Natural Polymers

As Quoted In Cosmetics and Toiletries

Growth will stem from ongoing trends favoring natural ingredients like cellulose ethers and vegetable gums in food and beverages, and for guar gums used in oilfield drilling and stimulation fluids.

US demand to rise 6.9% annually through 2016

US demand for natural polymers is forecast to expand at a strong 6.9 percent annual pace to $4.6 billion in 2016, reaching 1.7 billion pounds. Growth will stem from continued trends favoring natural ingredients in the large food and beverage industry. In particular, this will support demand for cellulose ethers, as well as natural gums. A favorable outlook for oilfield drilling will bode well for guar gum and other natural polymers that are used as additives in drilling and stimulation (fracturing) fluids. However, growth will continue to be impacted by the climatic and political uncertainties associated with natural products, especially those such as guar gum and gum arabic, which are derived from plants that are grown only in certain parts of the world. For these products, the US depends on foreign sources to satisfy domestic requirements, and therefore imports will continue to account for a substantial share of overall demand.

Methyl cellulose to lead cellulose ethers segment

Cellulose ethers represent the single largest natural polymer type, accounting for over one-third of the market. Methyl cellulose will continue to lead the category, although demand for microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) will also be significant. Methyl cellulose is widely used in construction materials such as grouts, mortar, plaster, and stucco, and will therefore benefit from a notable rebound in construction activity following the declines associated with the housing crisis and economic downturn that held down demand between 2006 and 2011. The improving construction outlook will also fuel rapid growth for HEC, which is utilized primarily in water-based paint.

Exudate and vegetable gums to grow the fastest

Exudate and vegetable gums are projected to enjoy the most rapid gains through 2016, with guar gum accounting for the vast majority of growth. This will nevertheless represent a deceleration from the stellar gains achieved between 2001 and 2011, when demand for guar gum skyrocketed due to the rising use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the US oil and gas industry.

Increased demand, combined with the limited availability of this material -- which is derived from a plant grown mainly in India and Pakistan -- resulted in strong upward pricing pressure in recent years. This, in turn, caused users to seek out substitutes for guar gum. However, there are currently few alternatives available that are capable of providing comparable performance at a low cost. While efforts to develop such materials are ongoing, demand for guar gum will continue to expand strongly going forward.

Study Scope

This study analyzes the US natural polymer industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006 and 2011, and forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by market (e.g., medical, food and beverages, oilfield, construction, cosmetics and toiletries, adhesives, packaging, paint and ink) and product (e.g., cellulose ethers, starch and fermentation products, exudate and vegetable gums, marine polymers, natural phenolics and polyphenols). The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles industry players.

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  1. Natural Polymers

    $4,900.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $95.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $130.00

      1. Table | NATURAL POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $1,233.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $82.00

      2. 3.2 Macroeconomic Outlook

        $142.00

        1. Table | MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS (billion 2005 dollars)

      3. 3.3 Demographic Trends

        $161.00

        1. Table | POPULATION & HOUSEHOLDS (million persons)

      4. 3.4 Consumer Income & Spending

        $114.00

        1. Table | PERSONAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES (billion 2005 dollars)

      5. 3.5 Manufacturing Outlook

        $153.00

        1. Table | MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS (billion 2005 dollars)

      6. 3.6 Competitive Materials

        $82.00

      7. 3.7 Pricing

        $100.00

        1. Table | SELECTED NATURAL POLYMER PRICES (dollars per pound)

      8. 3.8 Environmental & Regulatory Considerations

        $319.00

        1. 3.8.1 Food & Beverages

          $89.00

        2. 3.8.2 Cosmetic & Toiletry Chemicals

          $84.00

        3. 3.8.3 Pharmaceuticals

          $82.00

        4. 3.8.4 Other

          $93.00

      9. 3.9 International Activity

        $82.00

      10. 3.10 Foreign Trade

        $82.00

        1. Table | NATURAL POLYMER FOREIGN TRADE (million dollars)

    4. 4 MARKETS

      $3,263.00

      1. 4.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | NATURAL POLYMER DEMAND BY MARKET (million dollars)

      2. 4.2 Food & Beverages

        $600.00

        1. 4.2.1 Food & Beverage Industry Overview

          $118.00

          1. Table | FOOD & BEVERAGE SHIPMENTS (billion dollars)

        2. 4.2.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $454.00

          1. Table | FOOD & BEVERAGE DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS BY APPLICATION & PRODUCT (million dollars)

