The importance of surfactants was made very clear in 2020 as a critical weapon to fight the COVID19 pandemic. Demand into household and personal care increased correspondingly and healthy growth is expected to continue, particularly in emerging markets and Asia.Entering into a new decade with a lower oil price environment, with overcapacity in key raw materials and increasing regulatory pressure - what will this mean for market participants? 

2020 has seen a reversal in the fortunes of most players in the polyurethane industry. Containment measures implemented during the first half of the year caused disruption to supply and a sharp drop in demand during Q2 as construction and automotive output fell as well as consumer spending due to lockdown measures. Q3 has seen strong recovery in demand in many sectors of the industry but question marks over demand growth and oversupply remain for Q4 and as we look into 2021.This presentation considers the polyurethane industry in 2020 and provides NexantECA's outlook on supply of polyurethane raw materials and demand for different types of polyurethane.

Market Analytics: Polyurethane Intermediates - 2020 provides analysis and forecasts to 2045 of supply and demand of the global polyurethane intermediates markets.  This analysis identifies the issues shaping the industry as well as provides global capacity listings, with long term demand, supply and net trade forecasts for 40 countries.Products analysed in detail include nitrobenzene, aniline,  methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI).  

This report analyzes developments in bio-based butanediol (BDO) technologies. BDO (both 1,4-BDO and 2,3-BDO) derived from bio-based materials or processes can be used as is or converted into a number of chemical products - potentially improving the GHG profile of the process. This study assesses the technical, commercial, and economic aspects of producing different isomers of BDO via bio-based sources or processes.