncertain times and the gloomy mood in many other industrial sectors, the chemical and plastic industries are optimistic about the last quarter 2011. About 40 percent of the participants in the Ceresana Industry Monitor (CIM) asses their business situation in September as good. Only 10 percent evaluate their business situation as poor. Large companies (turnover of more than €500 million) assess their situation more often as good than small companies.

Almost one quarter of all surveyed companies anticipate their business situation will change for the worse over the next six to 12 months. In contrast, more than 43 percent expect an improvement. Petrochemical and manufacturers of plastics and elastomers have particularly positive expectations.

There is no evidence of a downturn in the chemical industry: almost 80 percent of those companies which evaluated their current business situation as good do not expect this will change for the worse. Despite a uniformly positive mood, there are considerable regional differences in the assessment of business situation and outlook. For example, the business situation in Asia is expected to see particularly positive development.

Increase in staff expenses

Nearly 60 percent of all surveyed companies expect demand for their products will rise over the next months. This is why the positive outlook for employees it is not surprising: 35 percent of the respondents want to increase staff expenses; only 14 percent plan cutbacks. A satisfying end of the year seems to be around the corner.

Innovations and cooperations

The chemical industry shows its green side: numerous decision-makers regard renewable energies as a profitable and promising business. Chemical companies evaluate the field of transport and mobility as important as environmental protection when asked about their most important future markets.

Research and development (R&D) is of outstanding importance for chemical companies. However, the autumn survey results revealed that more companies are willing to increase their marketing expenses than R&D expenditures. Universities are not the only sought-after R&D cooperation partners. Plastic processors have also often established R&D cooperation agreements with clients.

CIM barometer measures 12.6 points

The CIM Barometer reflects the current business climate of the surveyed chemical and plastic companies at a glance. The present business situation achieves 14.9 points; expectations register 10.2 points. The resulting business climate is at 12.6 points. We expect the chemical industry – which is still in a very good state – will experience a slight cooling-off.

Business situation, expectations and the resulting barometer (business climate) are shown on a scale from −50 to +50. Positive figures indicate a good business climate; figures below 0 points suggest a downturn is ahead.

For further information, please visit the web site: www.ceresana.com/en/cim/

Ceresana industry monitor – methodology

The CIM analyzes the business climate of the global chemical and plastic industry. Individuals selected from a pool of more than 18,000 companies are asked to participate in our surveys every three months. The survey was answered by decision-makers from 40 countries.

In order to provide a representative overall picture, companies and associations of all sizes were asked about their current business situation, expectations and evaluations. This allows for detecting future market trends but also opportunities and challenges on time.

The detailed results can be obtained exclusively from Ceresana Research. The results offer a general overview of the chemical industry as well as detailed analyses of four industrial sectors: Petrochemical, plastic and elastomer manufacturers, plastic and elastomer processors, specialty and fine chemistry as well as paints, varnishes and adhesives. Survey participants will get these in-depths reports for free.

Quality Advantage Through Fillers – A Multi-Billion Market on Track for Growth

Manufacturers and processors of fillers in the Asia-Pacific, South America and Eastern Europe benefit from large mineral deposits that can be exploited at low costs and from dynamics in their downstream industries, such as plastics, rubbers, papers, paints and varnishes, as well as adhesives and sealants.

Product analyses

Developments in the demand for individual types of fillers, such as ground or precipitated calcium carbonate (GCC and PCC), carbon black, kaolin and talc, vary from region to region. While Europe will see the use of PCC increase the most, the recovery of the rubber industry in North America is generating stronger demand for carbon black. In the other world regions, the most widely used GCC fillers will continue to see the biggest gains.

The study in brief

Manufacturers, traders and processors profit from Ceresana’s in-depth presentations and analyses of all important data and facts: 21 types of fillers as well as profiles on 26 countries, seven regions and five application areas. Additionally, Ceresana provides a clearly-arranged list of producers, including 339 profiles of filler manufacturers. The reference volume comprises over 1,000 pages, 132 colored graphs and 160 tables. The extensive report offers you the decisive advantage in knowledge by providing eight-year reviews as well as price, revenue and demand forecasts – split by application areas – up to 2018.

For further information, please visit the web site: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/additives/fillers-new/

About Ceresana Research

Ceresana Research is one of the world’s leading industrial market research institutions. Companies, institutions and associations from more than 45 countries have already profited from our global market data and well-founded prognoses. Our core competencies include chemicals + plastics + additives + commodities + materials + industrial components + packaging + construction materials.

Visit us at: www.ceresana.com/en