ACROLEIN MARKET ANALYSIS

Introduction

Acrolein is an unsaturated aldehyde, which is colorless to yellow in appearance and has a smell of foul, burnt fat. It is also called 2-propenal and is produced from petrochemical stocks including glycerin and propylene. Acrolein is stable at room temperature and is soluble in ethanol with a high tendency of polymerization. Acrolein is mostly used to manufacture acrylic acid along with to control plant and algae growth, paints, hydrocarbon-fuels, to kill bacteria and microorganisms in oil wells, and water treatment ponds. Acrolein is a highly electrophilic compound and a reactive one, making it highly toxic. Its manufacturing process includes two steps namely catalytic oxidation of propylene to produce acrolein and recovery of acrolein from reaction products.

Market Outlook

The global acrolein market size is expected to witness significant growth, owing to increasing demand for Methionine. For instance, Methionine holds the largest share for acrolein consumption globally, accounting for 61.51%. Moreover, the demand for plastic and agrochemical is expected to boost the global acrolein market growth. For instance, acrolein is a widely used in production of specialty chemicals such as biocide. This type of biocide finds applications in controlling algae growth in submerged or floating irrigation canals. It is also used in oil industries and drilling water wells. Moreover, increasing presence of major manufacturers around the globe is expected to drive the market growth. For instance, Evonik Industries held a dominant position in the global acrolein market with a 24.3% market share in 2016. Furthermore, the use of biobased glycerol for the production of acrolein will drive the market growth. The use of biobased glycerol has reduced the dependence on natural resources. Moreover, manufacturers are using new catalysts to get better production of acrolein.

However, acrolein production is heavily dependent on crude oil stock, which will eventually run out in the distant future. Limited crude oil feedstocks are likely to hamper the global acrolein market. Moreover, crude oil is also used in the petrochemical industry for energy production, accounting for a significant share. This has led to exhaustion of resources and fluctuations in crude oil supply, which will hinder the market growth. 

Market Regional Analysis

Currently, Japan, Europe, and the U.S. are the largest manufacturers of acrolein around the globe. Moreover, the U.S. is expected to witness significant growth in the market, owing to increasing export and trade of acrolein in the region. Moreover, importing in China of acrolein is expected to increase, owing to growing engineering plastic industry. However, Europe is expected to have a decline in the acrolein market, as its market has matured.

Market Players

Some of the major players operating in the global acrolein market include The Shell Oil Company, The Dow Chemicals, Company Shanghai Huachen Energy Company, Ltd, and Akzo Nobel N.V.