The US market for sizing and thickening agents will grow five percent annually through 2006. Foods and beverages and paper and paperboard production -- the two largest markets -- will both grow at above-average rates. Hydrocolloids, synthetic polymers and other multifunctional thickeners will outpace commodity products such as clays and starches.

This study analyzes the $4.4 billion US sizing and thickening agent industry. It presents historical data for 1992, 1996 and 2001 and forecasts to 2006 and 2011 by product (e.g., starches, rosin, polyvinyl chloride, styrene, alkenyl succinic anhydride, alkyl ketene dimer, clays, silicas, cellulose thickeners, gums, gelatin, alginates, carrageenan, pectin); and by market.

The study also examines the market environment, details industry structure and market share, and profiles 51 companies active in the industry including Hercules, CP Kelco, Archer-Daniels-Midland, FMC, and Cargill.

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                    
  
  SECTION                                                          PAGE
  
  
         INTRODUCTION                                                ix
         
   I.    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                            1
  
  II.    MARKET ENVIRONMENT                                           4
         General                                                      4
         Macroeconomic Overview                                       5
         Demographic Trends                                           7
         Consumer Spending Activity                                   9
         Manufacturing Outlook                                       11
         Historical Trends                                           12
         Pricing Considerations                                      15
         Regulatory, Environmental & Health Considerations           16
         Foreign Trade                                               20
         International Activity                                      22
           
 III.    SIZES & THICKENERS MARKETS                                  24
         General                                                     24
         Food & Beverages                                            26
           Food & Beverages Industry Overview                        26
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 29
         Paper & Paperboard                                          32
           Paper & Paperboard Industry Overview                      32
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 34
         Cosmetics & Toiletries                                      37
           Cosmetics & Toiletries Industry Overview                  37
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 39
         Paints & Coatings                                           41
           Paints & Coatings Industry Overview                       42
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 44
         Pharmaceuticals                                             46
           Pharmaceuticals Industry Overview                         47
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 48
         Textiles & Fibers                                           50
           Textile Industry Overview                                 50
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 51
         Drilling Fluids       					     53
           Oil & Gas Industry Overview                               53
           Sizes & Thickeners Demand                                 55
         Other Markets                                               58
  
  IV.    SIZING AGENTS                                               61
         General                                                     61
         Natural Sizing Agents                                       62
           Starches                                                  63
              Modified Starches                                      65
              Unmodified Starches                                    67
           Rosin & Other Natural Sizes                               69
              Rosin                                                  70
              Other                                                  71
         Synthetic Sizing Agents                                     72
           Synthetic Copolymers                                      73
              Polyvinyl Alcohol                                      74
              Styrene & Other Copolymers                             76
           Cellulose Reactive Sizes                                  77
              Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride                             79
              Alkyl Ketene Dimer                                     80
              Other Cellulose Reactive Sizes                         82
           Other Synthetic Sizes                                     83
                
   V.    THICKENING AGENTS                                           84
         General                                                     84
         Demand by Type                                              85
         Demand by Market                                            88
         Mineral Thickeners                                          91
           Clays                                                     92
           Silicas                                                   95
         Hydrocolloids                                               97
           Starches                                                 100
           Cellulosic Thickeners                                    104
              Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose                        106
              Methyl Cellulose                                      107
              Hydroxyethyl Cellulose                                108
              Microcrystalline Cellulose                            110
              Other Cellulosic Thickeners			    110
           Gums                                                     111
              Guar Gum                                              113
              Xanthan                                               114
              Gum Arabic                                            116
              Other Gums                                            118
           Gelatin                                                  119
           Alginates                                                121
           Carrageenan   					    123
           Pectin                                                   126
           Other Hydrocolloid Thickeners                            128
         Synthetic Polymeric Thickeners                             132
         Other Thickeners                                           134
           