          2. Table | CONFECTION & BAKED GOODS DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

          3. Table | DAIRY & DESSERT DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

          4. Table | OTHER FOOD & BEVERAGE DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

      3. 4.3 Medical

        $384.00

        1. 4.3.1 Pharmaceuticals Overview

          $82.00

          1. Table | PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY & DEMAND

        2. 4.3.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $294.00

          1. Table | MEDICAL DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS BY APPLICATION & PRODUCT (million dollars)

      4. 4.4 Oilfield

        $501.00

        1. 4.4.1 Petroleum & Natural Gas Industry Overview

          $143.00

          1. Table | OIL & GAS PRODUCTION

        2. 4.4.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $339.00

          1. Table | OILFIELD DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS BY PRODUCT (million dollars)

      5. 4.5 Cosmetics & Toiletries

        $355.00

        1. 4.5.1 Cosmetic & Toiletry Industry Overview

          $108.00

          1. Table | COSMETIC & TOILETRY SUPPLY & DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 4.5.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $228.00

          1. Table | COSMETIC & TOILETRY DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS (million dollars)

      6. 4.6 Paint & Inks

        $192.00

        1. 4.6.1 Paint & Ink Industry Overview

          $82.00

          1. Table | PAINT & PRINTING INK INDICATORS

        2. 4.6.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $110.00

          1. Table | PAINT & INK DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS (million dollars)

      7. 4.7 Construction

        $220.00

        1. 4.7.1 Building Construction Overview

          $109.00

          1. Table | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURES (billion 2005 dollars)

        2. 4.7.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $86.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS (million dollars)

      8. 4.8 Adhesives

        $152.00

        1. 4.8.1 Adhesive Industry Overview

          $82.00

          1. Table | ADHESIVE SHIPMENTS

        2. 4.8.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $102.00

          1. Table | ADHESIVE DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS (million dollars)

      9. 4.9 Packaging

        $546.00

        1. 4.9.1 Packaging Industry Overview

          $98.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING SUPPLY & DEMAND (billion dollars)

        2. 4.9.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $434.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS BY APPLICATION & PRODUCT (million dollars)

          2. Table | FILM DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

          3. Table | LOOSE-FILL PACKAGING DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

          4. Table | THERMOFORMED PRODUCT DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

          5. Table | FOODSERVICE & OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

      10. 4.10 Textiles

        $155.00

        1. 4.10.1 Textile Industry Overview

          $82.00

          1. Table | TEXTILE MILL PRODUCT SHIPMENTS

        2. 4.10.2 Natural Polymer Demand

          $95.00

          1. Table | TEXTILE DEMAND FOR NATURAL POLYMERS (million dollars)

      11. 4.11 Other Markets

        $82.00

        1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR NATURAL POLYMERS

    5. 5 PRODUCTS

      $4,196.00

      1. 5.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | NATURAL POLYMER DEMAND BY TYPE (million dollars)

      2. 5.2 Cellulose Ethers

        $931.00

        1. Table | CELLULOSE ETHER DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.2.1 Methyl Cellulose

          $250.00

          1. Table | METHYL CELLULOSE DEMAND (million dollars)

        3. 5.2.2 Microcrystalline Cellulose

          $129.00

          1. Table | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE DEMAND (million dollars)

        4. 5.2.3 Carboxymethyl Cellulose

          $169.00

          1. Table | CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE DEMAND (million dollars)

        5. 5.2.4 Hydroxyethyl Cellulose

          $163.00

          1. Table | HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE DEMAND (million dollars)

        6. 5.2.5 Other Cellulose Ethers

          $143.00

          1. Table | OTHER CELLULOSE ETHER DEMAND (million dollars)

      3. 5.3 Starch & Fermentation Polymers

        $1,285.00

        1. Table | STARCH & FERMENTATION POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.3.1 Xanthan Gum

          $337.00

          1. Table | XANTHAN GUM DEMAND (million dollars)

        3. 5.3.2 Starch Derivatives

          $247.00

          1. Table | STARCH DERIVATIVE DEMAND (million dollars)

        4. 5.3.3 Polylactic Acid

          $297.00

          1. Table | POLYLACTIC ACID DEMAND (million dollars)

        5. 5.3.4 Hyaluronic Acid

          $219.00

          1. Table | HYALURONIC ACID DEMAND (million dollars)

        6. 5.3.5 Other Starch & Fermentation Polymers

          $141.00

          1. Table | OTHER STARCH & FERMENTATION POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

      4. 5.4 Exudate & Vegetable Gums

        $676.00

        1. Table | EXUDATE & VEGETABLE GUM DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.4.1 Guar Gum

          $313.00

          1. Table | GUAR GUM DEMAND (million dollars)

        3. 5.4.2 Gum Arabic

          $172.00

          1. Table | GUM ARABIC DEMAND (million dollars)

        4. 5.4.3 Other Exudate & Vegetable Gums

          $143.00

          1. Table | OTHER EXUDATE & VEGETABLE GUM DEMAND (million dollars)

      5. 5.5 Protein-Based Polymers

        $330.00

        1. Table | PROTEIN-BASED POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.5.1 Collagen

          $177.00

          1. Table | COLLAGEN DEMAND (million dollars)

        3. 5.5.2 Other Protein-Based Polymers

          $122.00

          1. Table | OTHER PROTEIN-BASED POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

      6. 5.6 Marine Polymers

        $626.00

        1. Table | MARINE POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.6.1 Alginates

          $169.00

          1. Table | ALGINATE DEMAND (million dollars)

        3. 5.6.2 Carrageenan

          $281.00

          1. Table | CARRAGEENAN DEMAND (million dollars)

        4. 5.6.3 Other Marine Polymers

          $142.00

          1. Table | OTHER MARINE POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

      7. 5.7 Other

        $281.00

        1. Table | OTHER NATURAL POLYMER DEMAND (million dollars)

        2. 5.7.1 Pectin

          $92.00

        3. 5.7.2 Natural Phenolics

          $96.00

        4. 5.7.3 All Other

          $82.00

    6. 6 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $4,818.00

      1. 6.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | US NATURAL POLYMER SALES BY COMPANY, 2011 (million dollars)

      2. 6.2 Market Share

        $249.00

      3. 6.3 Acquisitions & Divestitures

        $165.00

        1. Table | SELECTED ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES

      4. 6.4 Marketing Strategies

        $82.00

      5. 6.5 Channels of Distribution

        $82.00

      6. 6.6 Research & Development

        $82.00

      7. 6.7 Competitive Strategies

        $82.00

      8. 6.8 Cooperative Agreements

        $101.00

        1. Table | SELECTED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

      9. 6.9 Company Profiles

        $3,936.00

        1. 6.9.1 Akzo Nobel NV

          $207.00

        2. 6.9.2 Allergan Incorporated

          $82.00

        3. 6.9.3 American Excelsior Company

          $82.00

        4. 6.9.4 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

          $112.00

        5. 6.9.5 Arizona Chemical Company LLC

          $82.00

        6. 6.9.6 Ashland Incorporated

          $197.00

        7. 6.9.7 AVEBE UA

          $102.00

        8. 6.9.8 BASF SE

          $82.00

        9. 6.9.9 Borregaard ASA

          $82.00

        10. 6.9.10 Cargill Incorporated

          $387.00

        11. 6.9.11 Cereplast Incorporated

          $129.00

        12. 6.9.12 Croda International plc

          $83.00

        13. 6.9.13 CSM NV

          $121.00

        14. 6.9.14 Dow Chemical Company

          $204.00

        15. 6.9.15 DuPont (EI) de Nemours

          $139.00

        16. 6.9.16 Economy Polymers & Chemicals

          $82.00

        17. 6.9.17 FMC Corporation

          $177.00

        18. 6.9.18 Huber (JM) Corporation

          $295.00

        19. 6.9.19 ICC Industries Incorporated

          $82.00

        20. 6.9.20 Importers Service Corporation

          $82.00

        21. 6.9.21 Ingredion Incorporated

          $82.00

        22. 6.9.22 Jungbunzlauer AG

          $82.00

        23. 6.9.23 Manildra Group

          $82.00

        24. 6.9.24 Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation

          $90.00

        25. 6.9.25 Metabolix Incorporated

          $84.00

        26. 6.9.26 MGP Ingredients Incorporated

          $168.00

        27. 6.9.27 Novamont SpA

          $82.00

        28. 6.9.28 Orkla ASA

          $82.00

        29. 6.9.29 Penn Carbose Incorporated

          $82.00

        30. 6.9.30 Rettenmaier (J.) & Söhne GmbH & Company KG

          $82.00

        31. 6.9.31 Sanofi

          $82.00

        32. 6.9.32 Seagarden ASA

          $82.00

        33. 6.9.33 Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited

          $130.00

        34. 6.9.34 Solvay SA

          $136.00

        35. 6.9.35 Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH

          $82.00

        36. 6.9.36 Tanac SA

          $82.00

        37. 6.9.37 TIC Gums Incorporated

          $82.00

        38. 6.9.38 Vertellus Specialties Incorporated

          $82.00

        39. 6.9.39 Wacker Chemie AG

          $82.00

      10. 6.10 Other Companies Mentioned in the Study

        $82.00

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