Waxes

Volume increases will be based on continued growth in manufacturing and residential construction, while weakness in the packaging industry and most consumer and commercial applications will limit gains.

US demand to rise 1.8% annually through 2019

US demand for waxes is forecast to grow 1.8 percent annually through 2019 to nearly three billion pounds, with value demand reaching $3.2 billion. Increases in volume terms will be supported by continued growth in manufacturing and residential construction activity. However, advances will be limited by a challenging environment for waxes in the packaging industry, as well as weak growth in most consumer and commercial applications. The supply and market share of different wax types will remain dynamic as changes in the global petroleum refining industry impact the supply and pricing of petroleum derived waxes, as crude oil and natural gas prices impact synthetic wax capacity, and as agricultural commodity prices impact production of natural waxes.

Industrial applications to be fastest growing market

Continued strengthening of the economy will support growth in the US manufacturing sector, which in turn will continue to drive industrial wax demand, particularly in coatings and inks, adhesives, and plastic and rubber processing. While these applications typically employ the most cost-effective waxes, demand is expected to grow for waxes that increase production efficiency and lower input costs. The fastest increases in wax demand will be in the manufacture of building boards, spurred on by robust increases in residential construction activity. In contrast, rising interest in sustainability and demand for recyclable alternatives will reduce the use of waxes in paper and paperboard packaging. Growth in industrial wax demand will be healthy going forward, while the outlook for consumer and commercial wax consumption will not be as strong, restrained by the general maturity of these wax applications. Long term trends away from the use of polish on automobiles and flooring will further limit growth.

Wax supply, market share to remain dynamic

Petroleum waxes are expected to face supply issues as major refiners shift away from producing the lower quality base oils from which petroleum waxes are derived. Additionally, refiners are increasingly turning to catalytic dewaxing technologies, which do not produce wax as a byproduct. Limited supplies will continue to raise petroleum wax prices, benefiting synthetic and natural wax alternatives. The use of synthetic waxes as additives to create high-performance, low-cost wax blends is expected to be a major area of focus for product development. While synthetic waxes will generally benefit from the shift toward higher quality base oils by refiners, synthetic Fisher-Tropsch waxes will face their own supply shortages due to the delay or cancellation of new gas-to-liquids (GTL) projects in the US following the collapse of crude oil prices in 2014.

Study coverage

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $2.4 billion US wax industry. It presents historical demand data (2004, 2009 and 2014) and forecasts (2019 and 2024) by type (e.g., paraffin, microcrystalline, polymer, Fischer-Tropsch, vegetable, animal and insect) and market (e.g., plastic and rubber, adhesives, paper and paperboard, building boards, inks and coatings, candles, cosmetics and toiletries, firelogs, household and automotive polishes, pharmaceuticals, commercial). The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 39 industry players, including Exxon Mobil, Honeywell International, and International Group (IGI).

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  1. Waxes

    $5,200.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $133.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $168.00

      1. Table | WAX DEMAND

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $1,290.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $82.00

      2. 3.2 Macroeconomic Outlook

        $273.00

        1. Table | MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS

      3. 3.3 Consumer Income & Spending

        $152.00

        1. Table | PERSONAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES

      4. 3.4 Manufacturing Outlook

        $254.00

        1. Table | MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS

      5. 3.5 Petroleum Industry Overview

        $154.00

        1. Table | CRUDE OIL & REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS SUPPLY & DEMAND

      6. 3.6 Historical Market Trends

        $118.00

        1. Table | WAX DEMAND, 2004-2014

        2. CHART II-1 WAX DEMAND, 2004-2014

      7. 3.7 Pricing Trends

        $152.00

        1. Table | WAX PRICES

      8. 3.8 Environmental & Regulatory Considerations

        $139.00

    4. 4 PRODUCT OVERVIEW

      $605.00

      1. 4.1 Demand by Type

        $243.00

        1. Table | WAX DEMAND BY TYPE

        2. CHART III-1 WAX DEMAND BY TYPE, 2014: VOLUME & VALUE

      2. 4.2 Foreign Trade

        $253.00

        1. Table | FOREIGN TRADE IN WAXES

        2. 4.2.1 Imports

          $93.00

          1. Table | WAX IMPORTS BY TYPE & SOURCE, 2009-2014

          2. CHART III-2 WAX IMPORTS BY TYPE & SOURCE, 2014

        3. 4.2.2 Exports

          $92.00

          1. Table | WAX EXPORTS BY TYPE & DESTINATION, 2009-2014

          2. CHART III-3 WAX EXPORTS BY TYPE & DESTINATION, 2014

      3. 4.3 Production

        $108.00

        1. Table | WAX PRODUCTION BY TYPE

    5. 5 PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAXES

      $1,411.00

      1. 5.1 Types

        $1,046.00

        1. Table | PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAX DEMAND BY TYPE

        2. CHART IV-1 PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAX DEMAND BY TYPE, 2014

        3. 5.1.1 Paraffin Waxes

          $414.00

          1. Table | PARAFFIN WAX DEMAND

          2. Table | REFINED PARAFFIN WAX DEMAND

          3. Table | OTHER PARAFFIN WAX DEMAND

        4. 5.1.2 Microcrystalline Waxes

          $374.00

          1. Table | MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX DEMAND

          2. Table | PETROLATUM DEMAND

          3. Table | OTHER MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX DEMAND

        5. 5.1.3 Other Mineral Waxes

          $148.00

          1. Table | MONTAN & OTHER MINERAL WAX DEMAND

      2. 5.2 Foreign Trade

        $169.00

        1. Table | FOREIGN TRADE IN PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAXES

        2. 5.2.1 Imports

          $82.00

          1. Table | PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAX IMPORTS BY SOURCE, 2009-2014

        3. 5.2.2 Exports

          $82.00

          1. Table | PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAX EXPORTS BY DESTINATION, 2009-2014

      3. 5.3 Producers & Capacity

        $107.00

        1. Table | US PETROLEUM WAX PRODUCTION CAPACITY BY COMPANY, 2014

      4. 5.4 Market Share

        $89.00

        1. CHART IV-2 PETROLEUM & MINERAL WAX MARKET SHARE, 2014

    6. 6 SYNTHETIC WAXES

      $1,089.00

      1. 6.1 Types

        $801.00

        1. Table | SYNTHETIC WAX DEMAND

        2. CHART V-1 SYNTHETIC WAX DEMAND BY TYPE, 2014

        3. 6.1.1 Polymer Waxes

          $386.00

          1. Table | POLYMER WAX DEMAND

          2. Table | POLYETHYLENE WAX DEMAND

          3. Table | OTHER POLYMER WAX DEMAND

        4. 6.1.2 Fischer-Tropsch Waxes

          $150.00

          1. Table | FISCHER-TROPSCH WAX DEMAND

        5. 6.1.3 Other Synthetic Waxes

          $139.00

          1. Table | OTHER SYNTHETIC WAX DEMAND

      2. 6.2 Foreign Trade

        $174.00

        1. Table | FOREIGN TRADE IN SYNTHETIC WAXES

        2. 6.2.1 Imports

          $82.00

          1. Table | SYNTHETIC WAX IMPORTS BY SOURCE, 2009-2014

        3. 6.2.2 Exports

          $82.00

          1. Table | SYNTHETIC WAX EXPORTS BY DESTINATION, 2009-2014

      3. 6.3 Market Share

        $113.00

        1. CHART V-2 SYNTHETIC WAX MARKET SHARE, 2014

    7. 7 NATURAL WAXES

      $1,542.00

      1. 7.1 Types

        $1,322.00

        1. Table | NATURAL WAX DEMAND

        2. CHART VI-1 NATURAL WAX DEMAND, 2004-2024

        3. 7.1.1 Vegetable Waxes

          $812.00

          1. Table | VEGETABLE WAX DEMAND

          2. Table | SOY WAX DEMAND

          3. Table | CARNAUBA WAX DEMAND

          4. Table | OTHER VEGETABLE WAX DEMAND

        4. 7.1.2 Animal & Insect Waxes

          $409.00

          1. Table | ANIMAL & INSECT WAX DEMAND

          2. Table | BEESWAX DEMAND

          3. Table | LANOLIN DEMAND

          4. Table | OTHER ANIMAL & INSECT WAX DEMAND

      2. 7.2 Foreign Trade

        $180.00

        1. Table | FOREIGN TRADE IN NATURAL WAXES

        2. 7.2.1 Imports

          $82.00

          1. Table | NATURAL WAX IMPORTS BY SOURCE, 2009-2014

        3. 7.2.2 Exports

          $82.00

          1. Table | NATURAL WAX EXPORTS BY DESTINATION, 2009-2014

      3. 7.3 Market Share

        $82.00

    8. 8 MARKETS

      $3,539.00

      1. 8.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | WAX DEMAND BY MARKET

      2. 8.2 Industrial

        $1,831.00

        1. Table | INDUSTRIAL WAX MARKET

        2. 8.2.1 Plastic & Rubber

          $305.00

          1. Table | PLASTIC RESIN & RUBBER PRODUCTION

          2. Table | PLASTICS & RUBBER MARKET FOR WAXES

        3. 8.2.2 Adhesives

          $234.00

          1. Table | ADHESIVES & SEALANTS SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | ADHESIVE MARKET FOR WAXES

        4. 8.2.3 Paper & Paperboard

          $455.00

          1. Table | PAPER & PAPERBOARD SUPPLY & DEMAND

          2. Table | PAPER & PAPERBOARD MARKET FOR WAXES

        5. 8.2.4 Building Boards

          $219.00

          1. Table | RECONSTITUTED WOOD PRODUCT SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | BUILDING BOARD MARKET FOR WAXES

