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Almost all of the ethylbenzene produced in the world is
used in the manufacture of styrene; therefore, demand for ethylbenzene is
determined primarily by styrene production. Consumption of ethylbenzene for
uses other than the production of styrene is estimated to be less than 1%
of total ethylbenzene production. It is used as a solvent and, on occasion,
in the production of diethylbenzene, acetophenone and ethyl anthraquinone.
Overall world ethylbenzene demand will increase at an average annual rate
of almost 4% from 2006 to 2011, resulting in world ethylbenzene demand of 35.5
million metric tons in 2011. Consumption is expected to grow the fastest in
the Middle East and Asia.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of ethylbenzene:
Other Asia, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, imported significant volumes of styrene
for the production of polymers, accounting for about a third of world styrene
demand in 2006. Almost all ethylbenzene in Other Asia is consumed for styrene
manufacture. There are over fifty Asian ethylbenzene/styrene producers and
currently Asia does not have adequate ethylbenzene/styrene capacity to supply
demand in that region. Announced expansions will add about 2.0 million metric
tons of ethylbenzene capacity from 2006 to 2011. If these expansions materialize,
styrene exports from North America will likely decrease significantly. The
Asian ethylbenzene/styrene industry will see many changes in the future, with
divestments, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. Companies that survive
the current economic crisis will have world-scale plants and low-cost access
to raw materials such as ethylene and benzene.
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