Abstract
Global production and consumption of acrylonitrile in 2007 was approximately 5.4 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 88.5% in 2007; this was a decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global acrylonitrile consumption is estimated to have increased by only 1.3% in 2007, and is expected to increase by 3.1% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.2% per year from 2012 to 2017. Average global utilization rates are expected to remain in the mid to high-80s range.
Acrylic fibers accounted for about 48% of global acrylonitrile consumption in 2007, followed by ABS/SAN resins with 34% of total consumption. Other applications include acrylamide, adiponitrile/HMDA and nitrile rubber.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of acrylonitrile by end use:
