Abstract
Global production and consumption of maleic anhydride in 2007 was approximately 1.6 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 74% in 2007; this was a slight decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global maleic anhydride consumption is estimated to have increased by 5% in 2007, and is expected to increase by 5.2% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.6% per year from 2012 to 2017. Average global utilization rates are expected to remain in the 70s range and gradually increase to over 80% after 2009.
Unsaturated polyester resins accounted for almost 42% of global maleic anhydride consumption in 2007, followed by 1,4-butanediol with 17% of total consumption. Other applications for maleic anhydride include agricultural chemicals, malic acid, fumaric acid, lube oil additives, maleic anhydride-based copolymers, alkenyl succinic anhydrides, reactive plasticizers, sulfosuccinic acid esters, and a number of other specialty chemicals and organic intermediates.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of maleic anhydride by end use:
