CEH: Phthalic Anhydride

Jun 2021. Phthalic anhydride is a white crystalline solid that is the commercial form of phthalic acid. The largest markets for phthalic anhydride are phthalate plasticizers, unsaturated polyester resins, and alkyd resins for surface coatings. Commercial phthalic anhydride is available in two forms—flake and molten. Most worldwide consumption of phthalic anhydride is molten. Demand for most of the downstream markets for phthalic anhydride is greatly influenced by general economic conditions. As a result, the consumption of phthalic anhydride largely follows the patterns of the leading world economies. Consumption of phthalic anhydride depends heavily on construction/remodeling activity (residential and nonresidential), automobile production, and original equipment manufacturing. The largest market for phthalic anhydride is the manufacture of phthalate plasticizers, which consumed nearly half of phthalic anhydride in 2020. The second-largest market is the manufacture of alkyd resins, with nearly a quarter of the phthalic anhydride consumed in 2020; most of it is consumed in alkyd surface coatings. Unsaturated polyester resins and other small-volume applications account for the remainder of consumption.

• Publish Date: 2021-06-15
• Chemical Focus: Aromatics and Fibers
• Number of Pages: 78
• Content Type: Report
• Delivery: Email with link to PDF file

• Global summary; regional coverage
• Producers with annual capacities and plant sites
• Consumption and five-year forecast by end-use application
• Price and production figures and trends
• Trade imports and exports

• Drive market research and commercial development
• Support competitive analysis, marketing and sales
• Inform merger and acquisition decisions