  VI.    INDUSTRY STRUCTURE                                         136
         General                                                    136
         Market Share                                               140
         Industry Restructuring                                     143
         Cooperative Agreements                                     147
         Marketing & Distribution                                   150
         Research & Development                                     151
         Competitive Strategies                                     151
         Company Profiles                                           153
           Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated                  154
           Akzo-PC Silica, see PQ
           Akzo Nobel NV                                            156
           Albemarle Corporation                                    160
           Alco Chemical, see Imperial Chemical Industries             
           Aqualon, see Hercules Incorporated                          
           Archer-Daniels-Midland Company                           161
           Arizona Chemical, see International Paper Company           
           Ashland Incorporated                                     163
           Atlantic Gelatin, see Kraft Foods
           Atofina Chemicals Incorporated, see Total Fina Elf
           AVEBE BA                                                 165
           Bayer AG   				                    167
           Cabot Corporation                                        169
           Cargill Incorporated					    170
           Celanese AG   					    172
           Cerestar SA, see Cargill
           Ciba Specialty Chemicals Incorporated                    173
           Clariant International Limited                           176
           Cognis GmbH                                              179
           Cook Composites and Polymers, see Total Fina Elf
           Croda International plc                                  183
           Cytec Industries Incorporated                            184
           Danisco A/S                                              186
           Degussa AG                                               189
           DGF Stoess Group of Companies                            195
           Dow Chemical Company                                     197
           DuPont (EI) de Nemours                                   200
           Dynagel Incorporated, see DGF Stoess
           Eastman Chemical Company                                 202
           Eka Chemicals North America, see Akzo Nobel NV              
           FMC Corporation                                          204
           Gelita Group, see DGF Stoess Group of Companies             
           Georgia-Pacific Corporation                              207
           Germantown International Limited, see Danisco
           Glucona America, see AVEBE
           Goldschmidt AG, see Degussa                                 
           Goodman Fielder Limited                                  209
           Goodrich (BF) Performance Materials, see Noveon
           Grace (WR) & Company                                     211
           Grain Processing Corporation                             212
           Harima Chemicals Incorporated                            214
           Henkel KGaA                                              215
           Hercules Incorporated                                    216
           Hopton Technologies Incorporated, see Akzo Nobel
           Huber (JM) Corporation                                   221
           Imperial Chemical Industries plc                         222
           International Paper Company                              228
           International Specialty Products Incorporated            229
           ITAL SA, see Degussa
           Jungbunzlauer AG                                         231
           Kelco (CP) ApS                                           232
           Kind & Knox Gelatine Incorporated, see DGF Stoess
           Kraft Foods Incorporated                                 234
           Laporte plc, see Degussa                                    
           Leiner Davis Gelatin USA, see Goodman Fielder
           Monsanto Company, see Pharmacia
           Montedison SpA                                           235
           National Starch and Chemical, see Imperial Chemical         
           Norsk Hydro ASA                                          236
           Noveon Incorporated                                      237
           Noviant Oy, see Huber
           ONDEO Nalco Company, see Suez
           Penford Corporation                                      239
           Penn Carbose Incorporated                                241
           Pharmacia Corporation                                    242
           Plasmine Technology, see Harima Chemicals
           PPG Industries Incorporated                              243
           PQ Corporation                                           244
           Quest International NV, see Imperial Chemical
           Raisio Group                                             245
           Rhodia SA                                                247
           Rohm and Haas Company                                    250
           Sartomer, see Total Fina Elf
           SKW Trostberg AG, see Degussa
           Solavista GmbH, see AVEBE                                   
           Staley (AE) Manufacturing Company, see Tate & Lyle
           Starch Australasia Limited, see Penford
           Suez SA                                                  253
           Surfactants America, see Akzo Nobel NV                      
           Tate & Lyle plc                                          255
           Tego Chemie Service GmbH, see Degussa
           TIC Gums Incorporated                                    257
           Total Fina Elf SA                                        259
           Union Carbide Corporation, see Dow Chemical 
           Uniqema, see Imperial Chemical Industries plc
           Vinamul Polymers, see Imperial Chemical Industries          
           Wolff Walsrode, see Bayer AG
           Additional Companies Mentioned in Study                  261                     



			        LIST OF TABLES
                                   
                                    

    TABLE NUMBER      				                   PAGE
  
              SECTION I
              Summary Table                                           3
  
              SECTION II
    1         Macroeconomic Indicators                                7
    2         Demographic Indicators                                  8
    3         Personal Consumption Expenditures                      10
    4         Manufacturers' Shipments                               12
    5         Sizes & Thickeners Historical Trends, 1992-2001        14
    6         Sizes & Thickeners Pricing                             16
  
              SECTION III
    1         Sizes & Thickeners Markets                             25
    2         Food & Beverage Industry Shipments                     29
    3         Food & Beverage Markets for Sizes & Thickeners         31
    4         Paper & Paperboard Production                          34
    5         Paper & Paperboard Markets for Sizes & Thickeners
                by Type & Product                                    36
    6         Cosmetics & Toiletries Shipments                       39
    7         Cosmetics & Toiletries Markets for Sizes & Thickeners  41
    8         Paints & Coatings Shipments                            44
    9         Paints & Coatings Markets for Sizes & Thickeners       46
   10         Pharmaceutical Shipments                               48
   11         Pharmaceuticals Markets for Sizes & Thickeners         49
   12         Textile Industry Shipments                             51
   13         Textile & Fiber Markets for Sizes & Thickeners         52
   14         Oil & Gas Industry Indicators                          55
   15         Drilling Fluid Markets for Sizes & Thickeners          58
   16         Other Markets for Sizes & Thickeners                   60
  
              SECTION IV
    1         Sizing Agents Demand                                   62
    2         Natural Sizing Agents Demand                           63
    3         Starch Sizing Agents Demand                            65
    4         Modified Starches Demand                               67
    5         Unmodified Starches Demand                             68
    6         Rosin & Other Natural Sizes Demand                     69
    7         Rosin Sizes Demand                                     71
    8         Other Natural Sizes Demand			     72
    9         Synthetic Sizing Agents Demand                         73
   10         Synthetic Copolymer Sizes Demand                       74
   11         Polyvinyl Alcohol Sizes Demand                         75
   12         Styrene & Other Synthetic Copolymer Sizes Demand       77
   13         Cellulose Reactive Sizes Demand                        79
   14         Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride Sizes Demand                80
   15         Alkyl Ketene Dimer Sizes Demand                        81
   16         Other Cellulose Reactive Sizes Demand                  82
   17         Other Synthetic Sizes Demand                           83
  
              SECTION V
    1         Thickeners Demand by Product                           86
    2         Thickeners Demand by Market                            89
    3         Mineral Thickeners Demand                              92
    4         Clay Thickeners Demand                                 94
    5         Silica Thickeners Demand                               97
    6         Hydrocolloid Thickeners Demand                         99
    7         Starch Thickeners Demand                              103
    8         Cellulosic Thickeners Demand                          105
    9         Gum Thickeners Demand                                 112
   10         Gelatin Thickeners Demand                             121
   11         Alginate Thickeners Demand                            123
   12         Carrageenan Thickeners Demand                         126
   13         Pectin Thickeners Demand                              128
   14         Other Hydrocolloid Thickeners Demand                  131
   15         Synthetic Polymeric Thickeners Demand                 133
   16         Other Thickeners Demand                               135
  
              SECTION VI
    1         US Sizes & Thickeners Sales by Company, 2001          138
    2         Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures                  145
    3         Selected Cooperative Agreements                       149
  
  
  
                              LIST OF CHARTS
                                   
    CHART NUMBER				                   PAGE
  
  
              SECTION II
    1         Sizes & Thickeners Historical Trends, 1992-2001        14
  
              SECTION III 
    1         Sizes & Thickeners Demand by Market, 2001              26
  
              SECTION V
    1         Thickeners Demand by Type, 2001                        87
    2         Thickeners Demand by Market, 2001                      90
    3         Hydrocolloid Thickeners Demand, 2001                  100
  
              SECTION VI
    1         Sizes & Thickeners Market Share by Company, 2001      143