        6. 8.2.5 Inks & Coatings

          $283.00

          1. Table | INKS & COATINGS PRODUCTION

          2. Table | INKS & COATINGS MARKET FOR WAXES

        7. 8.2.6 Other Industrial Markets

          $215.00

          1. Table | OTHER INDUSTRIAL MARKETS FOR WAXES

      3. 8.3 Consumer & Commercial

        $1,641.00

        1. Table | CONSUMER & COMMERCIAL MARKETS FOR WAXES

        2. 8.3.1 Candles & Decorative Products

          $219.00

          1. Table | CANDLE SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | CANDLES & DECORATIVE PRODUCTS MARKET FOR WAXES

        3. 8.3.2 Cosmetics & Toiletries

          $407.00

          1. Table | COSMETIC & TOILETRY SUPPLY & DEMAND

          2. Table | COSMETIC & TOILETRY MARKET FOR WAXES

        4. 8.3.3 Firelogs

          $181.00

          1. Table | FIRELOG SUPPLY & DEMAND

          2. Table | FIRELOG MARKET FOR WAXES

        5. 8.3.4 Household & Automotive Polishes

          $203.00

          1. Table | POLISH SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | HOUSEHOLD POLISH MARKET FOR WAXES

        6. 8.3.5 Pharmaceuticals

          $310.00

          1. Table | PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY & DEMAND

          2. Table | PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET FOR WAXES

        7. 8.3.6 Commercial

          $126.00

          1. Table | COMMERCIAL MARKETS FOR WAXES

        8. 8.3.7 Other Consumer Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | OTHER CONSUMER MARKETS FOR WAX

    9. 9 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $4,801.00

      1. 9.1 General

        $94.00

        1. Table | US WAX SALES BY COMPANY, 2014

      2. 9.2 Market Share

        $234.00

        1. CHART VIII-1 WAX MARKET SHARE BY COMPANY, 2014

      3. 9.3 Industry Restructuring

        $143.00

        1. Table | SELECTED ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES

      4. 9.4 Competitive Strategies

        $141.00

        1. Table | SELECTED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

      5. 9.5 Manufacturing

        $156.00

      6. 9.6 Marketing & Distribution

        $135.00

      7. 9.7 Company Profiles

        $3,837.00

        1. 9.7.1 Akzo Nobel NV

          $82.00

        2. 9.7.2 ALTANA AG

          $154.00

        3. 9.7.3 American Refining Group Incorporated

          $82.00

        4. 9.7.4 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

          $82.00

        5. 9.7.5 Armored AutoGroup Incorporated

          $82.00

        6. 9.7.6 Baker Hughes Incorporated

          $96.00

        7. 9.7.7 BASF SE

          $135.00

        8. 9.7.8 Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated

          $177.00

        9. 9.7.9 Bunge Limited

          $82.00

        10. 9.7.10 Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP

          $95.00

        11. 9.7.11 Clariant International Limited

          $165.00

        12. 9.7.12 Clorox Company

          $82.00

        13. 9.7.13 Croda International plc

          $106.00

        14. 9.7.14 Dow Corning Corporation

          $82.00

        15. 9.7.15 Elementis plc

          $85.00

        16. 9.7.16 Elevance Renewable Sciences Incorporated

          $82.00

        17. 9.7.17 Ergon Incorporated

          $82.00

        18. 9.7.18 Evonik Industries AG

          $92.00

        19. 9.7.19 Exxon Mobil Corporation

          $108.00

        20. 9.7.20 Genesee Polymers Corporation

          $88.00

        21. 9.7.21 Hexion Incorporated

          $82.00

        22. 9.7.22 HollyFrontier Corporation

          $96.00

        23. 9.7.23 Honeywell International Incorporated

          $82.00

        24. 9.7.24 International Group Incorporated

          $146.00

        25. 9.7.25 Koster Keunen LLC

          $147.00

        26. 9.7.26 Marcus Oil & Chemical

          $82.00

        27. 9.7.27 Michelman Incorporated

          $105.00

        28. 9.7.28 Micro Powders Incorporated

          $176.00

        29. 9.7.29 Momentive Performance Materials Incorporated

          $82.00

        30. 9.7.30 Multiceras SA de CV

          $138.00

        31. 9.7.31 Pilot Travel Centers LLC

          $82.00

        32. 9.7.32 RITA Corporation

          $90.00

        33. 9.7.33 Ross (Frank B.) Company Incorporated

          $107.00

        34. 9.7.34 Royal Dutch Shell plc

          $82.00

        35. 9.7.35 Sasol NA Limited

          $168.00

        36. 9.7.36 Sonneborn LLC

          $82.00

        37. 9.7.37 Strahl & Pitsch Incorporated

          $122.00

        38. 9.7.38 Vantage Specialty Chemicals Incorporated

          $181.00

        39. 9.7.39 Westlake Chemical Corporation

          $82.00

      8. 9.8 Other Companies Mentioned in the Study

        $82.00

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