Abstract
Global production and consumption of phenol in 2007 was approximately 8.7 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 90% in 2007; this was a slight decline from 2006 due to a larger increase in capacity than consumption. Global phenol consumption is estimated to have increased by 4% in 2007, and global consumption is expected to increase by 4.5% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.5% per year from 2012 to 2017. As a result of considerable capacity additions, utilization rates are expected to decline to the mid-80s range by 2010, gradually increasing afterward.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) accounted for almost 40% of global phenol consumption in 2007, followed by phenolic (PF) resins with 27% of total consumption. Other applications for phenol include caprolactam, alkylphenols, aniline and adipic acid.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of phenol by end use:
